HI gunshow fun

Joined
Jun 4, 2002
Messages
3,930
Went to a gunshow today and got to talking with a guy selling what I call "real knives" (no stainless blades or rubber handles). The subject turned to khukuris, and he gave me a sad look and exclaimed, "I wish I could just once see a real one in the flesh, all I've ever seen are those cheap ones from India". "Aha" I said, "you've never heard of Himalayan Imports? I'll be right back". With that I jumped into my trusty pickup and drove the twenty miles home, snatched up my khuks, and went zooming back at warp speed. As I handed him my Bura WWII, his eyes grew to saucer size, and his face beamed with joy. "I knew it" he said, "I knew this is what a real one would be like, the fit and finish are beautiful, and this thing feels like it would cleave through anything that got in its way". He had a lot of questions about the karda and chakma, the cho, how the blades are forged, etc..
As I got ready to go he said he'd like to repay me for the knowledge I'd shared with him, so he pulled a knife out of his case and said, "if you like this one I'll give you a very special price". I looked at the knife and gladly took him up on his offer. As soon as I can get some pics of it I'd appreciate some help from the experts as to its origins. I can tell you this for now, it's old, hand forged, and not from around here.

Later, as I strolled the show, khukris still in hand, I saw a fellow showing someone a CIK (cheap Indian khukri) and heard a man ask, "do you know if there's anybody who still makes the real ones?". Ha! I thought I was going to have to club him over the head and pry my khuks from his clutches. I think you'll be hearing from him real soon Uncle Bill.

Ah, the joy of sharing righteous steel with a world jaded by machine made crap. Hats off to Himalayan Imports.

Sarge
 
Sound like you had a bit of fun! Thanks for spreading "good" khukuri info around! If HI had a TV spot in the Super Bowl imagine the orders Uncle Bill would get!:D If people only knew HI was out there...
 
I haven't been to one with a khuk. But, it shows how the word needs to get around when we get the chance. If I would have heard of HI long ago I would already have a sot more khuks than I have now.

I would have loved to have had a khuk long ago..
There has been many different cutting tools that I would not have bought if I would have had a couple of good khuks. As we all know that have them now, they are just amazing
 
I've shared the light, but also had some ordinary experiences where the heads nod a few times and that's that. I get the feeling they don't believe. They think something on Ebay for 30 bucks is just as good. They think I've been conned, especially when they hear the prices.

Maybe it is also that sort of third world prejudice....we've been deluged by cheap goods from Mexico. It's funny. I've blasted trees as hard as I can with many of my khuks in testing. Some people would have to be there to believe.

Also, many people are like myself, before coming to this forum I knew next to nothing and now I know a little bit to the left of nothing.
You can buy a very fine axe for a couple hundred dollars and you can buy one for 20 bucks. Most people want to know what happened to the 20 bucks.

munk
 
good story. I get the same reaction on my HI khuks, and the HI falcata always demands some viewing. HI khuks have so much to bring to the table, at a fraction of what it could cost.

I've wanted to take an HI khuk to a knifemaker, jsut to get an estimate on what he thinks it would cost to duplicate it. I bet it would start in the 2-300 range, plus karda anc chakmak and sheath, you're talking like 400-500 US dollars.

Keith
 
Originally posted by Ferrous Wheel
good story. I get the same reaction on my HI khuks, and the HI falcata always demands some viewing. HI khuks have so much to bring to the table, at a fraction of what it could cost.

I've wanted to take an HI khuk to a knifemaker, jsut to get an estimate on what he thinks it would cost to duplicate it. I bet it would start in the 2-300 range, plus karda anc chakmak and sheath, you're talking like 400-500 US dollars.

Keith

Yeah, I talked extensively to an ABS Journeyman (while searching on the 'net for a proper Khuk) and he quoted me the price for a Penknife-like Khuk was around AUSTRALIAN $475, which comes up to around US$230, with delivery. And that was with a discount! Plus, he doesn't even offer a warranty with his Khuk, just a quality standard that replaces defective parts/products, but nothing even close to HI...
 
Originally posted by Pappy
I haven't been to one with a khuk. But, it shows how the word needs to get around when we get the chance. If I would have heard of HI long ago I would already have a sot more khuks than I have now.

I would have loved to have had a khuk long ago..
There has been many different cutting tools that I would not have bought if I would have had a couple of good khuks. As we all know that have them now, they are just amazing

I wouldn't have bought that many other knives if I'd heard of HI, that's for sure. I may not have even bought any of the non-rusting, modern knives that can't cut anywhere near a 12" Siru can...
 
NO Bill, but we do expect to see you and one of Clifton's one legged dancing girls at about 2:30 in the morning on cable...


munk
 
HI makes great stuff. The biggest compliment I ever heard on HI, was when I showed an HI khuk to my Tito (well he's not really my uncle). But this is an old and ornery Filipino, who just about taught me everything I know about knives. He took one look at that khuk and touched the blade, and said thats good steel. For me, that was the biggest confirmation that I got a good knife that I could have ever gotten.
 
Sarge, I think you are like the Apostle Paul of HI. In the short time you have been here, you have gotten the message to the most people, from the most places. Good on ya!
 
hmmm....

The Apostle Sarge

or maybe,

Sarge the Apostle
 
re: "Sarge the Apostle"

Friends you're giving me way more credit than I deserve. I just like good knives and I like good people.

There's a fellow at the gunshow who now wears one of my handmade neck knives hilted in whitetail antler. He wanted to buy it, but instead I traded for something off his table that a friend who was with me was drooling over. What did I get out of the exchange? A smile on the face of an old friend and a new one. I think I got the best of that deal.

Sarge
 
I sure enjoy folks with your attitude. You sure as shoot'in one of the good guys.:D
 
Back
Top