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Himalayan Imports & Ghurkha House
- Thread starter Leindler
- Start date
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2001
- Messages
- 598
Hello Leindler and welcome to the Cantina 
I'm sure Uncle Bill Martino (proprietor) and the other more knowledgable forumites will explain this in more detail to you. However I can say that HI (Himalayan Imports) does make all their own Khukuris in Nepal. That is, they have their own kamis (bladesmiths) on staff, working exclusively for them, in their own shop. This allows for excellent quality control and more attention to detail. The 'mark' of the kami who forged the blade is engraved on the Khukuri itself. Eack kami's talents has a loyal following here on the forum and we feel that we actually get to know them personally. Whereas GH procures their Khukuris from a another company called Khukuri House (also in Nepal). Functionally the Khukuris from either company should be similar. The difference is in the fit & finish of the final product. HI's Khukuris are much much nicer. Also I must state that HI's service and support is fast, reliable and outstanding. Uncle Bill stands behind his company 100%. He is very accessible to customers. In the one year I've been on this forum, NEVER have I heard or seen a negative comment regarding an HI customer's satisfaction. That means alot to me. ...and yeah I own a couple Khukuris too
I'm sure Uncle Bill Martino (proprietor) and the other more knowledgable forumites will explain this in more detail to you. However I can say that HI (Himalayan Imports) does make all their own Khukuris in Nepal. That is, they have their own kamis (bladesmiths) on staff, working exclusively for them, in their own shop. This allows for excellent quality control and more attention to detail. The 'mark' of the kami who forged the blade is engraved on the Khukuri itself. Eack kami's talents has a loyal following here on the forum and we feel that we actually get to know them personally. Whereas GH procures their Khukuris from a another company called Khukuri House (also in Nepal). Functionally the Khukuris from either company should be similar. The difference is in the fit & finish of the final product. HI's Khukuris are much much nicer. Also I must state that HI's service and support is fast, reliable and outstanding. Uncle Bill stands behind his company 100%. He is very accessible to customers. In the one year I've been on this forum, NEVER have I heard or seen a negative comment regarding an HI customer's satisfaction. That means alot to me. ...and yeah I own a couple Khukuris too
- Joined
- Mar 8, 1999
- Messages
- 8,911
Welcome to the Cantina, Laszlo.
From the heart of the paprika growing region, are you? My relatives have names like Pusta, Kiss, and ( my mom's maiden name) Fejes. My cousins and I grew up hating Hungarian because my mom and aunts would look at us kids, say a few words in Hungarian, look back at us, and then start laughing til they were rolling on the floor.
I think if you read both forums you'll find there are distinct differences in their personalities. I'll let Bill Martino take it from there.
From the heart of the paprika growing region, are you? My relatives have names like Pusta, Kiss, and ( my mom's maiden name) Fejes. My cousins and I grew up hating Hungarian because my mom and aunts would look at us kids, say a few words in Hungarian, look back at us, and then start laughing til they were rolling on the floor.
I think if you read both forums you'll find there are distinct differences in their personalities. I'll let Bill Martino take it from there.
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2000
- Messages
- 2,981
Lazlo,
Welcome! This topic can be found in archives & it gets"well quite vocal" I have a large # of HI K'S so "I'M BIASED"!I have "NO"
desire to have a GH.K,Why ,I have found what "I" like!I enjoy dealing with Bill, & enjoy the way he does bus.My advice is if $$ allow,try both,as I stated ,I'm biased,I don't need to try both!
jim
Welcome! This topic can be found in archives & it gets"well quite vocal" I have a large # of HI K'S so "I'M BIASED"!I have "NO"
desire to have a GH.K,Why ,I have found what "I" like!I enjoy dealing with Bill, & enjoy the way he does bus.My advice is if $$ allow,try both,as I stated ,I'm biased,I don't need to try both!
jim
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2001
- Messages
- 246
I haven't been hanging out here as long as some but I really enjoy the "conversations" with the family here. There are some very real people that are always ready to help at a moments notice.
About the Khukuris, Before I bought my first quality Kuk I did a LOT of researching. And all I could find on Himalayan Imports was very positive feedback. On Gurka House I came up with varied reports on quality. That right there made up my mind. The Khukuris I have purchased from Uncle Bill are exceptional, they are alive in your hand. I don't own a Gurka House Kuk so I can't give any first hand input on them. I'm sure they are decent, but when you buy a HI Kuk you get a built in family with it, all the eccentric relatives you could want.
About the Khukuris, Before I bought my first quality Kuk I did a LOT of researching. And all I could find on Himalayan Imports was very positive feedback. On Gurka House I came up with varied reports on quality. That right there made up my mind. The Khukuris I have purchased from Uncle Bill are exceptional, they are alive in your hand. I don't own a Gurka House Kuk so I can't give any first hand input on them. I'm sure they are decent, but when you buy a HI Kuk you get a built in family with it, all the eccentric relatives you could want.
- Joined
- Mar 5, 1999
- Messages
- 34,096
I'll say only this. After almost 20 years of experience with Nepal, kamis and khukuris I'm convinced BirGorkha is producing the best khukuris coming out of Nepal today. And, I don't think I am alone in my thinking.
Welcome to the Forum!
I agree with what everybody else has said. I haven't seen a GH khukuri, but I have seen one of the Gorkha issue ones, which are also made by Khukuri House. They are good knives, but IMO, not up to par with an H.I. There seem to be some other differences besides finish, too. It seems like the GH khuks are consistently lighter than the HI's. This is because they have slightly thinner blades, at least I know the knife I looked at had a slightly thinner blade than an my HI BAS. They also aren't hardened as well. GH khuks tend to beabout 54 to 57 rc; HI's are consistently at least 58 rc, with some kamis (particularly Bura, I think) tempering knives up to 62 rc. GH's often also have smaller handles than HI's. All in all these are really only minor differences, but they add up, and I think the HI is just a better khukuri.
I agree with what everybody else has said. I haven't seen a GH khukuri, but I have seen one of the Gorkha issue ones, which are also made by Khukuri House. They are good knives, but IMO, not up to par with an H.I. There seem to be some other differences besides finish, too. It seems like the GH khuks are consistently lighter than the HI's. This is because they have slightly thinner blades, at least I know the knife I looked at had a slightly thinner blade than an my HI BAS. They also aren't hardened as well. GH khuks tend to beabout 54 to 57 rc; HI's are consistently at least 58 rc, with some kamis (particularly Bura, I think) tempering knives up to 62 rc. GH's often also have smaller handles than HI's. All in all these are really only minor differences, but they add up, and I think the HI is just a better khukuri.
- Joined
- Aug 18, 2000
- Messages
- 312
Hello Lazlo and welcome. "Uncle" Bill is an honest man. I am most emphatically NOT saying anything against the other shop, but I can tell you that time and again I have seen how pleased and satisfied people have been when dealing with Bill. One really wonderful difference here is that members of this group often design and build models of their dream knives. These models are sent to Nepal and come back as the real, living blade and often, other members order and buy them too. The traditional designs predominate and they are excellent, but the Nepalese kamis are astonishingly good at adapting to special requests.
That makes Himalayan Imports a vibrant, contributing part of the knife world, as opposed to just a vender. Finally, several of the people in this group are genuine experts in metallurgy, antique and Aisian knives, and so on. You could profitably spend the next 48 hours going through as many postings as you are able. Then you will see how knowledgeable many of these people are and how generous they can be when answering questions.
best wishes
Stephen
That makes Himalayan Imports a vibrant, contributing part of the knife world, as opposed to just a vender. Finally, several of the people in this group are genuine experts in metallurgy, antique and Aisian knives, and so on. You could profitably spend the next 48 hours going through as many postings as you are able. Then you will see how knowledgeable many of these people are and how generous they can be when answering questions.
best wishes
Stephen
Thanks for Yours enthusiastic and kindly answers.
I'm also a knife-lover and i have many other thype of knives in my collection.
But i havent a really "big" knife for camping, hunting or survival situations. After i wrote a lot of this subjects i found "THE KUKRI" like the solution to my questions.
After this I just want to find the best place to order.
I think i got it!
Thanks again!
I'm also a knife-lover and i have many other thype of knives in my collection.
But i havent a really "big" knife for camping, hunting or survival situations. After i wrote a lot of this subjects i found "THE KUKRI" like the solution to my questions.
After this I just want to find the best place to order.
I think i got it!
Thanks again!
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2000
- Messages
- 2,981
Lein,
I agree! Welcome to the group! Piece of advice ,watch out for Yvsa,Blues,Koz,Rus & Wal they are nice guys but a little "strange"!
I think you found a home! By the way, I'm the only normal one here!
jim
I agree! Welcome to the group! Piece of advice ,watch out for Yvsa,Blues,Koz,Rus & Wal they are nice guys but a little "strange"!
I think you found a home! By the way, I'm the only normal one here!
jim
- Joined
- Jul 6, 1999
- Messages
- 1,151
Leindler, welcome to Uncle Bill's Cantina!
I've heard many good things about GH. But not my first hand experience. For me HI was the first real khukuri maker / dealer, which took all the interest to poke around for another khukuri in other place. So I can't say which is better, just HI is satisfying enough. O, here's another reason. As I live far from US, higher price of HI is not a big deal comsidering transportation and tax.
I've heard many good things about GH. But not my first hand experience. For me HI was the first real khukuri maker / dealer, which took all the interest to poke around for another khukuri in other place. So I can't say which is better, just HI is satisfying enough. O, here's another reason. As I live far from US, higher price of HI is not a big deal comsidering transportation and tax.
- Joined
- Mar 5, 1999
- Messages
- 34,096
Thanks for considerate input.
- Joined
- Mar 8, 1999
- Messages
- 8,911
Two-three years ago it took me something like 5 days to read through all the posts. That was before Bladeforums even started.
Now you would need to read a thousand posts a day for fifty days in a row to go from start to finish of the HI forum posts on bladeforums alone.
Now you would need to read a thousand posts a day for fifty days in a row to go from start to finish of the HI forum posts on bladeforums alone.