I challenge any reader of this forum...

Hmmm. I have this 18" AK and an extra helm made of riveted 14ga. and 12 ga sheet steel...

I'm pretty sure it would unzip a chainmail shirt with a powerful stroke...

Keith
 
Drdan, thank you for your compliments, I'm glad I could help. That AK is in fact still going strong, it's currently out on a pass-around with several members of this forum right now. Soft metal (aluminum, copper, etc.) really had very little effect on the blade. That damage could have been repaired in about 3 minutes with a sanding block and 1000 grit paper, there would have been no need for any reprofiling. They are really incredibly well made blades, not as refined in cosmetic detail as some of the knives made by American and Japanese master smiths, but there is no denying that they are just as tough as anything out there.
 
Originally posted by Roadrunner
not as refined in cosmetic detail as some of the knives made by American and Japanese master smiths,

Just today I saw what some of the forumites have done to significantly
upgrade the aesthetics of their khukuris. It's made me all the more anxious to receive my first HI khukuri. The 18" Gelbu Special with a burl saatisal handle and brass fittings would look beautiful to me. If I can significantly tweak the handle, bring the bolster to supreme smoothness, and get the blade as perfect as humanly possible, the khukuri would take on, for a better term, a "Zen quality" Simplicity teamed up with functionality and beauty. Plus, as an added bonus, the thing is relatively indestructable. The ethnic quality of the knife imparts a certain mystique as well, and of course the prowess of the Gurkhas completes its magic.

I see a niche in the knife collecting world that is still in its infancy. They're relatively inexpensive, even if you opt for the bling bling Kothomodas... For an average of say, $150, you get an object that took a significant amount of genius to fabricate. They will outperform everything I know of for their intended purpose, and if you trash them a bit, its no big deal as your testing clearly shows.

If you really want to raise the bar, you can send it back to Nepal, and have the best engraver known in the country further transform it with ethnical carvings of your choice and inlays of all sorts. Heck, if you have some "unwanted" gold trinkets, you can have them reborn in the form of a butt-cap and and bolster. The entire highly modified object will now be even more of a rarity, and it still isn't a big deal economically.

There's a place here for all sorts of players, from the person who desires one to help with chores around the house to one who collects all models and variations therof. I'm the only guy here who only wants one!!!

I think word will leak out more in the future. HI has integrity, is taking better care of the kamis than anyone else, and is helping the country of Nepal preserve its cultural heritage in its own small way. I have no doubt that we haven't seen nothing yet. It's nice to be on the ground floor when things take off. ;)
Click to expand...
 
For a couple of years I have been keeping an eye out for an authentic Kuhkuri, like the one my father had in the late 1960's. It magically disappeared along with the rest of his knives (many of them handmade) when he died in '82, but I will describe it to you and maybe someone will be able to tell me what I can get from HI or Gurkha Knives that will match it the most closely: The blade was about 12" long, and had (I think they are called fuller grooves) shallow flutes the length of it. My dad could sharpen anything, and this was absolutely the single sharpest cutting tool I have ever held in my life. The back of the blade was at least 3/8" think. The handle was black bone, with some type of white inlay, but the butt end was not as flared as I see on most of the models you guys show. The blade was mirror polished. The sheath was wood covered in tough black leather, and fit the blade perfectly, and was very tight the last 1/2" or so as the tang mated with the sheath. The sheath tip and base were decorated with silver metalwork. There were two small matching knives for burnishing or sharpening in leather pouches on the sheath. The blade seemed very heavy for only 12 or so inches, but was very well balanced.

I haven't seen the knife for 35 years, so my memory is a bit faded; I just remember that the thing just reeked of quality and hand work.

Thanks for an interesting forum, and please excuse my overall ignorance of the subject. Any info would be appreciated.

Regards,

Sredni_v
 
Go to www.himalayan-imports.com.
Click on "Visit Our Shop"
Click on shopping cart.
Click on the TITLE of any of the types that appear in windows to the left.

A list of "catgories" will now appear on the left. You can look at the various types (no vendor has more) to see what strikes your fancy. You can ask questinos here to get more information.

It's tough to lose something that links you to good memories, but at least you have those memories.

Good hunting.
 
The 12" Ang Khola is a dead ringer for it, althought the butt of the handle is very slightly different, and the sheath metal is gold instead of the silver I remember.

Thanks very much for the reference. I had visited the site before but was frustrated by not being able to expand the pictures on the main page.

I don't know how I missed this site before. My only problem now is affording all the HI blades I want to order! as well as a couple of knives on another website I found called Gurkha Knives. (Not to mention feeling a bit ill realizing that the CS knives I have been buying are pale imitations of these originals.) They certainly have lost a bit in my eyes in comparison. Here I was thrilled at getting a nice Cold Steel 15" HTC on closeout for $60 (they are discontinuing that model), when for slightly more I could have got a beautiful hand-made one of a kind blade. Oh well.

Q: Didn't CS sell a Kukri a few years ago for over $300? Was that different than the model they sell now?

I love CS knives, I have several of their knives going back 10 years or more in San Mai III and AUS-8 steel that out of the box are the sharpest folding knives I have ever owned, but after seeing the HI site I've bought my last Kukri from them.

Regards,

Svashtar
 
Originally posted by Svashtar
The 12" Ang Khola is a dead ringer for it, althought the butt of the handle is very slightly different, and the sheath metal is gold instead of the silver I remember.

Regards,

Svashtar
Click to expand...

Svashtar the 12" AK may be a dead ringer for the knife your dad owned, but it would have to short of a blade.
The HI Khuk's are measured over all length instead of the blade length.
An 18" AK would have a blade closer to 12 inches. My 18" AK was my favorite for a long time and for out and out bashing work, if I was able, would still be the knife of my choice.:)
The gold colored metal on the khuks and the scabbard are brass. Many of the khuks can now be had with steel furniture which is what I prefer.
 
I've owned a CS tanto with the kryton (sp?) handles, and a Trailmaster, and they were both utilitarian, although they aesthetic value was much less than even a basic "village" khukuri. If you can have a khukuri that is certainly utilitarian, and even more so with the HI offerings, you've already coldly pushed the other steel aside. Now, if you can tweak this "one upmanship" khukuri further, by dedicating a bit of time and elbow grease, you can have something with a real 'soul', that has transcended its utilitarian identity, while remaining utilitarian at the same time. :)

At the present time, they're ridiculously affordable. After considering all of the above, reflect on the sensations that natural materials have vs the man made ones: visual, tactile, olfactory and even auditory (carefully scrape your thumb off the blade, to elicit it, unless the blade actually talks to you!)... You could even taste the steel if you were so inclined, but you might look funny with no lips if your aim was off. ;)

I myself feel that there will be a veritable explosion in the near future regarding the importance of the khukuri as highly functional tools, impressive artistic objects, things of ever increasing monetary import, and as vehicles of enjoyment, which allow one to adopt an interesting hobby, which can only broaden cultural knowledge, and friendship with the people who made the khukuries themselves.

Stick around, you're in for a nice experience. Just make sure that you only replace that 1 khukuri. I've just solved your dilemma. Realise that one khukuri will be able to do everything, and believing that you need to acquire more than one is merely sales pufferey that a fellow named Pala, who lives in Nepal has initiated... Between you and me, some of the guys here have gotten a bit carried away, and collect these things like a dog collects fleas. Get an HI khukuri (unabashed plug; I always get my customary 10%); you'll get the best there is, glean tons of knowledge, and meet a lot of interesting and fraternally fueled participants.

Dan
 
Cold Steel had at least two models of Khukuri. I don't know what they sell now. The larger (Gurkha Kukri) listed for $299.00, but was always available for less from dealers. It was initially a slab with a bevel but became flat ground with a secondary (final) bevel. Lately, Cold Steel has changed materials on many of their models to the inferior 420 stainless. You have to check. Even AUS8 is inferior to 440C. CS seems to be like McDonalds -- the triumph of advertising over product quality.
 
I let my friend, Paul, borrow my wood handled 18" AK while he was deer hunting for a week. If you knew Paul, this would be the point where all the air in your lungs would have been sucked out. He's tough on things. The AK is fine...of course there's scratches on the blade from I don't know how many mesquite trees and live oaks. Not to mention the fact that he used it to help butcher the animals. Seems it was much quicker than using his usual knife and saw combo.

bt
 
To Dan, and everyone else that responded: thanks very much for the info and advice. My big task now is to pick just _one_ of the HI models that I like best, for now. There are a couple of smaller blades on the Gurkha Knives website that I am also looking at, but so far that site seems like it is just getting going compared to HI.

I'm on vacation now so can check in every day, but will do my best to drop in at least once every few days (probably around payday!) and see what new toys you guys have come up with.

Regards,

Svashtar
 
Originally posted by Svashtar
My big task now is to pick just _one_ of the HI models that I like best, for now.
Click to expand...

Ha ha, that's what I said, too. I wonder if anyone has ever actually purchased just one HI khukuri.:D

Svashtar-- don't forget to check for blems once you decide what you want. You can save quite a bit of money.

--Josh
 
Svashtar, I will offer just this small bit of advice. Buy from HI and you will have to stick with HI. The reason is that the khuks I've seen from other suppliers are a big step down. Haven't seen one from where you mentioned to be honest. I would be afraid of a let down if I were to purchased, sight unseen and khuk unheld, from someone other than Uncle Bill.

bt
 
Svashtar
Sorry missed your thread about your Dad's old Khuk.

I admite I know very little about Khuks...expecialy old Khuks. But I did own a true authentic, used in WWII by A Gurhka Khuk. It sounds a bit like your dads. If the finish is trully mirrored...its cromed, at least mine was. The closest thing I could find at HI (which has my absolute devotion after only one Khuk) is the Dui-Chirra (minus the tools and tinder pouch). It is suposadly 21.5" over-all, which is ideantical to my oldie.
Take a look at it and see if that one fits.
 
Originally posted by Josh Feltman
Ha ha, that's what I said, too. I wonder if anyone has ever actually purchased just one HI khukuri.:D
--Josh
Click to expand...

I know exactly what you mean...
 
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