Khukri House khukris VS Himalayan Imports

Masteroffajitas

Masteroffajitas

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I really dig the khukri design, looks like an awesome chopper. There seems to be two really big competitors, Kukri House, and Himlayan Imports....

I like the designs of boths companies, but I cannot decide..

Kukri House khuks are cheaper, more selection of them, and nicer marterials then the HI khuks.

buut...

ALOT of people here swear by thier HI khuk, and they are handmade, traditional and all that good stuff.

Can anybody give me a little backround on khukri house?
 
Could one of the mods move this to feedback?

The Khukurihouse khuks are handmade as well.

They're (from what I understand) the main supplier for army khuks. I've ordered from them once and they're pretty decent. But that's all I can tell you, never had a HI version.
 
isn't the khukri house (“KHUKURI HOUSE HANDICRAFT INDUSTRY” or “KHHI”) profile, listed on the "about us" page on their website?
but if you're asking about a quality comparison between the two makers; than it would be like comparing an ontario knives kbar with a ka-bar knives kbar.
it boils down to the preffered higher quality controls applied by HI's to its product line.
if you're into better finishing than the choice is obvious.
 
What is the steel that Khukri house uses? Also what do think is there best khukri for outdoor uses?
 
Masteroffajitas said:
Kukri House khuks are cheaper,
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Once you figure in KH's shipping from Nepal, the price difference is negligable.
In order to get any kind of useful chopper grom KH you are going to spend at least $70+ and then Have to tack on $30+ for shipping. Whereas if you buy from the DOTD's you can get a very nicely finished useful khukuri frm H.I. for around the same $100.

Masteroffajitas said:
more selection of them,
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I beg you to look again at the H.I site/store and forum. H.I has a much more diverse selection of items for sale and are the original producers of these items. The other companies seem to copy H.I. designs. At one time long ago they actually used pictures directly off the H.I. site to sell their wares.

Masteroffajitas said:
and nicer marterials then the HI khuks.
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Again i beg you to look further. KH does not offer at least six types of different wood for handles, nor do they offer any stag,Antler or elk handles. H.I offers these and more often even with carved handles.

Add that H.I. has a lifetime guarantee to the original owner on all it's knives (except Blems) and that you don't need to ship it back to Nepal for replacement.And that H.I. customer service is the best in the Khuk industry.

While the KH khukuri's are entirely serviceable pieces, IMHO, In terms of fit , finish and overall quality of product and customer service they are in no way comparable to Himalayan Imports.


Check out these previous topics:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=648568&highlight=khukuri+house

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=648136&highlight=khukuri+house

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=646823&highlight=khukuri+house

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?p=6867420#post6867420



DMH1112 said:
What is the steel that Khukri house uses? Also what do think is there best khukri for outdoor uses?
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They probably use a similar 5160 spring steel from truck leaf springs, as H.I uses. however i have seen too many KH khuks sold with obvious forging flaws, something you never see on an H.I khuk. A suitable khuk for outdoor use would depend on what you plan to use it for. Generally speaking you would need a khuk that is 15" OAL to be suitable for chopping, batonning and general camp use.
 
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Where do you find the deal of the day? Also what is the best HI kukri? I was thinking about buying the british army services or the WWII.
 
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DMH1112 said:
Where do you find the deal of the day? Also what is the best HI kukri? I was thinking about buying the british army services or the WWII.
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You can find the DOTD's in the Himalayan Imports Forum in the Manufacturers Section here at BF. Check out the "First Kukuri-recommendations and Reasons" thread stickied at the top of the forum, this should help you get an idea of what size and type you want. Ask around the Forum there, if you have any questions, They are a very friendly bunch and most people will be willing to answer them. Both of those you mentioned would be great for a first khukuri, pick the one that calls to you.
 
DMH1112 said:
What is the steel that Khukri house uses? Also what do think is there best khukri for outdoor uses?
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The steel they use is good old leaf springs from your pick em up truck.

I was reading a message from this guy who is Nepalese. He was saying that real khukris for cutting and real work aren't polished, and the ones that are polished are just for show. He also said khukri makers are realizing that many foreigners don't know this and that's why so many are polished. He mentioned something about how the makers will use the better leaf springs they have for the blades that are going to be unpolished, and use the junk pile of springs for the polished blades.

I'm no expert on the type of polish that's on Khukris.

The Nepalese man stated that if I didn't believe him...then I should go and ask any real Nepalese person. I was going to do just that, but I don't know of any people from Nepal:D
 
Firstly, the leaf springs primarily come from large delivery type trucks and buses, not from your average pick up truck.

It's true that most nepalese people use unpolished khukuri's, these are called villager khukuri here at the forums. It has to do with the fact that it costs money to polish a khukuri and most nepali's are poor people,also the khukri they purchase is going to be used in everyday work for alot of different tasks and they feel that polishing is unneeded.

H.I. sells polished , ones with as forged finish and unpolished villager style khukri. There is no performance difference between them and is purely aesthetic. It is all about what one prefers. The same steel is used in every khukuri they make and is never a "junk" steel. Some other companies/Kami's may practice what you speak of, but not Himalayan Imports.
 
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DMH1112 said:
Where do you find the deal of the day? Also what is the best HI kukri? I was thinking about buying the british army services or the WWII.
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You'd first have to ask what you intend to do with said khukuri... THEN you could pick the type best suited for the job. For me, it's the Bonecutter, 'cause I typically use khuks for chopping wood. It'd be a poor choice for lighter clearing type duties though... it's all about the job you have in store for the tool.
 
C.S. Graves said:
You'd first have to ask what you intend to do with said khukuri... THEN you could pick the type best suited for the job. For me, it's the Bonecutter, 'cause I typically use khuks for chopping wood. It'd be a poor choice for lighter clearing type duties though... it's all about the job you have in store for the tool.
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Good point. If you were going to use one in a tropical environment, you'd probably want a narrower style.
 
The right Khuk for the right job.

They range from the as stated 'light' 15inch overall length of about 24ounces weight such as the British Army Service through to the 'heavy' hitters such as the Bonecutter or the very easy to get Chiruwa Ang Khola of 20inches oal/40ounces weight.

Of course there are HI models each side of these two examples, the Siruparti for the light-weights and the Ganga Ram for the heavy-weights.

I found choosing a manufacturer was easier than picking which model to get as my first purchase, as when after I had made it I realised it was going to be the first of many, not the one and only. :D
 
Esav Benyamin said:
Good point. If you were going to use one in a tropical environment, you'd probably want a narrower style.
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Yeah, one might also opt for the mirror-polished ones too to stave off corrosion in humid environments.

Wish I had some experience with Khukuri House so I could make a fair comparison. As it stands I'm pretty biased in favour of HI, though KH's lower price point (after shipping?) may be a deciding factor.
 
C.S. Graves said:
Yeah, one might also opt for the mirror-polished ones too to stave off corrosion in humid environments.
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Living less than 150yards from the Pacific Ocean, avoiding and limiting the effects of rust and corrosion are daily issues I must fight.

I recently purchased a bead blasted Kershaw folder that started showing rust within a week of residence in my seaside abode. All my Khuk's and other HI blades have been the highly polished versions despite the lesser cost and more readily available villager options sometimes being available.

As a test I have had a highly polished Uddha sword on my chair-side table in the longeroom for the last 6 weeks covered with a protective coating of Lanotec Lanolin spray on rust inhibitor and it remains unmarked.:thumbup: :D

I will be only buying full polish blades from now on but if I have no option except a bead and satin finished blade I will be getting it refinished to a full polish.:cool:
 
Masteroffajitas said:
I really dig the khukri design, looks like an awesome chopper. There seems to be two really big competitors, Kukri House, and Himlayan Imports....

I like the designs of boths companies, but I cannot decide..

Kukri House khuks are cheaper, more selection of them, and nicer marterials then the HI khuks.

buut...

ALOT of people here swear by thier HI khuk, and they are handmade, traditional and all that good stuff.

Can anybody give me a little backround on khukri house?
Click to expand...

FYI Kukri house is garbage...I have one and it is totally lopsided. Himalayan Imports kuks are amazing in look and feel. Don't be a cheapo and but a junkyard too. HI blades are full of personality.
 
Just last week the HI forum had a 20" 40+ Ang Khola on a DOTD for $65. Gonna be tough to beat a price like that.
 
necromancy ! -- but yeah there is no better knife than H.I. do yourself a favor and buy one, you wont ever consider another company after.
 
i buy my khukuris from KHHI not h.i. I have noticed that hardly any of H.I's knives are double pegged , hence not full tang. most of KHHI khukuris are full tang.i trust and use my full tang khukris i don't want them for display purposes.:cool:
 
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