Looking for a small villager or the like

prn

prn

Joined
Apr 26, 1999
Messages
481
Hi all,

I know that very few of you have khukuris that you consider "surplus", but on the off chance that any of you do, here goes.

I have a son who is now 9 years old -- due to be 10 in a few months. I think he's starting to get close to ready to handle a khukuri, so I'm starting to look for a good "starter" for him. Something like the Murali 12" sirupati that Uncle Bill posted as the UBDOTD for Saturday would have been about the right size, but far prettier than necessary as a first khukuri for a kid who will not even know how to take care of it at first. The great looks are not really a deterrent, but not a real asset either. I want something about 12-13" overall length and up to about a pound in weight or at least not much over.

If anybody has a suitable khukuri that they might be willing to part with I'd have a good use for it. See my e-mail address below.

Thanks.
Paul


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Paul Neubauer
prn@bsu.edu
A tool is, basically, an object that enables you to take advantage of the laws of physics and mechanics in such a way that you can seriously injure yourself.
 
Blem of a 12" Sirupati should do the trick, although when they'll be "in" remains to be seen.

 
Hello Paul,

My life experience in the search for khukuris for my sons (10, 12, & 14 @ the time) is similar. After some thought, I realized that a knife of good quality (full tang, etc.), but not fancy, was the ticket.

Woody Guthrie bought a Gibson for Arlo's first guitar, knowing that if it played easily (didn't hurt his left hand) and sounded good that he'd enjoy (love the tone) and stick with it. Some thought it wasted on a child, but he was right.

I took that advice when looking for a youth .22 rimfire and opted for a Marlin (got the trigger tuned), put on an old Weaver 3-6x, and my middle lad was hooked when he bagged 'hogs @ 92 & 93 yds on his first hunt. The little rascal will shoot <3" groups @ 100yds w/the Federal Ammo that comes in a pint-sized milk carton.

I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but the logic seemed to apply to khukuris as well. The boys each wound up w/a GH Mini-Jungle (12", 12oz, rosewood handle, for a good price), lots of 1-on-1 supervision, and all is well. Any similar khukuri will do, but I really would encourage a tough, full-tanged model. The khukuri will get lots of use (some by you), the kid will be grown-up sized in no time, and he will have it to pass on later. I also believe it is easier to respect something of decent quality.

Not all things kids have are toys, and just because a youngster has something doesn't make it trivial. As you know, lots of "little diseases" can kill children as quickly and terribly as adults. Besides the obvious trauma and worriation of an accident, it's cost effective to pay a few dollars more for a tough khukuri that won't fail now than the ER visit later. And who knows what abuse lies ahead for the knife?

Please don't take my word for it, but test what I say. If there's any truth to it, I'll bet you'll get a witness to it. I hope you post your decision and results.

Dan

[This message has been edited by Lt. Dan (edited 10-02-2000).]
 
An HI village model is one of the toughest khukuris around (see Cliff Stamp's test of the village model that beat everything -- that one cost nothing because it was too ugly to sell) and a small 12 incher will run around $30 or $35, delivered. Not beautiful but quite funtional and very cheap.

------------------
Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ
Himalayan Imports Archives (18,000+ posts)
 
Paul,
When is the lad's birthday? I'm about to start on a villager that had the handle busted and needs some work on the blade. I'd be open to a sale if the time is in sinc with yours. The new handle could be made to fit. The handle will be cocobolo with no bolster or butcap. I usually rehandle in a Parang style handle.
Dan
 
Paul --- IM2cO, better to give your son a standard HI 12 incher ... maybe a Murali's! This way & of course with your basic gauidence he might:
  • Learn how to use knife @ Khuk.
  • Learn how to respect it.
  • Learn how to appreciate it.
  • Learn how to abuse it correctly.
I guess it is a sort of character building exercise for this young man!

NEPAL H
cool.gif
!
 
There are soooo many memories in the OR of tragic accidents (not fit to tell on any forum) with tools messing up from requiring too much of them, strange circumstances, stupidity, or just bad timing. It's a real good arguement for Murphy's Law when using a bargain-priced tool that's not guaranteed to hold together. Please don't think I'm bashing the Villagers; that's not my intent at all. These things have their place and are economical (which can be very important), but kids don't always exercise adult judgement because it's not their nature.

If my dad had given me a khukuri, the modest and best-built would be better to pass on thru the generations. We all know that some things, even though costing a little more, have a worth more than the amount spent initially. My brother tells me that everything is made like it always has been: It's just that the well-made stuff survives and the junk doesn't last! (Discalimer: I'm not implying that Villagers are junk.)

Without a doubt, there are bound to be villagers whose handles will hold up as well as the "best". But they will always be a dark horse due to where they come from, unpredictable, having not been made under the quality controls that produce those worthy of unconditional guarantee.

Will the son's first khukuri be a special thing? How do you want that situation to be? What do you want the owner to say about it in generations to come? This may not be an issue, as sentimental things with kids are funny.

With the tang failure of the mighty AK, it's plain to see that there are no absolutes with khukuris, no matter what the quality...stuff just happens, and nobody's exempt.

With all due respect, if a Villager is truly the best thing, then so be it. But if piece of mind and and thick steel in the handle are related, then the full tang is for me. Come to think of it, I think I'll have a Panawal (Chiruwa in HI-speak)!!!

Lt. Dan


 
As safety officer, I would also suggest having the young lad review the HI Keys to Khukuri Safety thread as well. This should also help develop a good sense of responsibility with a tool that can do a lot of good but can do bad if not handled safely.

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Harry
HI Khukuri Range Safety Officer
 
Update time! I've been unable to spend much time on the forum the past few days, but the time hasn't been without developments.
smile.gif


First, Rob Lefebvre has agreed to sell me a 12" Kumar sirupati blem that he has. I have the money in an envelope and will be dropping it in the mail in less than an hour.
biggrin.gif
This small, lightweight khukuri should be just about ideal for James at this time of his life. Thanks, Rob.

A couple of people have emphasized safety, a sentiment with which I most heartily agree. That's really my main concern here. I know that he won't be able to do much in the way of heavy chopping, but I don't expect or even want him to. I mostly just want him to learn how to handle a khukuri safely. He can chop up some of the sticks that fall off the trees into the yard (under supervision) and think he is being helpful.
wink.gif
I doubt that he'll even try to work all that hard, but a bit of practice in safe knife-handling will be worth a lot more than any amount of lecturing.
rolleyes.gif


There was one other development that really blew me away. Another forumite (who didn't say I could mention his name, so I won't) has offered to give my son a BAS that he has and is not using. I am truely touched. This is a man who said he wanted to "give to the future." James will have this khukuri due to the kindness of a man whom neither he nor I have ever met (at least not in person). James has always been pretty generous for a kid, but concrete examples of selfless, spontaneous generosity are always excellent teaching tools.
smile.gif
In years to come, the story of how this knife came to him will be worth much more to James than any mere object ever could be -- it already is to me. Thank you, good sir.

I can always count on my fellow forumites for helpful advice, and sometimes for something entirely unlooked for besides.
smile.gif
My thanks to all of you.


------------------
Paul Neubauer
prn@bsu.edu
A tool is, basically, an object that enables you to take advantage of the laws of physics and mechanics in such a way that you can seriously injure yourself.
 
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