japanese khukuris

DannyinJapan

DannyinJapan

Joined
Oct 9, 2003
Messages
5,594
Man I went to this martial arts shop in shinjuku today and they had those indian made flat steel kukri.
price: 180$

oh my , what a difference HI makes...
 
Originally posted by DannyinJapan
Man I went to this martial arts shop in shinjuku today and they had those indian made flat steel kukri.
price: 180$ oh my , what a difference HI makes...
Click to expand...

Definitely turn them on to HI. The Japanese would probably like the khukuris as much as us, and I would imagine that they'd be just as, or more enthusiastic in tweaking the blades as we are. :)

Dan
 
Originally posted by DannyinJapan
I will try, but if I know them, they will be asking 500$ for the HI models...
Click to expand...


:eek: :eek: :eek: Here we are picking up 99% perfect blems for $75!

Dan:)
 
Originally posted by DannyinJapan
I will try, but if I know them, they will be asking 500$ for the HI models...
Click to expand...


You know, Danny, this is really insignificant as it is relates to prices in Japan. Last time I was there I remember the prices being a bit exhorbitant; what's the current price in U.S. $ for a 3 kg. watermelon IN SEASON? :eek:

Japanese aficionados have no problem at all paying $100,000 U.S. for a recently made katana by a National Living Treasure bladesmith. The Japanese appreciate quality; an HI khukuri is a quality creation... If the Sword of Shiva could be rendered as nicely as the horimono on a Yoshindo Yoshikata katana (read non National Living Treasure, but the best of the best), I would gladly pay $1,000, $2,000 or + for the khukuri.

The Japanese might just be the segment of the hobby that raises the aesthetic bar of the khukuri to ultra high finish standards. I know you have a GS like I do... Show our Japanese counterparts the blade, and I am 100% sure they will appreciate its intrinsic quality and beauty. Bring it to the dojo where expensive katanas wielded by trained experts cut katami... Take your GS in one hand, and do the same thing! :) You're bound to get their attention...

Khukuris are here to stay, and I maintain that we are on the "ground floor" of its discovery by the masses. Give me the 10/10 blade that Uncle Bill commonly sells, and just tweak the handle and steel a bit. It's a masterpiece, and an incredible bargain. If the aesthetics or finish standards could be upgraded, then it would become even more attractive for many "sleeper" out there. The blade itself remains unparalleled regardless of the embellishments--functional, expertly forged, beautifil and decisively effective. :) I'd love to hear the input of the Japanese after checking out your GS... ;)

Dan :)
 
that the Japanese are blade-snobs?;) S'okay if they are, I'm purty particular about me beers...

I do like the mental pic of someone rolling in and slashing tatami: Get up there, iaido style draw,swak that roll like twice as fast- Kiai! Kiai! then back in the scabbard. Some folk'd wonder what the hell all that was! hee ehe.

I'm sort of a blade snob. I like the ones I can afford!:)

Keith
 
Originally posted by Ferrous Wheel
that the Japanese are blade-snobs?;)
Click to expand...

Maybe not snobs, but definitely SERIOUS connoisseurs, especially when it concerns the antique blades. I like the modern working katanas myself, although I appreciate the beauty of the antiques and high end modern art katanas. :eek:

I would love to have a movie catching the expressions on the faces of the practitioners of tameshigiri when someone well versed with the khukuri duplicates the katana's cutting ability... Faster... And, with one hand... Who was that masked man? :D
 
Drdan, from what I have read and the people I have talked to that have lived there and done business there, the Japanese market is a very unique one. Some would even say peculiar, a work I like a lot, and even some less kind adjectives I have heard used. For them, form, asthetics, TRADITION, service to a degree that some of our people find impossible to meet, are just some of the hurdles to overcome in such a venture. I would also not try any business adventure in Japan without a Japanese partner. This last item is an absolute must, without one they won't even pitch you the ball let alone have you get to first base. It is a long, slow, trying, maddening, and for many, a futile effort. To be quite honest, Uncle Bill is not young enough to cultivate a business opportunity in Japan. It would take years, many years. The only exception would be if UB were approached by a Japanese businessman offering a joint venture, otherwise I think the odds are awfully long against it.
 
any understand to a certain point, the Japanese mindset... I would have no desire to get involved with any sort of complicated business relationship with anyone, and wouldn't wish it on anyone! :D It would be wonderful if the Japanese would see the proverbial light, and start ordering regularly from HI. They could fill out the order form like everyone else, pay in U.S. $, and include shipping costs.

Simply going into the shop where DannyinJapan saw the "lesser quality khukuri", and showing his HI Gelbu Special would be an eye opener if the store owners cared about quality, and wished to provide their customers with something even better. That simple procedure might evolve a situation in which HI khukuris enter a potentially open market, and meet the Japanese yen for quality and craftsmanship. ;)

Here in Italy, I already found a knife store where I will be proud to show them my GS when it arrives. Condsidering the high prices here for junk steel, I am sure they will be very interested, especially considering the prices offered on the HI website. Obviously, we all wish HI, U.B., Pala, et al., and the Nepali craftsmen and their families the very best. :) Win win for everyone involved...

Dan :)
 
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