khukri question

M

mikemock

Joined
Feb 17, 2008
Messages
45
khukri question

I have been considering getting a khukri as a birthday present for my brother and I have a few questions.

I am considering one of these:


Key points why I think a khukri might work:
  • It is an interesting conversation piece.
  • It is (according to what I have read) a very useful and practical tool.


He doesn't have much of an interest in knives, so its value as conversation/collectors piece is a little questionable.
He does go camping and does yard work so its value as a tool should work.

I have the following questions?
  • Has anyone own or used one of these? Are they as useful as my internet readings say they are?
  • Has anyone order from thekhukruihouse.com? What is their quality like?
  • I read that their blades are made of truck and automobile leaf springs. How well does this work for this type of tool? Can it take a razor sharp edge? Is it even necessary for this type of tool to have a razor edge? How durable is the edge on this type of steel?
  • How do the Napal made khukris compare to the American made ones? Even if they are better I don't think it works as a gift because it doesn't have that cool factor.
  • Is there another source for khukris that I should investigate?
Thanks.

M.
 
Under the Manufacturers section, you'll find Himalayan Imports - they make awesome khukris. I keep my HI CAK just as a zombie killer so I can't provide the answers, but you'll find lots of khukri experts there where you will likely find all the answers you're looking for.

The only thing I can comment on is that the spring steel they use are very suitable for choppers like khukris. They can take a razor edge, but it's rather difficult(at least for me) due to their size and the recurve. From what I understand, it's not necessary for them to have a razor edge and it wouldn't last very long under use anyway.
 
If you order from KH expect that it will take up to 6 weeks, sometimes longer for you to get your order as they ship from nepal. While their prices seem cheap, they arent once you factor in shipping from nepal. In the event that you have issues you will have to ship your purchase back to nepal. Also the KH site is showing no warranty info.

Here are some threads on the subject:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=677083&highlight=khukuri+house

Also: your selection with a 9" blade will be a khukuri with an OAL of roughly 14". This is the smallest you really want to go if you are planning to use it for camping and yard chores. At H.I. we usually recommend a khukuri with an OAL of 15-18" for this type work. In addition the KH khukuri will most likely come with a traditional small handle. The H.I. khukuri are made with handles to fit western sized hands.


mikemock said:
Has anyone own or used one of these? Are they as useful as my internet readings say they are?
Click to expand...
Plenty of people use them and yes they are one of the most useful and verstile knives on the market.

mikemock said:
Has anyone order from thekhukruihouse.com? What is their quality like?
Click to expand...
Their quality is OK for a user and they are a servicable khukuri, but not as good as Himalayan Imports.
mikemock said:
I read that their blades are made of truck and automobile leaf springs. How well does this work for this type of tool? Can it take a razor sharp edge? Is it even necessary for this type of tool to have a razor edge? How durable is the edge on this type of steel?
Click to expand...
They are made from heavy truck leaf spring which is 5160 spring steel and are differentially heat treated. This steel is one of the toughest and very suitable for this application. It can take a razor sharp edge and hold it quite well, although a razor sharp khukuri is neither necessary nor prudent

mikemock said:
How do the Napal made khukris compare to the American made ones? Even if they are better I don't think it works as a gift because it doesn't have that cool factor.
Click to expand...
You mean of the Cold steel type? the Nepal khukuri is far superior, as it is the real deal.

mikemock said:
Is there another source for khukris that I should investigate?
Click to expand...
Come on over to The Himalayan Imports sub-forum in the manufacturers section for a look into the best khukuri on the market today, with the best warranty and service in the industry and plenty of links to everything khukuri.
 
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Check out Himalayan Imports. They're more expensive than Khukuri House, but once you factor in shipping from Nepal the cost difference isn't that great.

I had a few KH knives. They were good, workmanlike tools. Fit and finish was not up to HI's standards. The single time I used one hard I was not impressed. I used a WWII model to take apart a dresser that I threw away. The bolster broke, the handle cracked, and the blade chipped badly. While every manufacturer sends out bad knives, this experience soured me on KH. If I get a bad HI knife, I can send it back to HI in Nevada and have a replacement on the way to me. On the other hand, KH is located on the other side of the globe. That's a problem because shipping costs to Nepal are almost as expensive as the knife itself. In my case I decided to cut my losses and ate the cost of the knife. I chalked it up to the cost of my knife education, and I stick with Himalayan Imports from now on.
 
I have the KH jungle model & I got one for a good friend . It cost me $50 to have them shipped to here & it took about 1 month to get them. They were very good in keeping me updated on my knives & I never had any trouble. If I had it to do over again I would have got mine from HI here in the USA. I have only used mine a couple of times & It works just fine. No it ain't the best looking knife going but it don't look like junk either. The Sheaths are made of wood & goatskin & are Ugly as a mud fence but these knives are to heavy to wear on my belt (My opinion) Mine just lays in the gun safe now & will probably never be used. They lightly engraved my last name & the year it was purchased in (Mullins 2008) on the side of the blade towards the spine.
 
I purchased this one from KH and while I love the knife I did have some issues with it
  • Took a long time to finally get here after ordering
  • the foam handle just felt like crap, ended up removing it and reshaping the wood underneath
  • It shows and says it comes with the 2 smaller knives which mine didn't
With that said I am satisfied with the knife and I use it often
After shipping it cost me just over $100 cnd so all and all not bad. I have no experience with the HI khukuris but they are well respected here and that is more than enough to convince me that they are worth the money.
 
If this is going to be used as a tool himilayan imports is hard to beat. My ang kola is very nearly indristructible and it cost $150 and arived 1 week after order.
 
I have never dealed with KH but I do have 2 HI khuks (a 17" CAK and 18" WW2) and both are probaly the toughst knives I currently own. As many have suggested, go to the HI sub-forum and ask around. Also keep an eye out for Auntie Yangdu's Deal of the Day.
 
Go with Himalayan Imports. Years ago ordered one of their M-43 models and it saved my ass over the next several years of hard living.

Not only are their products of much higher quality than KH. But Ynagdu has absolutely the best customer service going. She is definitely the most honest and pleasnt individual to deal with that I have ever had the pleasure and privelidge of soing business with.
 
The HI crew are great and the HI khukuris look way better, but I live in Asia and KH just works out way, way cheaper for me (even with shipping). Ordered two khukuris with shipping for $86 about a month ago and I'm still waiting, but according to KH they're on their way by EMS.

I ordered a jungle panawal last year with my grandma's last name on it (she was Nepalese, and my relatives carried khukuris when they served in the Indian army--some of my distant relatives probably carry them right now) and they had no problem customizing it for me (larger handle, left handed sheath, etc). I could put a razor edge on the jungle relatively easily and it is a tough chopper--I used it to open up coconuts and I damn near split one in two without really trying. If your brother's going to abuse it and use it for yard work, you might be better off with a jungle model. I wasn't happy with the rounded tip on my jungle khukuri and the XXL t-shirt I bought fit like a medium, so they told me I could get a free khukuri and t-shirt on my next order, but I told them to take better care of their kamis (the guys who make the blades) rather than throwing in freebies when I ordered a month ago.

In retrospect, Nepalis are smaller so the XXL I got was probably XXL in Nepal, and I don't think jungle khukuris are supposed to have sharp tips, but it's good to know they'll take care of you if you do have issues.

One other positive to KH that isn't discussed is that KH khukuris are made by traditional craftsmen in the villages they grew up in. HI's production facility produces types from all over Nepal under one roof, but they produce really top quality khuks.
 
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Take a good look at the Cold Steel Rajah. Besides being a khukri, it's the strongest folding knife made and is an excellent chopper (not to mention the fact that it'll fit in your back pocket!)

Khukris are choppers and not great stabbers, but they're more than adequate for self defense against man or beast.

The recurved blade is an effective cutter and is good for clearing light brush in the field. Overall the Rajahs can be vey handy.
 
Make no mistake, a khukuri will stab just as readily as any other knife. It just takes a little technique on the more curved models. IMHO, using a folding khukuri for chopping is akin to tempting fate, much like chopping with any folding knife. Best case scenario, you only damage the knife. Worst case scenario, you break or cut your hand.
 
mikemock said:
khukri question

I have been considering getting a khukri as a birthday present for my brother and I have a few questions.

I am considering one of these:


Key points why I think a khukri might work:
  • It is an interesting conversation piece.
  • It is (according to what I have read) a very useful and practical tool.


He doesn't have much of an interest in knives, so its value as conversation/collectors piece is a little questionable.
He does go camping and does yard work so its value as a tool should work.

I have the following questions?
  • Has anyone own or used one of these? Are they as useful as my internet readings say they are?
  • Has anyone order from thekhukruihouse.com? What is their quality like?
  • I read that their blades are made of truck and automobile leaf springs. How well does this work for this type of tool? Can it take a razor sharp edge? Is it even necessary for this type of tool to have a razor edge? How durable is the edge on this type of steel?
  • How do the Napal made khukris compare to the American made ones? Even if they are better I don't think it works as a gift because it doesn't have that cool factor.
  • Is there another source for khukris that I should investigate?
Thanks.

M.
Click to expand...

I recommend the service no.2 from khukri house..But yeah go with Himalayan imports really nice khukris from them,judging from what ive seen in the forums
 
They are very efficient tools .Mine is similar to the military version weighing 24 oz and is capable of cutting substantial amounts of wood !! If you have one only for decoration you'll be missing the best part !
 
KH screwed up my order--got the handles wrong and one of the sheath was sloppily finished. I might have to get an HI Kobra now!
 
Well, I told KH they made my Sirupate with a rosewood handle when I requested a horn one, and the special biltong had a worked stag handle instead of the natural one I asked for. The sheath on the Sirupate was fine in the end--it looks like it was still damp when they laid it on paper or something, but the paper came right off and it is almost flawless right now.

KH got my last order slightly wrong too, so they apologized profusely and gave me both khukuris on this order for FREE and only charged me $28 for shipping. They said they are disappointed with the production staff for messing up and will ensure it doesn't happen in the future. I will definitely give them another chance. I love the Sirupate I got from them and I want another one. :)
 
Definitely order from HI, I have 14 of their blades and they are 1st rate. :thumbup:
 
I'm really tempted to get one of HI's Kobras. :) I wonder if I could buy factory direct in Nepal?
 
Get a Hi BAS or AK model - but be sure to get one with a wooden handle. You can get shrinkage with horn and cracking.
I'd recommend one that is 15 or 16" long overall - useful and still handy.
 
Shrinking/cracking is more of a problem in dry areas--where it's humid (like here in Southeast Asia), it's a non-issue for most of the year. Global warming's made the dry season dryer though. :(
 
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