How long does it take to produce a khukuri?

J

JimmyJimenez

Joined
Sep 30, 2005
Messages
580
I have read in many places that an average horn or wood handled khukuri can take 4 men a full day to produce just one knife. Is this about right with HI as well?

Producing one meaning (at least to me) the following:

*Cutting down the automobile leaf spring

*Forging it to shape

*Heat treatment

*Filing blade to final shape, blade groove placement etc, and sharpening

*Complete bolster manufacture

*Complete metal pommel (if any) manufacture

*Complete wood or horn handle manufacture

*Assembly of all components

*Final polish and such

*Complete scabbard construction, including assembly


***The above steps may not be in any correct order, but are some of the major tasks involved in these knives.
 
Jimmy, from memory, and mine is lousy, Bill once said he thought it took about a day for a Kami to make a khuk. But when we gave them a few, just a few, power tools, he thought maybe a Kami could make two a day.

That's all I recall.


munk
 
munk said:
Jimmy, from memory, and mine is lousy, Bill once said he thought it took about a day for a Kami to make a khuk. But when we gave them a few, just a few, power tools, he thought maybe a Kami could make two a day.

That's all I recall.


munk
Click to expand...

Thanks for your input :)
 
I doubt that they make just one at a time...economy of scale works even in a primative setting. They probably chunk up the springs until they have a pile, then forge a bunch all at once, then handle a abtch at a time.

At least I would...simply because I'm lazy. I figure it takes a good pile of charcoal to get the fire hot enough, might as well just build it once.

Who knows? Email Bura to find out: Bura@yesImakeniceknives.org
 
Nasty said:
I doubt that they make just one at a time...economy of scale works even in a primative setting. They probably chunk up the springs until they have a pile, then forge a bunch all at once, then handle a abtch at a time.

At least I would...simply because I'm lazy. I figure it takes a good pile of charcoal to get the fire hot enough, might as well just build it once.

Who knows? Email Bura to find out: Bura@yesImakeniceknives.org
Click to expand...

You're kidding me! Only Nasty would have Bura's actual email addy! :D :thumbup:

(Unless he really is pulling my leg?!)

Norm
 
Norm, doubt the old guy Bura is even much of a Nepalese language reader, so him reading our english is a long-shot indeed.............. ;) LOL! Then again, he may be able to read english :)

Nasty, my question has probably been asked here before (somewhere at sometime), so I would'nt doubt that Yangdu or Bill had probably given good descriptions of the true production times it takes to manufacture their khukuri.

I figured either someone would chime in remembering such topics, or even that Yangdu may run across the question and answer it for us in real good detail.

When you stated "Who knows?", I can confidently say that either some folks here do, or that some folks here have easy access to getting such answers from the horses mouth ;)
 
These people who know things are powerful. They've been holding out on us. In this new century more than ever, knowledge is power. I suggest we hunt down these know-it-alls and get the information; by whatever means neccesary. Do they have uniforms on? They do not? Then the Geneva Convention does not apply in their case. We can get mean, we can get downright NASTY.




>>>>>>>>

If that doesn't work, though, the next time I talk to Yangdu I'll ask her how long she thinks it takes, and maybe she can ask the shop the same question. That is- if inquiring minds really want to know. I think Dan Koster has a video of a Kami making a khuk and that might help.


munk
 
Does wearing all black count as a uniform?

Pretty big assumption that *I* would write to Bura in English...geesch! ;)
 
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