Himalayan Imports vs. Khukuri House

[John Shields]

Without posting too much about the "other" guy out of respect for HI (I wont list a link, you'll have to Google it)... I wanted to know if anyone has had any experience with KHHI's Khukuri's? They have some decent general information on their site (history and so forth), but I get the feeling that their final product may be of lesser quality than HI's.

Has anyone had the opportunity to work with both knives before and what are your general thoughts? I've seen them mentioned more than once on another forum I'm a member of (a survivalist type of site... which by the way is how I found out about HI). But there isn't much said besides a link. I want to better inform those guys on where the best place to purchase is and why.

I could tell them all day long how high the quality of HI khukuri are, the support (phenomenal by the way!), and point them to reviews of products. But to say "It's better because of X, Y, Z", by comparing similar products would be more beneficial I think.

Thanks!

 

[Cpl Punishment]

Khukuri House blades tend to have a worse fit and finish than HI's standard (polished and finished wood) blades. They also usually have handles sized for Asians, which are small for many Americans. The other thing is they are lower in price than HI, which a lot of guys hold against HI, but KH pounds you on shipping, where shipping is included for HI products (for US addresses).

 

[Steely_Gunz]

Khukuri House blades tend to have a worse fit and finish than HI's standard (polished and finished wood) blades. They also usually have handles sized for Asians, which are small for many Americans. The other thing is they are lower in price than HI, which a lot of guys hold against HI, but KH pounds you on shipping, where shipping is included for HI products (for US addresses).

Boom and Bingo:thumbup:

Also, don't forget about the stellar HI khuk community. I think I can count on one hand how many knife manufacturers have as loyal of a following and brotherhood/sisterhood as HI does. KH is not on that list.

 

[John Shields]

Khukuri House blades tend to have a worse fit and finish than HI's standard (polished and finished wood) blades. They also usually have handles sized for Asians, which are small for many Americans. The other thing is they are lower in price than HI, which a lot of guys hold against HI, but KH pounds you on shipping, where shipping is included for HI products (for US addresses).

I was messing around on the site to see what shipping actually was while you posted this. Come to find out a $67.00 knife adds over $40.00 shipping. That's for a 10-15 day trip.

So the price I wouldn't even mention. I thought they looked fishy with those really low marked prices but yeah, they definitely hack you with the shipping and "Service Charges" (which was an additional $6.00+).

The sizing isn't mentioned except for "Blade Length" which leaves a lot of interpretation for overall length. I found one I would compare in size and weight to the M-43 from HI and the pricing was the same if not higher. The polishing wasn't near as nice either nor was the "scabbard" for that item. Seems like a lot of them are lower end when compared to HI. The $100.00 ones (pre-shipping and additional charges) seems more on par. But then, I guess you're paying for it.

I have to wonder how they hold up. The forging process seems similar but I even questioned the base material they used. Seems like they're more broad based where HI uses specific parts and pieces from specific manufacturers (the spring steel from say a BMW).

All in all, more information for me to throw at these other guys on the forum. Maybe help push them towards HI and not being goosed with the "other guys" (and that's directed to the internet as a whole, not a specific retailer or khukuri manufacturer). Again, I have no knowledge of how they actually perform though. So if anyone can add some info into the mix here, please do.

Boom and Bingo:thumbup:

Also, don't forget about the stellar HI khuk community. I think I can count on one hand how many knife manufacturers have as loyal of a following and brotherhood/sisterhood as HI does. KH is not on that list.

Definitely. Since I first started posting here not long ago... I've always felt welcomed. I don't see the snobby, stuck up types that I see on other knife sites. Add in the fact that Yangdu is most notorious for being friendly and helpful. At least that's been my experience thus far. I can't even count on one hand other manufacturers that would put up with my barrage of questions with what seems like an e-smile, like she has. Not to mention respond to me within 6 hours (when the message was sent at 3am or so). You'd think she had a whole inbox full in the morning and would get to me when she could. I expected 24-48 hours.

 

[HARPERSGRACE]

As said above KH's fit *nd finish does not match HI's standards. Blades tend to be thinner over all. Plus you have shipping costs from india. HI tend to give you much more bang for the buck and great customer service. That being said I have picked up a couple cheap on ebay and they are servicable but nothing to write home about. I've ended up giving all but one away.

 

[John Shields]

As said above KH's fit *nd finish does not match HI's standards. Blades tend to be thinner over all. Plus you have shipping costs from india. HI tend to give you much more bang for the buck and great customer service. That being said I have picked up a couple cheap on ebay and they are servicable but nothing to write home about. I've ended up giving all but one away.

How did they perform in comparison? Do they hold up in terms of cutting power, edge strength, and so forth?

 

[Cpl Punishment]

I was messing around on the site to see what shipping actually was while you posted this. Come to find out a $67.00 knife adds over $40.00 shipping. That's for a 10-15 day trip.

Yeah, forgot to mention that not only do you get the rectal cheese grater on shipping costs, but they take the slow boat to boot.

Performance-wise, I never had one, but I haven't heard anything bad about them. Of course, the guys who have had them thought kukri machetes were just as good, so. . .

 

[Karda]

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?p=7276955&highlight=khukuri#post7276955

 

[hollowdweller]

I feel the biggest difference between KH and HI besides the shipping is that all khuks have duds. If your HI khuk messes up you can return it. MUCH more difficult to return a KH one.

 

[tedwca]

As said above KH's fit *nd finish does not match HI's standards. Blades tend to be thinner over all. Plus you have shipping costs from india. HI tend to give you much more bang for the buck and great customer service. That being said I have picked up a couple cheap on ebay and they are servicable but nothing to write home about. I've ended up giving all but one away.

I agree with everything said so far, but I'd like to mention that the KH blades I've ordered have come from Katmandu not India. I have also never bought another one after buying an HI.

 

[Nicholas]

Also, don't forget about the stellar HI khuk community. I think I can count on one hand how many knife manufacturers have as loyal of a following and brotherhood/sisterhood as HI does. KH is not on that list.

Having a community of experienced buyers and users to fall back on was a big factor in my final decision to go with HI. Heaven only knows that I hung around for a while, before buying!

In KH's defense, I think that their photo guides to proper use and handling was a very nice gesture on their part. But I can read them without buying one of theirs, so it didn't affect my purchase.

 

[KEmSAT-Survival]

When I first started looking at Khuks I thought HI and KH were the same people, or atleast branches of the same tree.
I realized they reamed you with shipping (KH) so naturally I thought HI did the same.

I had to come here to find out that they aren't the same people. They only have knives of the same configuration. That's where the similarities end.

I don't own an HI khuk, and I've since fallen out of love with the style, if I were to buy one it'd be an HI. Too many positives. KH has too many variables.

I actually argued with somebody over it on another forum...but I can't remember who it was now. I owe them an appology, and I owe Yangdu one for my case of mistaken identity, too.

Anyhow....go with HI.

 

[kamagong]

I've owned a few KH knives in addition to the dozen or so HIs that I have. KH's stuff isn't as well made as HI's. They're pretty good, but HI's is in another league.

I had one of their WW2 models. It was a good looking knife, balanced well in my hand, and came sharper than most of HIs. But when I tested it out trying to take apart a cabinet it failed. The handle cracked. The bolster broke at the area where it was soldered. And the edge chipped out badly. Did I get a bad knife? No doubt, but all manufacturers make an occassional lemon. The problem was that I wasn't going to spend $80 to send back a $79 knife for warranty work.

 

[HARPERSGRACE]

I agree with everything said so far, but I'd like to mention that the KH blades I've ordered have come from Katmandu not India. I have also never bought another one after buying an HI.

You are quite right my error.
The KH I have had held up well but then I donot use them to the same degree as most here do I tend to be more of a collector. They did tend to have sharp edges on fittings that become unpleasent with use. I would have no problem using one in a pinch but would prefer a HI.

 

[Xmodius]

No comparison, none. Apples and oranges.

 

[darkwater205]

My first Kurk was an Ang Khola for Kurkri House. it arrived on time and was very sharp. However shortly after I received it I went camping and was using it to chop wood. While it did this task well without any blade damage, and held its edge, the wood on the handle came loose after just a few chops. Now the blade is full tang and the hardware held so the wood did not come off, but the glue bond was broken and to this day the wood wiggles around even when I swing the knife through the air. Also the scabbard was very poor. It was almost too small for the blade, split within a few months, still had hair on it, and in the end the brass tip fell off. Please keep in mind that save for the one trip to the woods neither blade nor scabbard were subject to anything more rigorous than display in my living room.

While my inexperience may have played a roll, I was not impressed with the workmanship. Now that I know, it is obvious that HI blades are a better deal, and worth the money. Also +1 to the above comments.

 

[wildmike]

I went to their site and did the conversions on weight , thickness and lenght on their blades. While most lengths are similar they are on average 30% thinner than comparable HI models.

Plus with HI you get to deal with Yangdu. The service she gives her customers and the way she treats us all like family,. As well as the integrity and honesty shown in how she runs the business, is worht a lot more to most of us than money.

Besides the H.I. kuk's are the best made. Bar none.

 

[John Shields]

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?p=7276955&highlight=khukuri#post7276955

Yeah, one of these days I'll up my membership here so I can at least do a search of the forums. Without it, there's just no knowing where those discussions are unless I go page by page of every sub-forum. Nice links though, thanks.

I've owned a few KH knives in addition to the dozen or so HIs that I have. KH's stuff isn't as well made as HI's. They're pretty good, but HI's is in another league.

I had one of their WW2 models. It was a good looking knife, balanced well in my hand, and came sharper than most of HIs. But when I tested it out trying to take apart a cabinet it failed. The handle cracked. The bolster broke at the area where it was soldered. And the edge chipped out badly. Did I get a bad knife? No doubt, but all manufacturers make an occassional lemon. The problem was that I wasn't going to spend $80 to send back a $79 knife for warranty work.

This is what I was looking for. Thanks.

My first Kurk was an Ang Khola for Kurkri House. it arrived on time and was very sharp. However shortly after I received it I went camping and was using it to chop wood. While it did this task well without any blade damage, and held its edge, the wood on the handle came loose after just a few chops. Now the blade is full tang and the hardware held so the wood did not come off, but the glue bond was broken and to this day the wood wiggles around even when I swing the knife through the air. Also the scabbard was very poor. It was almost too small for the blade, split within a few months, still had hair on it, and in the end the brass tip fell off. Please keep in mind that save for the one trip to the woods neither blade nor scabbard were subject to anything more rigorous than display in my living room.

While my inexperience may have played a roll, I was not impressed with the workmanship. Now that I know, it is obvious that HI blades are a better deal, and worth the money. Also +1 to the above comments.

Also good comment. Thanks for the review of the performance.

I went to their site and did the conversions on weight , thickness and lenght on their blades. While most lengths are similar they are on average 30% thinner than comparable HI models.

Plus with HI you get to deal with Yangdu. The service she gives her customers and the way she treats us all like family,. As well as the integrity and honesty shown in how she runs the business, is worht a lot more to most of us than money.

Besides the H.I. kuk's are the best made. Bar none.

Yeah Mike, same feeling here. She's been amazing so far. I'm just astonished that she's so quick to respond and is forthcoming about answers. Most manufacturers copy and paste blanket responses or don't give much effort to make sure the customer understands their purchase. She does.

All in all, this will be a thread I'll forward to the other guys. I'll see if I can't get some of them interested in HI and picking up some of the knives on the site.

 

[knifes101]

When I was looking around for a khurkuri I came across KH as well and was seriously considering getting that instead of HI. But then after doing a lot of research on the HI site, and reading about how HI helps lift their workers out of poverty and take care of them, this became a major deciding factor for me. Then I saw "Deal of the Day" and that could not be beat! And the quality of the HI knife I ordered is outstanding. All around win situation and when I think it was only a few $$ more.

 

[tedwca]

Yeah, one of these days I'll up my membership here so I can at least do a search of the forums. Without it, there's just no knowing where those discussions are unless I go page by page of every sub-forum. Nice links though, thanks.

Paying memberships are good, but until then use Google. It works fine for searching BF.

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