Khukuri House Handcrafted Industry Opinions.......

L

LostChance

Joined
Mar 23, 2012
Messages
27
I am well aware that there are going to be a lot of people on BF that is going to try and point me towards HI Khukuri's due to them having a thread on here and what not else. What I am looking for and hoping for is people to step up that have owned a khukuri from KHHI and give their opinions on them and people that own or have owned both to give their views on them. I see to many posts on here of people pointing to HI because there is a story behind them but I am not seeing very many posts about true difference in quality on the blades being said. So if someone can please set my way of thinking about the two straight that would be great :)

Personally I dont own any and I am looking to change that. That is why I am posting this because it is a toss up for me between the two different houses and I am not going to base my purchase on stories and history if I could get just as good of quality from someone else that does not have a story up for read. Extreme example: If I find a china blade this is better then a Busse or Esee or anything else then I am going to pick the chine blade. I am more looking for quality that can take a beating and keep on ticking. One that I can take for a month out in no mans land and not worry about the thing breaking in two on me due to normal use.

Thank you all for your input ;)
 
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You never stated what type of kukri you are looking for or what you intend to do with it. I have kukris from HI, KHHI and several other places but unless you state what you are looking for its hard to give you an answer.
 
True I did manage to leave that bit of important information out. I intend to use it as my main blade next to my smaller blade. Its going to be used for chopping, batoning,........ Lets put it this way its going to be used heavily for many uses. I am taking this summer and winter to get into shape and gather gear for a backpacking trip through Kentucky's Danial Boone National forest. Primitive camping the whole time unless we decide to stop at a camp ground somewhere along the way. From what I have gathered a good heavy main blade is somewhere around 12 inches long and 1/4 inch think. I have been getting mixed thoughts on all the forms I have read about the steel to use though. The Khukuri has really caught my attention due to the blade shape and practicality. There are a few others I am pondering around like the Tops Steel Eagle 12 but there are not very many reviews about it. No matter what ether a heavy blade combo or hatchet and small blade is going to weight somewhere around a pound to two and a half sheath included. So heavy chopping and batoning for firewood. Clearing brush out of the way when needed. All the stuff a big blade should do but be able to last through the long abuse.

Golok's are eye pleasing to me and I can see them being used to short term use like a week or so but I dont see them very practical for long term use.
 
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Hi, I'm on my 3rd 10" V series khuk from KHHI.

On the first the scales shifted slightly on the tang shortly after I got it. The blade itself was great and hair-popping sharp so I ordered another. KHHI made good and sent me a third V series to replace the initial khuk, for free. On the new order I asked them to increase the handle size as I found the standard handle a little on the small side for my medium size western hand . Fit and finish was adequate and workmanlike (KHHI produce handmade tools- not shiny, pretty, objets d'art). That said, being handmade, all 3 seemed to have a unique beauty and character.

I sold two, kept the third. I have beat my V series khuk all to hell for years- batoning, limbing, food prep, and even some carving/whittling.

It has been an outstanding tool. It was literally made to fit my hand and is my favourite big knife. No hot spots with the 5" handle, great balance, and comfortable point of percussion. The convex edge holds well and is easy to sharpen. The sheath is very tough and well made. The kardas and chakmaks were adequate but do seem a bit of an after thought.

I like that KHHI will make the khuk to ones specification, kind of semi custom.

I think I had to wait 3 weeks from placing my orders to getting my khuks.

Great tool? Yes. Good value? Yes. Unblemished masterpiece? No. Would I get one again? Definately.

(Although I really am liking the vibe of the HI M42:D should I ever need more khukuris in my life)

Happy trails (love to be going with you. sounds like you'll have a blast. I'd defo take my khuk with me too.)
 
@Horusfour
Thank you for your input. No way am I looking for eye candy lol. If I wanted that I would buy a Cold Steel sward to chop a few watermelons and hang back up on the wall.

@IUKE12
I have read both of those forms. The first one all I got from it is that HI has a back story and supposed to have a better warranty. The second post can happen with any company and is to be expected in a handmade tool once in awhile. I have read reviews close to the same about that happening with HI Khukuris also on different knife form sites also.

All in all I am just getting opinions on the quality they put out. Am I going to have 90 percent chance of getting a junk blade from KHHI or a 90 percent chance of getting a quality blade? Dealing with a company that is mass producing handmade tools is like trying to mass produce a handmade car from scrap. Not all get the best of quality all the time.

As for the back story on HI............ If I wanted a back story I could buy a knife from dumbo Joe that cant slice butter . Take it to Tibetan Monks get it blessed, use it to cut a seat belt of the popes and tell the world about it but it doesnt mean that its any different then dollar store hand me down knife. Not trying to sound like a A** about it but thats my opinion about that. The warranty on both I have read both good and bad and they equal about the same on both. Im just not wanting my BANG for my buck to be like sticking it on a roll of C-4 and blowing them into useless bills thats all.
 
I have both HI and KHHI kukris and there is no comparision in the build quality. The shape of the blade isn't consistant, the scales came loose, the blade edge rolled, and the leather/sheath is of much lesser quality. Once I fixed those problems the knife has worked well.

You will be getting a better blade from HI plus they come from Reno NV, I get my blades in 2-3 days. If you also hang out in the forum you can pick up a "DOTD Deal of the Day" for far below retail. Many times for less than you can get one from KHHI.

It's more than hype and fanboys here. HI blades are better.
 
Thank you Dirtbiker. Ether way on the sheath Ill more then likely ditch it in a box in storage and make a kydex sheath for it. Me and leather do not mix so well and it doesnt make for a good sheath to lash on the outside of a pack. As for the rolled edge and loose scales that is a big problem in the field. I am having a hard time getting my head around how uncomfortable the traditional grip looks but that is one of those things I would have to hold and find out for myself if I wanted to change it of not.

Also I am pretty fairly new to the site and still grabbing different ropes and hoping a piano dont drop on me ( In other words clicking random links to see where they take me ) so if you could help me out as to what form on here to look out for the DOTD?
 
I bought a HI Kobra a few years ago through a DOTD and wasn't happy with the fit and finish compared to the KHHIs I owned. Admittedly I've only bought one from HI, but the leather was worse, the scabbard was a mess and the brass buttcap and tip on the scabbard had sharp edges that put holes in my clothes. In comparison, the KHHIs I've had have been better, and they worked out much, much cheaper. I haven't had opportunity to use them hard, however (just splitting Thai coconuts, although I did hit some old, dry giant bamboo with one of my KHHIs last night. It was hard as a rock and the khuk was fine. It barely put a ding in the bamboo (It is seriously thick, hard stuff).

In my experience if you order something with custom tweaks, you get a better khukuri out of KHHI: I have a custom Chitlange that really couldn't be better.
 
jayinhk said:
I bought a HI Kobra a few years ago through a DOTD and wasn't happy with the fit and finish compared to the KHHIs I owned. Admittedly I've only bought one from HI, but the leather was worse, the scabbard was a mess and the brass buttcap and tip on the scabbard had sharp edges that put holes in my clothes. In comparison, the KHHIs I've had have been better, and they worked out much, much cheaper. I haven't had opportunity to use them hard, however (just splitting Thai coconuts, although I did hit some old, dry giant bamboo with one of my KHHIs last night. It was hard as a rock and the khuk was fine. It barely put a ding in the bamboo (It is seriously thick, hard stuff).

In my experience if you order something with custom tweaks, you get a better khukuri out of KHHI: I have a custom Chitlange that really couldn't be better.
Click to expand...

When you put in your costume order How long did it take for you to get it? ( Of course its going to take 3 or so weeks to get here to America once they ship it out so already taken into factor lol ) I have read if I was to put one in at HI that it could take six months or longer to get it.
 
Come and check out the HI forum here. http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/739-Himalayan-Imports

As far as custom orders I have a 27" giant tin chirra on order. These are very rare and only a few have been made. It is going to take about 4 months to receive it.

I have 14 HI knives and while all are not perfect (I bought some as blems) the first quality models I have bought are amazing. I just bought this.

ChiruwaAngKholafor3-26.jpg
 
LostChance said:
When you put in your costume order How long did it take for you to get it? ( Of course its going to take 3 or so weeks to get here to America once they ship it out so already taken into factor lol ) I have read if I was to put one in at HI that it could take six months or longer to get it.
Click to expand...
He didnt put in a custom order, jayinhk bought a blem khukuri at a discount price and that is what he got. He was offered full refund including all shipping costs and refused to return the item. If he is still an unhappy customer, there is nothing more we can do.

As far as placing a custom order, it generally can take a couple months or so to complete the order due to logistics and the fact that there are rolling blackouts in nepal which shut the power off for 16 hrs a day and other fuel shortages. We do our level best to work within the constraints of these adversities to produce the finest khukuri on the market.
 
Karda said:
He didnt put in a custom order, jayinhk bought a blem khukuri at a discount price and that is what he got. He was offered full refund including all shipping costs and refused to return the item. If he is still an unhappy customer, there is nothing more we can do.

As far as placing a custom order, it generally can take a couple months or so to complete the order due to logistics and the fact that there are rolling blackouts in nepal which shut the power off for 16 hrs a day and other fuel shortages. We do our level best to work within the constraints of these adversities to produce the finest khukuri on the market.
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LostChance was referring to the custom I got from KHHI. It took 2-3 weeks to have a custom made, I believe, and it is by far the nicest khuk I've gotten from them. I had the handle upsized 0.5" and it just worked out perfectly for me, and the fit and finish were excellent. I had "Shiva" engraved into it in Nepali, which may have influenced things. :)

I chose to try an HI because of all of its loyal fans and because I felt the standard Nepalese khukuri was too small for me. I didn't realize your index finger is really supposed to be on the bolster: if held correctly, even a standard sized khukuri is just fine for my mitts. HIs are thicker and have longer handles than normal. This is a selling point for some, but I tend toward authenticity when it comes to 'ethnic' blades.

I still have the Kobra in my collection--my biggest gripe was the scabbard, and my KHHI Sirupate's scabbard fits the Kobra well. I just expected more for $85 + $45 shipping (I'm in the Far East) from the legendary HI: I could have got a first rate custom khuk from KHHI for $25 less. Yes, it was a 'blem,' but it had a host of issues that weren't pointed out. The karda and chakmak won't even stay put in the scabbard.

HI does have a lot of happy customers, many of whom have bought from KHHI as well, but my experience and the way I was treated for posting my gripes has really soured me to HI. I was offered a full refund, including return shipping, with an unnecessary ("I hope you're happy") from the owner.

Ultimately, I think who makes your khuk really decides on the quality you get. I've heard when you place a custom order with KHHI, they have the better craftsmen work on it. I've had a few issues with KHHI khuks too, but none of my KHHIs were quite as bad.

Out of the six khuks I own, I only really carry and use the Chitlange I got from KHHI. It's just a perfect fit for me! I probably won't be buying anymore khuks unless I'm in Nepal and I'd probably stick to buying ones I can't buy online, e.g., from local village smiths. My mom is half Nepalese and her relatives were Gurkhas. I know I have to make it out there at some point!
 
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Thank you all. Seems to be a thing of personal experiences between the two. Guess I am going to have to take the dive and hope the shark isnt waiting at the bottom and hopefully get it right the first time.

I was thinking of getting this one for myself to put on display since I was over in the sand box and if it works out good for me get another one for a family member thats going over.
<link to non-paid dealer removed>


As for the work horse on the trip I havent figured out between the two since like I said before it seems to be personal experiences between the two vs the constant rate of quality put out ( if that makes any sense? )
 
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I have had several KH khuks and found them all to be cheap junk. I hit a terracotta pot (not glazed and it was a cheapo thin pot) with a heavy duty KH khuk and half the edge cracked off. My nepalese mate just came back from Nepal and bought me back one that he got from the villagers (he is obviously local so can talk the local language). I was cutting grass with it and hit a brick wall on the corner brick..it chipped a little but was still ok. That khuk cost my mate $20....so that shows you what the villagers are actually getting for their knives. That may be a lot of money there though so I dont know.
 
Thank you. You have had the most open minded opinion about the different houses and models I think I have read on any of the forms I have looked at about Kurki's. I am not on board with " The bigger the better " band wagon. My light Buck Hoodlum out chops my Heavier Hawks Hellion. The buck I use for hunting and the Hellion is my go to beat the snot out of around the farm. The one thing that I could see is finding one with a 12 inch cutting edge. Gives me enough edge to clear thick thorn brush without swinging my knuckles into it. I looked into the jungle model you stated above. There is defiantly going to be one in my future for starters then go from there. That tracker is excellent eye candy O_o. That one might be in the future also. I have read into the cold steel version. Something about Cold Steel really turns me off though. Not sure what it is but its there enough to make me not interested. So thats one of those " If I can get my hands on and try myself before I buy " my opinion might change. The Ka-Bar I have looked into and read reviews of. That might be one that i might get for light/medium use to stuff behind the seat of my 4x4 mud truck.

I thank you for you input. All in all you gave me a few different views to look at about them. Since I am new to getting into the kukri boat I have a few new things to learn. I have always loved knives growing up but only being in my early 20's I dont get the chance to have extra cash floating around to often. So my collection is very slim ( a couple of big knifes and a few cheaper but very effective edc knives. ). So I am looking forward to the Jungle kukri when I decide what house to order from and it comes in.
 
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All the deal spotting in this thread needs to stop. Please read the site rules...you can find links to them in my sig line.
 
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