HI vs. khukuri House

S

seekerOR

Joined
Sep 12, 2002
Messages
10
Hello,

I've been eyeballin' an HI khukuri for more than a year but haven't had the funds for one yet, however while wanderin' the web I came across Khukuri House. They claim to have the best khukuris in Nepal and looking at the mfg process it was similar to HI in that they used spring steel and hammer the blades out by hand. The prices seemed insanely low however ($23-$30). I saw a very similar blade at a high end knife shop the other day (they were asking $60) that was had a tag that said it was made in Nepal for the Army.

Has anyone tried a Khukuri House blade? Are they any good? Or ate they a poor second to HI?
 
Best way to cure your curiosity is to get an HI and one from Khukuri House and compare the two. I think shipping from Nepal will be in the $40 range. We pay shipping to US destinations.
 
I've never handled a kukri house blade. They used to have a forum here but now they're gone.

The last I've heard, they've shut down operations but I'm not totally sure.
 
The last I've heard, they've shut down operations but I'm not totally sure.
Click to expand...

Bruise,
I believe you are thinking of the Gurkha House.
Regards,
Greg
 
The low KH price does not cover shipping from Nepal. I have not tried one of their khuks, but as far as value is concerned I can't see how anyone can beat HI for service, price and good people.
 
Ah, you are correct. Methinks me been punched in the head too many times.

I've never handled an item from kukri house either. :(
 
Bruise:

IIRC Gurkha House khuks were made by Khukri House. There are a couple of threads on the subject in the Cantina somewhere.

Also, IIRC, Cliff Stamp has commented on both makes of khuk.

S.
 
Gurka house was at one time the American importer of Khukuri House khukuris. Those were the first ones I actually owned, before I found Uncle Bill and Himalayan Imports. HI khuks tend to be far more refined, with a higher degree of fit and finish. The KH ones are solid, well made tools without a doubt. Both companies make solid users. HI has Uncle Bill to take care of problems for you on this end, and to back HI up with fast and honest customer service and and friendly care. That is worth a lot to me!:D
 
When I looked a Khukri HOuse they weren't as thick. Maybe I got hit in the head too and I'm recalling wrong, but it seemed to me most of the styles were of the same weight, that is, if it was 16" they weighed the same. I was reluctant to take a chance.

munk
 
I saw a khuk at a local sporting goods store this weekend. It looked like a BAS with water buffalo handles? (they were black)and brass fixtures. Not an HI but I figure after Christmas I'll go back and have a closer look. Then I'll ask all sorts of dumb questions. :D

"Can I see that there gurkee nife?" :)

Plus I'll be able to compare HI with another make besides the CS ones. Dunno if they were mass produced or not. They only had one under the glass.
 
I also bought a Khukri House made khukri (via the now defunct Ghurka house) before I found HI. At the time I figured it was cheaper, so what's the difference. When I got it I was perfectly happy. But after buying HI stuff, I realize that little bit in price difference is a big difference in quality. Kinda like the difference between 256kb connection and 1.5 mb internet connection. You dont realize the real difference until you try the faster connection, and then you realize how on earth did you ever survive with a lousy 256 kb connection.:D Anyways its the little things that are different. Like its been said the finish is lower (the blade doesnt have the magic stone polish HI khuks have, and grind marks are very visible), the leather was slightly torn (not bad but for a new knife), and the blade is somewhat soft. Anyways its been said before, and Ill say it again a HI blem is still better than 99% of the other guy's knives.
 
Thanks everybody, I've always wanted a 'khuk' but never wanted a wall hanger. I was back at the knife shop todday and what they had was a Khukuri House knife for $70. Didn't buy it. I can't imagine being able to afford a HI knife for several years, guess I'll have to stick with my Ka-Bar for my utility knife for a little longer.


SeekerOR

Molon Labe
Proud TFL Alumnus
 
Hello,
the first Khuks I owned were a Service No.1, a Balance Khukuri and a Panawal from Khukuri House. The Khuks were not bad but except the balance Khukuri had some flaws. The Service No.1 was too soft on the edge and I sold it to a collector who does not use his knives. The other two I have still in my Khukuri drawer and I like the Panawal very much. It is a good user with a full convex edge - but I had to set a new pair of handle-rivets as the full tang severed the original ones after a few strokes - the tang came out between the slabs and was very uncomfortable. Well this is fixed and the Panawal is comparable to a 15" Angh Khola if you only see the worth as a user. It is not as beautiful as the HI khuks and Karda and Chakma are of very poor quality compared to Bill`s items. The scabbard is not that nice (brass tip but steel fittings on the khuk :rolleyes: ) but I do not care in this case - it is a tight scabbard (no retaining strap needed at all) and it is a user and does not need to be beautiful. However the HI-Models are both, a user and beautiful and the service is a point you should not neglect. If you see the price of Khuk-House+customs duties + shipping the difference is not that big any longer.

Greetings and merry christmas from Bavaria

Andreas
 
I have a Panawal model (Chiruwa type) from Khukury House since 1 year. Shipping from Nepal to France was in the $40/$45 range for a 15" model. It's a good knife, very sharp, nice rosewood handle, the finishing is like my HI villager. Conclusion : very correct for the price.
I have 11 Hymalayan Imports Khukuries, 1 HI Bowie, 1 Kumar Karda, 1 Tarwar, 1 Everest Katana... In your opinion, which product does I prefer? ;)
 
I don't post on this forum very often, though I visit it almost every day. I will tell you that in my opinion, there is no such thing as a better khukuri than a Himalayan Imports.

And I am even more convinced that there isn't a man in the knife business that is better to deal with than Uncle Bill. A quality product, and a man of unsurpassed integrity behind it.
 
SeekerOR if youre looking for a bargain, and a heck of a user knife, hang out on the forums and try to snag an UBDOTD. Like I said, even though theyre blems, an HI blem is better than 99% of other peoples knives. Anyways, like you I thought it would take a long time before I could afford one, especially since I primarily collect other types of knives. Well thanks to UBDOTD my khuk collection expanded beyond the 1-2 that I was planning on. Now I own a 12" and 15" AK, a 25" and 12" Siruputi, a 20" kobra, 18" WWII, and a kagas katne.
 
From what I have seen the HI Khuk's are the best, hands down. While they are good enough to be wall hangers they are users, very strong and the quality control is excellent.

I own 5 HI Khuk's now, 4 AK's, 15", 15" Silver engraved, 18" and 20". And one 20" GS. I also have a Tarwar on the way.

I have seen the others like the CS. They are production knives and are all the same. With the HI Khuk's they are hand forged and each one has it's own look and feel, all of them are different, unique.

That gives you true pride of ownership, nobody has one just like yours. :D
 
A BAS blem goes for about 64 bux. Six bux less than the kukri house model. Free shipping to US folks.

A good price for a good "gurkee nife". :D
 
One noticeable difference between KH and HI is the length of the handles on their khukuris. While KH khukuris have handles that are long enough to accomodate the hands of most, HI's khukuris handles are considerably longer. Not only that, but there is a longer distance between the cho and bolster on HI knives, a la Berk's "cho creep," resulting in slightly different proportions for the same style knife. And KH's knives seem to stick to specs more. A knife that you get from them will pretty much look like the one in the picture, while there is a great deal of variation with HI knives, possibly due to the large amount of artistic license that its kamis have.

I'll second the recommendation for an UBDOTD or a blem. I've snatched up a few of both, and they are the best value by far. In fact, my first knife was a BAS blem, and it's still my favorite.
 
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