Greetings and some questions

T

tychoseven

Joined
Aug 9, 2005
Messages
317
Hi, I just discovered the Himalayan Imports website the other day, and something about these knives spoke to me. I found a knife I can use my whole life and maybe pass on to someone else...a knife with a little bit of its maker's spirit in it, not just a machine-forged piece of steel. Now I'm keen to get one as soon as I can, hopefully in time for my week-long solo trip I have planned next month. I've found tons of great info on the bladeforums and everything I've read has increased my desire to begin a long process of bonding with a khukuri...but first, I hoped you all could help out with some questions. I'll put the standard "which one should I get first" question at the end, and you can skip if you like that because the other questions will probably help me figure that out on my own.

1. I prefer the villager (un)finish to the shininess of the finished blades. Does the finished blade resist rust better than the villager, or is it merely an aesthetic difference?

2. Can I only order villager knives through the forum, when Yangdu posts them?

3. Is there anything else I need to do if I want a knife posted in the forum, aside from an email with the proper information (as per the sticky)? Do I need a certain # of posts or anything like that?

4. Is there a noticible difference between the work of different kamis? Assuming were are talking about otherwise identical khuks, would the work of say, Bura, be preferable to another? Does one kami make blades that hold their edge better and another makes ones with more lateral strength? That sort of thing.


So, with those out of the way, here's what I've been thinking: I'm 5'9'', 150lbs and I probably won't be chopping anything larger 4 inch diameter. Is a chiruwa AK, 16.5 WW II, or BAS going to be too big or too small for that sort of work? Those are the 3 khuks I've been considering, but I guess I'd need to know if they excel at different tasks and such. The Foxy Folly sounds like a good all-around, but a little more difficult to obtain.

Thanks guys!

T7
 
Welcome Tychoseven:

(I have limited intellect, better answers will follow.)

1. No difference, just dry the blade and keep it from moisture in storage.

2. Email Yangdu to see what villagers are available in the models you desire. They come and go, and only she knows what is available. Nice lady.

3. Number of posts mean nothing, except that speed, duplicity, and greed have honed the reflexes of the sharks in the Cantina as they have evolved. Generally, the number of posts is the equivalent of needle tracks on a junkie.

4. The quality control at BirGorkha and at H.I. in Reno guarantees quality. Some folks have preferences, some are collectors of a particular Kami's work, but no one kami is markedly better than the other, except in some areas of specialization in a blade.

5. Your choices seem excellent to me. Don't neglect considering the 15in AK, which may still be the best selling style of H.I.'s line. The BAS is a nice khuk, but is more weapon/tool compromise than the "pure" chopper angle and weight distribution of the AK.

Nice to have you here.

Be well and safe.
 
Trying to find 'one' perfect khukuri is a daunting task.

I think you're going to have a lot of fun, and by your post you seem to be right on track for appreciating these wonderful knives.



munk
 
Hi there, Tychoseven:)

Welcome to the cantina. It seems like you have done your homework, which is a good thing:) Basically, what Kis said. For your needs I don't think you could go wrong with the 16.5" WWII. Uncle Bill used to say that the WWII model was probably the best all around khuk. I have to agree. One of our very good friends, Rusty, used to swear by the 16.5" WWII. He had several. I like the 18" WWII and i'm only a little bigger than you are, but for being packable you can't beat the 16.5". I like the fact that it is hefty enough to cut wood in a hurry, but has a fairly thin edge that is good for slicing.
If you you follow the big knife/small knife line of thought, then i might suggest that you invest in one of the Sarge knives (KPH as i call it) that Yangdu offers from time to time. It was designed by our very own Kismet to be an honest little hunting and utillity knife. Lash a big ol' khuk to your pack and carry the puppy dog-loyal Sarge on your belt. You'll be set;)
Welcome once again.

Jake
 
Great first post & welcome, T7. You've done some reading here.

You'll be buying a 1x42 belt sander in about 3 months, as the affliction follows its natural course. Don't even ask why. I would tell you but the convex mafia is watching me. I failed my oxide rouge grit exam, so I am under scrutiny.

"Which khukuri is best for me" is a zen question, posed as a test. The answer comes in an epiphany. Enlightenment takes many forms, as do the khukuris.

Some great people here are willing to share a lot of knowledge; also readeth ye, the olde threads.



Ad Astra


Kis- "3. Number of posts mean nothing, except that speed, duplicity, and greed have honed the reflexes of the sharks in the Cantina as they have evolved. Generally, the number of posts is the equivalent of needle tracks on a junkie."

MUAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
 
Welcome, T7.

Also consider the BGRS (baby Ganga Ram Special). They come in villager models, and you can see them, in varying sizes and weights, in the specials from 8/5, 8/8, and 8/9. I like their balance. Fun to use. They have no problem with a 4" branch.

Email sent on AA's belt sander.
 
You have to keep track of it, though :D

Welcome T7,
Any one of those will be plenty of knife for 99% of what you run into. Uncle used to say that Kumar and Sher made the best handles but Bura is the Master. That said none of them are bad. I had a little 12" siru by "the Amtrak kami" that I fondled constantly till I gave it to a friend. I forget who made my JKM and I'm not home where I can look. But it's one of the newer kamis. Cool little knife, good work. The big (18")WWII is a beast. I love it but I wouldn't want to pack it on my hip for a long hike. The 15"-16.5" is handier, especially for medium sized guys.

Frank
 
A 15" BGRS should be right up your alley, T7. It'll handle your chopping needs just fine.

Bob
 
Kismet said:
Welcome Tychoseven:

Generally, the number of posts is the equivalent of needle tracks on a junkie.
Click to expand...

Indeed. +3 Spirit in lieu of rep.

T7, the question about individual kami "traits" in their work is an interesting one. Certain kamis are known to favor thicker or thinner blades and each seems to have a couple of specialties, but remember that these are handmade and even identical models from one particular kami will vary slightly.

The important thing to remember is that regardless of which kami's name is on the khukuri, it will work.

Welcome, and do not hesitate to ask questions here. The collective knowledge and experience of this forum continues to amaze me.
 
Thanks for your replies everybody, it makes everything so much easier. Now I wonder what weight range I'm looking for.... More questions will follow.

Guess I'll hang out and see what comes by, and if a particular khuk strikes me (haha!), I'll make a bid. If these knives are as addictive as you all say, the first will help me decide what to get next :D
 
Welcome to Bladeforums.

Post count means EVERYTHING.











:p





Generally speaking a mirror finish has less surface imperfections for moisture (and therefore corrosion) to lodge in. But simple maintenance, like wiping off a blade and drying it before sheathing, will take care of all that.
 
Ok, a few more questions:

I would be using the khuk mostly for construction of shelter various camp craft projects...seats, smokehouse, rack for hides, splitting logs, etc. As I've only held a khuk before, and not actually used one for work, I'd like to know if some types are more suited to rough finishing work due to their balance. I gather that the AKs are the "chopper" khuk, but does the weight distribution prevent them from being useful for more delicate tasks? I wouldn't use my hatchet to clean up the edges of shelter poles, it's too difficult to control for that sort of work. I also have a crap hatchet, but regardless....

Let's say we're comparing at a 16.5" WWII and a 16.5" Chiruwa AK. Looking at the Khukuri Dynamics page I see the strike angles for the WWII and the Chiruwa are the same, but the final bend on the AK is more aggressive. Am I right to assume that the WWII would feel more balanced than the Chiruwa AK, And therefore easier to handle for non-choppy jobs?

Unfortunately there isn't data for both the 15" BGRS and the 15" AK, but maybe somebody has experience with both and could tell me how they compare?

OT, Looking at the picture in the "Testing a Khukuri" page, I'm in awe of the lateral strength of these knives...I would never consider doing that to my Khuk..but it's nice to know it can take it. I have a habit of subjecting my things to such stress tests and causing them to break, much to my dismay.

Thanks guys!
T7
 
I know exactly what you mean with regards to looking for the perfect khukuri. I started with a Ganga Ram Special, then onto a couple Ang Kholas, and so on and so forth. How many khukuris does a person need? Just one more!!!

The shark tank is the place to pick up some fantastic deals, and Yangdu is absolutely wonderful to do business with. I have never heard of someone getting a bad deal from HI, and if there is a snag along the way, they will make it right. Just had to put in my two cents.

HIKV is a good thing!!!
 
pssst, T7, there's a WWII villager with your name on it in the YBB thread :cool:
That would be my choice.

Jake
 
Steely_Gunz said:
pssst, T7, there's a WWII villager with your name on it in the YBB thread :cool:
That would be my choice.

Jake
Click to expand...
Looks like T7 went for it...

Jake is more than partly to blame for my curatorship of the local Khukuri Museum.


Ad Astra :foot: :p :D
 
Tychoseven,

The late Bill Martino had one customer who used the khuks extensively for wood working. The small karda would take care of 'delicate' tasks.





munk
 
Ad Astra said:
Looks like T7 went for it...

Jake is more than partly to blame for my curatorship of the local Khukuri Museum.


Ad Astra :foot: :p :D
Click to expand...

When you can't buy...you enable:) HIKV loves company:D

Jake
 
Steely_Gunz said:
When you can't buy...you enable:) HIKV loves company:D

Jake
Click to expand...

Ain't that the living truth...

<Mike & Jake high-five, give khukuri gang-member "chopping" sign>


Wish I could buy 'em all- one of each is about breaking me as they keep coming out with new must-have models.



Ad Astra
 
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