Does anybody want a village khukuri?

Bill, I am looking for a large khukuri for heavy chopping that has a handle at least 1/2" longer than the handle on my current 20" AK, and I would actually really like about a full extra inch on the grip. I am assuming that this roughly means about 25 inches in total length or more (the more part is cool, I don't have a problem with that).

So basically if you come across a large Tin Chirra, Salyan or Ank Khola I would be interested in it. I am concerned about the durability of the handle on something this size. If you think it may be a problem with the village khukuri could you get a model this large made at your shop? I realize that it is a bit on the "custom" side so I am of course willing to pay the required price. If you think it is possible I'll put in a firm order after I get settled up with the 18" Salyan and Cobalts AK Bowie I already have on order.

-Cliff
 
To reiterate:

Bill, I'm in for a 15"-ish type of solid, kick-arse chopper. Something I can carry camping with me without feeling like I'm dragging an battle-axe, but something that will really perform like a HI Ang Khola, and that I can use without feeling guilty about scuffing up.
smile.gif


Of course, this just means my shopping list went from a 15" AK and a 20" Siru to a 15" village, a 20" siru and 20" chainpur. How the heck did THAT happen?
smile.gif


Mike


------------------
Hey! Uncle Sam!

(_!_) Nyah nyah nyah!

Refund! You lose! :)


 
This weekend when the long distance rate is only $1.09 per minute we will call Kami and round up 15 or 20 "assorted" (and trust me on this one, they will be assorted) village khukuris. It will be a surprise package but when I get it I'll post what was sent and we can take it from there.

Uncle Bill
 
Bill, is this a good shot for competition, or what? I'll of course have to throw my khukuris in the hat with the "village" khukuris of yours. Of course, my khukuris will not be "roughly finished" like your village khukuris, but will still be "incredibly strong." Incidentally, my quality control standards have increased on both ends of my operation, so small handles should not be a problem. As it turns out, due to the large volume I'm bringing in, my supplier has brought up the slack on his QC people (and Bill said I couldn't do it!). Does this interest in "village" khukuris mean it's time to give Gurkha House a turn at bat?
 
Actually, I should rephrase the question: does this interest in "village" khukuris mean that some of you see the sense in paying less than 1/3 the price for a knife that may or may not(arguable, depending on who you ask) fail you the fifth time you need to cut yourself out of an automobile? Judging by the interest in the "village" khukuri, I think the answer is yes.

Fish are swimming vegetables!
 
Craig, the village khukuri is a response to interest generated in a thread created, I think, by Rusty. If you want to consider it competition then you are welcome to do so.
However, when people come to me looking for a khukuri and are unable or unwilling to pay the price for the best khukuri coming out of Nepal today I send them to you. It is my hope that you will extend the same courtesy to me if you do not have what a customer wants.

Uncle Bill
 
Bill, until tests are completed on the Bhojpure, I'll wait to send people to you. However, I do believe that once you compare apples to apples (and not a lighter, thinner Service Number One to a heavier, thicker Ang Khola), the difference between our lines will come down to 1) the price and 2) the scrolling on your brasswork. Call me crazy, but I'm pretty sure this will be the case.

As for competition, I don't think the village khukuri will compete with either your regular knife line or mine. mine.
 
Perhaps instead of stating what we want in a "village khukri,we should be asking what the villagers use in the various districts as working tools.

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You are right, Craig. Wait for the tests. But please keep in mind the HI khukuris have yet to fail -- not even one.

Uncle Bill
 
Correct me if I am wrong:

What I get from the posts thus far is that we are basically buying a HI quality blade that is unfinished, and possibly of odd dimensions, but otherwise identical in performance to Bill's standard line.

The only 'weak link' in the knife should be the handle, as Bill has been very up-front about the fact that the quality and composition of these will vary wildly.

Furthermore, handles are easily replaced, by the purchaser, should they fail.

is this the gist of it, Bill?

Mike

------------------
Hey! Uncle Sam!

(_!_) Nyah nyah nyah!

Refund! You lose! :)


 
That's pretty much it, Mike. The blade may or may not be forged from a spring but we can check it and make sure it's a good blade before we buy. And, handles are generally pretty good. The one I had on hand has a handle that is not standard. Most will have the full length tapered tang which is best.

It's the size, style and scabbard that's going to be the wild card in the village khukuri.

Uncle Bill
 
The Service #1 is just 5% thinner than the Ang Khola, you need a micrometer to pick it up. While this means that everything else being the same it will be weaker because its not as thick, we are talking about a very small difference. I don't think this is greatly significant as the HI AKs can vary in thickness by more than 5% (correct me if I am wrong Bill) and there have not been to date problems with them. However, the Service #1 is only 75% of the width of the AK, now while this obviously lowers the volume and thus the weight and chopping ability, it does not make it 75% weaker.

When you bend metal (or anything else), the difficulty is mainly determined by the cross section in the dimension parallel to the direction of the bend (the thickness of a knife usually), not in the dimension perpendicular to the bend (the width). Take an ordinary plastic comb say 1/4 of a cm thick and 2 cm wide. Try bending it against the thickness and you will find it very easy to do. However you would have a job to bend it against the width, this is especially the case if its one of my combs.

This post is rated at 7 out of 12 beer, this means that you need to drink just over a half to make any sense out of it. I had to drink 8 just to write it.

-Cliff


[This message has been edited by Cliff Stamp (edited 29 April 1999).]
 
Cliff, I'll have to wait until this evening to read your post. It is too early to start on Heineken.

Uncle Bill
 
OK, I got the village khukuri from Bill.

It is a pretty rough finish with a lot of scratches on the blade, but they seem shallow and the forging is evenly and symmetrically done. A few hours by hand with progressively finer sandpaper and it'd have a nice looking satin finish. It's pretty close to a BAS in size and thickness. Handle is also alright. If the blade cleans up as nicely as I think, I may rip the old handle off and have a friend weld a rod onto the hidden tang depending on how short it turns out, or just notch the tang in a few places and epoxy into a prettier piece of wood or maybe antler. Sheath is pretty nicely carved wood. Karda and chakma are just about a joke, maybe an inch and a quarter of metal sticking out of the handles. If I ran across this at a yard sale, not knowing where it came from, I'd go $15 or $20, and maybe $5 more for the sheath. Of course, I do know where it came from. As is, it would serve well as a tool. But I keep thinking of it as a kit knife... now what could I do here and there to fancy it up? Mmmn. Will have to ponder some more.

(( Oh, do I think it's worth it? Yeah, just for the blade alone, let on a very usable handle and sheath. Hey, just the amount of time I get to spend thinking about how to turn it from a sow's ear into a silk purse makes it worth it for the entertainment value. And if I botch that up cosmetically, I still get something tougher than a tank for behind the truck seat. ))

[This message has been edited by Rusty (edited 29 April 1999).]
 
Remember, Rusty, that's a knife that took punishment worse than Cliff gives knives. I used it to try to chop 1/4 in. bolts in two and I didn't have any of the soft cheapies to work with. I am sure you can see my poor grinding work on the edge where I just ground the rolls out of the blade.

And, sure enough, your letter arrived today. Pony Express did it again.

Uncle Bill
 
Cliff, I reread your post after having the beer as you suggested and as usual you are correct. But, with a Phd in physics forthcoming you should be!

Lateral strength is primarily dependent on blade thickness, quality of steel and heat treatment. The width of the blade is quite secondary. The Service #1 and the AK are essentially the same thickness. The #1 bent and the AK didn't. Conclusion: Better steel and heat treatment with AK. Adding width will not help lateral strength in any knife to any significant degree.

This is why I am fairly certain the little Sirupatis are going to fare pretty well in the lateral strength category.

Uncle Bill

 
Bill,

Could you please put me down on your waiting list for one of your "Village" Khukuries? I have one of your BAS models and I love it! I really don't have a real preference other than that I would desire something in the 17" to 19" range. I would settle for a 15-incher if that's all there are. When available, could you let me know how much it is and I'll send off a check right away!!! Thanks,

Frank
 
Am I to understand that the village khukuris are not always made from a spring? I think that before one puts down $40 - $60 for a village khukuri, they ought to consider putting down $59.00 for a Service Number One, $69.00 for a Bhojpure, or $175 for another 15" Ang Khola. I'm sorry, but from what I've read in the forums, the tests, and the reviews, the village khukuri "not always made from a spring" does not make the blade "compare to the [regular] HI khukuris" or the Service Number One or the Bhojpure. I base my statement partially upon the reviews of what you guys do to your khukuris, and partially upon the high quality of regular Himalayan Import and Gurkha House blades.
 
While the blades may or may not be forged from a spring, the latter part of the same sentence contains the importance part :

The blade may or may not be forged from a spring but we can check it and make sure it's a good blade before we buy
Click to expand...

-Cliff
 
The village kami makes khukuris that almost never fail regardless of which particular steel he uses. I don't know what kind of steel is used for railroad rails in India but a kami made some very fine khukuris from this particular steel.

The reason the village kami makes a very reliable khukuri is because his primary customer is his neighbor who will bring the knife back for replacement if it fails. I have enough confidence in the ability of the village kami to find a steel that will work, forge and heat treat it in fine fashion that I will guarantee his blade for life. I do not have that same confidence in the handle he might put on. And his ability to sew the leather on the scabbard might be far below his ability to forge a fine blade and that's why I warned people about scabbards and handles.

Uncle Bill
 
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