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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Here's a picture of the Ganga Ram Special -- take a look at this one!
- Thread starter Bill Martino
- Start date
- Joined
- Jun 3, 1999
- Messages
- 1,989
Bistari! Bistari!
Kaphar Hunna Bhanda Marnu Ramro
Nepalho!
Now in pix - Mr Photogenic!
Later on in my hand - Mr Universe!
Kaphar Hunna Bhanda Marnu Ramro
Nepalho!
Now in pix - Mr Photogenic!
Later on in my hand - Mr Universe!
Zensho - according to Sufistic traditions, there are 7 types of Nafs: Nafsu-(a)l_amarah, Nafsu-(a)l_lawwamah, Nafsu-(a)lmalhamah, Nafsu-(a)lmutmainnah, Nafsu-(al)rrodhiah, Nafsu-(a)lmardhiah and Nafsu-(a)lkamilah. If you are at the 4th level ie. Nafsu-(a)lmutmainnah, it is cool ... REAL COOL! In my case ... shame on me! ... I guess I am at the lowest level ie. Nafsu-(a)l_amarah ... struggling to go to the next upper level ie. Nafsu-(a)l_lawwamah!!! My name was already listed under #7!!!
- Joined
- May 18, 1999
- Messages
- 15,395
:
I just keep coming back to look at this one.The Banspati is a beautiful Khukuri and I printed both pix.Somehow this one seems more real on the TV screen.Maybe it is the size shown on a 27" screen versus the 6 1/2" x 4" pic in printed format.
Gawd !! This is one beautiful Khukuri!!!
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>>>>---¥vsa---->®
Cornbread ain't s'possed ta be sweet!....Dagnabit gurl,whut did they teach you way up north in ....
hehehe.
I just keep coming back to look at this one.The Banspati is a beautiful Khukuri and I printed both pix.Somehow this one seems more real on the TV screen.Maybe it is the size shown on a 27" screen versus the 6 1/2" x 4" pic in printed format.
Gawd !! This is one beautiful Khukuri!!!
------------------
>>>>---¥vsa---->®
Cornbread ain't s'possed ta be sweet!....Dagnabit gurl,whut did they teach you way up north in ....
hehehe.
- Joined
- Mar 5, 1999
- Messages
- 34,096
Rusty, these came in at 22 inches as I recall and the price I quoted in the old thread was $250. The knife is worth every penny.
It came today!
Earlier than I expected. Best khukuri I have ever seen. Actually quite a bit different than the one pictured at the top of the thread. Mine has no yin yang and possesses a shorter handle and longer blade which is 7/16"+.
Blade is excellent. Very well hardened.
Also has different blade shape than the one in the photo and the spine thins out quite a bit near the tip so it is actually pretty light in the hand. No nail chopping for this one in spite of good hardness.
It is possible that the smaller picture of handle, cho, karda and chakma at the top of this thread are pictures of mine. In any case, this is the Mother of all Chakmas. The best I have ever seen. Integral bolster and about 3/16" thick. Solid as hell and beautifully finished. Karda is about 5/32" thick and very well hardened. Ganga Ram definitely raised the bar on the chakmas. A lot.
Sheath is the best leather I have ever seen on a khukuri sheath, but frog is WAY too flimsy.
All in all, the entire rig is the best I have ever seen other than the frog which definitely needs improvement.
My compliments to Ganga Ram.
Now for niggling details. Blade and Karda arrived with many stains and little rust spots on them, possibly caused by nasty grease they were coated with. Hopefully Brasso and elbow grease will remedy the situation.
Handle seems to have an unfortunate chip in part of the carving, but I don't really care too much because I'm not collecting these things with any intention to resell.
Khukuri and karda were really quite dull, but that's fine by me.
All in all, only real complaints are frog and stains.
Ganga Ram, this khukuri is the best I have ever seen.
Yours,
Dave
Earlier than I expected. Best khukuri I have ever seen. Actually quite a bit different than the one pictured at the top of the thread. Mine has no yin yang and possesses a shorter handle and longer blade which is 7/16"+.
Blade is excellent. Very well hardened.
Also has different blade shape than the one in the photo and the spine thins out quite a bit near the tip so it is actually pretty light in the hand. No nail chopping for this one in spite of good hardness.
It is possible that the smaller picture of handle, cho, karda and chakma at the top of this thread are pictures of mine. In any case, this is the Mother of all Chakmas. The best I have ever seen. Integral bolster and about 3/16" thick. Solid as hell and beautifully finished. Karda is about 5/32" thick and very well hardened. Ganga Ram definitely raised the bar on the chakmas. A lot.
Sheath is the best leather I have ever seen on a khukuri sheath, but frog is WAY too flimsy.
All in all, the entire rig is the best I have ever seen other than the frog which definitely needs improvement.
My compliments to Ganga Ram.
Now for niggling details. Blade and Karda arrived with many stains and little rust spots on them, possibly caused by nasty grease they were coated with. Hopefully Brasso and elbow grease will remedy the situation.
Handle seems to have an unfortunate chip in part of the carving, but I don't really care too much because I'm not collecting these things with any intention to resell.
Khukuri and karda were really quite dull, but that's fine by me.
All in all, only real complaints are frog and stains.
Ganga Ram, this khukuri is the best I have ever seen.
Yours,
Dave
Oops, double post.
My first ever.
Forgot to say that even the "Made in Nepal" logo is pretty well done.
Didn't mean to come down so hard on the khukuri. It really is the best I've ever seen. I sharpened it up with the Lansky stones and it SANG.
This knife truly is everything I was hoping for.
Excellent work Ganga Ram.
-Dave
[This message has been edited by Dave K (edited 01 October 1999).]
My first ever.
Forgot to say that even the "Made in Nepal" logo is pretty well done.
Didn't mean to come down so hard on the khukuri. It really is the best I've ever seen. I sharpened it up with the Lansky stones and it SANG.
This knife truly is everything I was hoping for.
Excellent work Ganga Ram.
-Dave
[This message has been edited by Dave K (edited 01 October 1999).]
- Joined
- Mar 5, 1999
- Messages
- 34,096
Thanks for feedback.
I realized from looking at the three we got in that Ganga is trying to make each knife a little different so that there will be no two exactly alike in this run. I guess he figures that makes them more valuable -- a one in the world for each fellow who ordered one.
The quality is the thing that is impressive. Dave is right. This is one of the best khukuris I have ever seen, too.
About the frogs -- we have tried to increase quality in this order. Khukuri, scabbard, karda, chakma and frog. We have reached the quality level we wanted on the khukuri and it continues to increase but I don't see how it can get much better. The Ganga Ram scabbard shows where are are going with the scabbard. Effective after Dasein the karda and chakma will go to larger size and reflect the same quality as big blade. We are working on a new frog which is a large, double size that is laced and adjustable. I have seen a couple there were sent and they are to become standard. I will get a few extra and anybody wanting one for retrofit need only ask.
We are getting there.
------------------
Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
http://members.aol.com/himimp/index.html
I realized from looking at the three we got in that Ganga is trying to make each knife a little different so that there will be no two exactly alike in this run. I guess he figures that makes them more valuable -- a one in the world for each fellow who ordered one.
The quality is the thing that is impressive. Dave is right. This is one of the best khukuris I have ever seen, too.
About the frogs -- we have tried to increase quality in this order. Khukuri, scabbard, karda, chakma and frog. We have reached the quality level we wanted on the khukuri and it continues to increase but I don't see how it can get much better. The Ganga Ram scabbard shows where are are going with the scabbard. Effective after Dasein the karda and chakma will go to larger size and reflect the same quality as big blade. We are working on a new frog which is a large, double size that is laced and adjustable. I have seen a couple there were sent and they are to become standard. I will get a few extra and anybody wanting one for retrofit need only ask.
We are getting there.
------------------
Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
http://members.aol.com/himimp/index.html
- Joined
- Jul 22, 1999
- Messages
- 187
Dave, you've got one -- you tell us.
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Namaste,
Jeff Paulsen
"Oh, a magic khukuri. Why didn't you say so?"
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Namaste,
Jeff Paulsen
"Oh, a magic khukuri. Why didn't you say so?"
- Joined
- Mar 5, 1999
- Messages
- 34,096
Wait until I get the frogs here.
Jeff is right, Dave. Is the khukuri magic?
Sort of sounds like it might be. Talk to it and see what it says.
------------------
Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
http://members.aol.com/himimp/index.html
Jeff is right, Dave. Is the khukuri magic?
Sort of sounds like it might be. Talk to it and see what it says.
------------------
Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
http://members.aol.com/himimp/index.html
- Joined
- May 5, 1999
- Messages
- 3,065
Uncle Bill,
The mailman rang twice today. First came the Shop 2 kagas katne, not what I was expecting but a nice surprise. Nicely done, and the check is in the mail. (Keep me on the list for a Shop 1 version as well, please). A half hour later I got to use it to open the much larger package I had been waiting for-my GRB Special.
Since you posted the picture of mine, you've saved me a lot of writing, but the details deserve mention. The yin/yang is made of inlaid black and white bone, vertical on one side, horizontal on the other. The quality of the inlay work is outstanding-if anyone has an old Martin guitar, they'll see similar work (also in rosewood). The karda & chakma are as nice as they look in the pics, with sculpted blades (streamlined choil on karda different from any I've ever seen) and handles, really more like the work of a custom knifemaker than mere accessories. Best fitting sheath I've ever seen - wonder if the rounded blade profile has something to do with it-no angle to hang up, just a smooth curve. Frog is much softer leather than usual for the purpose, but is as thick as any of my others. Time will tell how it holds up, but put me down for one of the lace-up frogs when you have one to spare-size large, please
.
Which gets us to the feel of the 1/2" thick, 2 7/8" wide blade. Cliff noted recently that one advantage of a heavier knife is that it makes all your others seem light by comparison. So true! My previous _big_ khukuri was the Serial Number One Shop 2 Chandan sirupati, but the GRB makes me want to twirl Old Number One like a baton. In fact, GRB is very unwieldy for me with one hand. However, the grip is almost an inch longer, and a two-handed (or hand and a half) grip makes all the difference in the world. This thing _moves_ when held with both hands. Talk about the khukuri talking to you!
A truly magical khukuri from a master kami - a knife and its maker of the old school. Many, many thanks.
Berk
The mailman rang twice today. First came the Shop 2 kagas katne, not what I was expecting but a nice surprise. Nicely done, and the check is in the mail. (Keep me on the list for a Shop 1 version as well, please). A half hour later I got to use it to open the much larger package I had been waiting for-my GRB Special.
Since you posted the picture of mine, you've saved me a lot of writing, but the details deserve mention. The yin/yang is made of inlaid black and white bone, vertical on one side, horizontal on the other. The quality of the inlay work is outstanding-if anyone has an old Martin guitar, they'll see similar work (also in rosewood). The karda & chakma are as nice as they look in the pics, with sculpted blades (streamlined choil on karda different from any I've ever seen) and handles, really more like the work of a custom knifemaker than mere accessories. Best fitting sheath I've ever seen - wonder if the rounded blade profile has something to do with it-no angle to hang up, just a smooth curve. Frog is much softer leather than usual for the purpose, but is as thick as any of my others. Time will tell how it holds up, but put me down for one of the lace-up frogs when you have one to spare-size large, please
Which gets us to the feel of the 1/2" thick, 2 7/8" wide blade. Cliff noted recently that one advantage of a heavier knife is that it makes all your others seem light by comparison. So true! My previous _big_ khukuri was the Serial Number One Shop 2 Chandan sirupati, but the GRB makes me want to twirl Old Number One like a baton. In fact, GRB is very unwieldy for me with one hand. However, the grip is almost an inch longer, and a two-handed (or hand and a half) grip makes all the difference in the world. This thing _moves_ when held with both hands. Talk about the khukuri talking to you!
A truly magical khukuri from a master kami - a knife and its maker of the old school. Many, many thanks.
Berk
- Joined
- Mar 5, 1999
- Messages
- 34,096
Thanks for report, Berk. It truly is one of the finest khukuris I've seen. Your scabbard is a sign of things to come. Take a look at the thickness of the leather where it is stitched together in the back -- a far cry from the standard 1/64 inch rawhide. Shop 2 is on the way to producing the highest quality rig to come out of Nepal in 50 years.
One last item -- our young kamis are learning a tremendous amount from the old timers like Ganga Ram and Bura and it is showing. My old fear that the old skills would be lost may have gone for naught.
Thanks again, Berk. I was somehow pretty confident you would not return that khukuri.
------------------
Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
http://members.aol.com/himimp/index.html
One last item -- our young kamis are learning a tremendous amount from the old timers like Ganga Ram and Bura and it is showing. My old fear that the old skills would be lost may have gone for naught.
Thanks again, Berk. I was somehow pretty confident you would not return that khukuri.
------------------
Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
http://members.aol.com/himimp/index.html
Here is my official ask about,and for,the replacement frogs.Are these,in your opinion,better than the BAS,which is fine with me?After re-reading the 1/64th.I was being generous about that frog loop thickness on the other than BAS.I guessed it at 1/32nd.Buff hide is pretty tough,but I don`t think that it is that tough.Where do you even find hide that thin on a buff?The ears?Inside of the ham?
[This message has been edited by ghostsix (edited 02 October 1999).]
[This message has been edited by ghostsix (edited 02 October 1999).]
- Joined
- Mar 5, 1999
- Messages
- 34,096
In my opinion, they are considerably better. Ghost, I am sending three frogs to you today via priority mail, two military style and one larger adjustable one which may fit your needs. If you find these unacceptable let me know and I will have some frogs made for you here in the US to your own specifications and at no cost to you.
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Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
http://members.aol.com/himimp/index.html
[This message has been edited by Bill Martino (edited 02 October 1999).]
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Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
http://members.aol.com/himimp/index.html
[This message has been edited by Bill Martino (edited 02 October 1999).]
Well, I'll ask it, but I'm probably not bright enough to hear what it may have to say.
Honestly I think that all of these khukuris are magical to a certain extent. They have much more life in them than any factory produced synthetic handled yucky knives.
I think that the all-natural approach combined with the intense labors of essentially master craftsmen leads to knives with _souls_. There are many times that I have done risky things with these knives and by all rights should have been cut but the edge just wouldn't touch me. The only reasonable way to look at it is that either A: some sort of higher power is looking out for me; or B: the khukuris are just too polite to bite me if they can in any way avoid it.
I suppose I'll just have to give the Ganga Ram special enough chances to seriously injure me and if it doesn't, I 'll decide it must like me.
Anyway, I say stick to the all-natural pre-industrial approach and even stick with the bloody Himalayan Epoxy! I can always use regular epoxy at my own discretion on recalcitrant handles, or learn to make yucky kydex sheaths if I want to keep my leather ones pristine (yeah right), but I for one prefer the ole fashioned approach.
Hell, guys like Ganga Ram have been making these things for sixty-five years or so?
If it ain't broke...
-Dave
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"I'm not a complete idiot; some parts are missing."
Honestly I think that all of these khukuris are magical to a certain extent. They have much more life in them than any factory produced synthetic handled yucky knives.
I think that the all-natural approach combined with the intense labors of essentially master craftsmen leads to knives with _souls_. There are many times that I have done risky things with these knives and by all rights should have been cut but the edge just wouldn't touch me. The only reasonable way to look at it is that either A: some sort of higher power is looking out for me; or B: the khukuris are just too polite to bite me if they can in any way avoid it.
I suppose I'll just have to give the Ganga Ram special enough chances to seriously injure me and if it doesn't, I 'll decide it must like me.
Anyway, I say stick to the all-natural pre-industrial approach and even stick with the bloody Himalayan Epoxy! I can always use regular epoxy at my own discretion on recalcitrant handles, or learn to make yucky kydex sheaths if I want to keep my leather ones pristine (yeah right), but I for one prefer the ole fashioned approach.
Hell, guys like Ganga Ram have been making these things for sixty-five years or so?
If it ain't broke...
-Dave
------------------
"I'm not a complete idiot; some parts are missing."
- Joined
- Mar 5, 1999
- Messages
- 34,096
Ganga Ram used all the old methods he has been using for his about 70 years of khukuri making but he quickly learned to use the new tools he found in shop 2. He forged the blade in the same manner he always has -- difference was his forge was powered by a heavy duty hair dryer. He edged the blade as he always has but used an electric powered grinder rather than the bicycle chain hand driven grinder. When drilling the handle he used a hand drill rather than the bow and string two man effort.
When you look at the finished product it is the same as what he would have produced had he made the khukuri in his own jungle shop with no modern conveniences. By using shop 2 he is able to make the knife better, faster and easier but it is the same result.
------------------
Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
http://members.aol.com/himimp/index.html
When you look at the finished product it is the same as what he would have produced had he made the khukuri in his own jungle shop with no modern conveniences. By using shop 2 he is able to make the knife better, faster and easier but it is the same result.
------------------
Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
http://members.aol.com/himimp/index.html