Finally, an official QC department at BirGorkha.

Bill Martino

Bill Martino

Joined
Mar 5, 1999
Messages
34,096
I suppose because of my continual complaints and reprimands regarding quality Gelbu took what I feel was a necessary and very positive step. He hired an old master kami too old to do much physical labor but certainly not too old to check the quality of khukuris. He and a young assistant to help him out with physical testing are now our Quality Control department and they will be inspecting every khukuri, scabbard, frog, karda and chakma scheduled for shipment here.

We don't worry about the quality of khukuris made by Bura, Prakash, Mama, Kesar and the older kamis but because of the visiting resident kami program and some of our own younger kamis trying new ideas we really need this. When things get hurried as they are now sometimes Gelbu does not have the time to check every khukuri made and now he won't have to.

I'll find out the name of this old timer so he won't have to be referred to as simply our old master QC kami.

This is good news for me and everybody. Quality and the pursuit of perfection is what HI is all about.

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Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ

 
Perfect. And just guessing here, but by Nepali standards this is revolutionary thinking?
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Jim
 
Uncle Bill, as good as HI khukuris are, it's really nice knowing that you (and the other folks on your end) are continually working to make'em even better. We appreciate the effort.
 
IT is a rev dev because craftsmen used to know good work from bad,and eschew the bad.Now someone else has to be hired to inspect their work.
 
With the visiting kami program and young kamis trying new ideas I think it is a necessary move.

I also consider this as most important. The old QC kami is too old to do much physical labor. He needs something to keep food on the table. There is no social security or SSI in Nepal so he must find something to do or depend on the generosity of family and friends. This job gives this old Kami a chance to carry his own weight. He has a job to do which will earn him both money and self respect. He wins and so do we.

I am very pleased with this new additon to BirGorkha.

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Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ

 
You failed to see my point.A craftsman does his own QC.
After I worked on a 1911,would I let it go unless I was convenced that it was totaly reliable?
 
The kamis are used to working to a strong mechanical standard but a weak cosmetic standard. Most Nepalese can't afford the level of polish and fit we expect as a matter of course, or at least most of us. The sole exception is probably Bura, used to doing pieces for the King.

The new QC department is needed because as they bring in new kamis their "mindset" has to be shifted away from "make an honest working blade as fast as possible".

It's not a craftsmanship problem, it's "cultural".

Jim
 
Right, Jim, and we never know what a visiting resident kami who is a stranger to us might toss in the box. And, village khukuris not made by HI need a good QC once over.

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Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ



[This message has been edited by Bill Martino (edited 17 November 1999).]
 
Ghost,

QC is valuable at Shop 2 for improving consistency. There is a mix of skill levels at the shop. There are old and very skilled kami's who have a lot of experience. They know what to look for in a knife that might cause it to fail. The younger kami's while skilled may not have the experience to detect flaws in a knife. Besides if rushed QC is the first operation that is skimped on are cut.

Will
 
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