Message to kamis! Stop makin' them so pretty!

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Steven F

Joined
Oct 12, 1999
Messages
1,237
I just got a GS blem that I had planned on using as one of my camping knives -- a "work" knife. However, when I opened the box, the blade was so incredibly shiny and perfectly polished that I practically gave up on the idea of actually using it. I decided that I will go ahead and use it, but it's a shame to mess up such a beautiful finish. I wish HI would offer some of their khuks in the roughened, hammer-dimpled finish that is sometimes seen on villagers. What do the think, Uncle Bill, of having your standard line of khuks available in two basic finishes? Again, it just seems to be a waste to put a mirror shine on a khuk that's gonna be dragged out into the woods to hack on only heaven knows what.
 
I would think that the polished finish would be easier to clean and care for.

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong.

and it is sooooooo purrrrrrty!

 
rdnzl, you're right up to a point. But I'm referring to a situation where you're going to use your khuk as a basic around-the-camp hatchet, pry bar, hammer, poker, and shovel. In other words, it ain't gonna get a whole lot of attention other than an occasional sharpening. Kinda like my garden shovel: I periodically wipe it clean, sharpen it, then put it away until the next time I need to dig -- it's not something I want to take out every now and then and polish.
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Steven you should see my YCS!!!!
It's still setting on my desk so I can take it out frequently to look at it and marvel over what Sanu has accomplished!!!
The light reflecting off of those deeply forged fullers and mirror polish is a sight to behold!
The kamis are now putting as good or better finish than I can do.

I am still in awe at how light and quick a khukuri that's 17 3/8" oal can be!!!!

Terry Sisco and Sandi came by today to see it and they both marveled over the whole rig.
Sandi even said that I should talk to Uncle Bill about having the smaller karda made for single carry she liked it so well.
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>>>>---¥vsa---->®

"I would rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy."

........unknown, to me anyway........

Khukuri FAQ
Himalayan Imports Website
 
FWIW; even when you've gone a full day's work with a khuk and the blade looks like it'll never be clean and shiny again, more often than not a little TLC will get it back to 'as new' condition. Helps if you've got a buffing wheel, of course... but nearly all the discoloration that comes from cutting vegetation and lumber, for example, will come off with ordinary household cleaners & polishes.
 
Steven F.--I agree with Bill that the best solution is more villagers. The kamis are on a roll. They've really gotten the hang of the onward-and-upward, continuous improvement concept. I wouldn't want to do anything that might cloud that picture for them. Who knows what developments we might miss out on as a result?
 
I like my tools to be pretty, at least to start with. Then it's up to me to add "character" to them. The same hold true on my firearms.
 
Tom, a big part of the problem for me is that after a long day's workout, I can get all the grime and veggie matter off the blade with no problem. The problem is all the scratches! The blade of each of my "working" khuks is covered with minute, and not so minute, scratches. Further cleaning only highlights these scratches and makes them look as if they got worked over by sandpaper. Perhaps a buffing wheel would take out all the scratches, but for a working khuk that's not something I want to take the time to do. Oh well, as Uncle Bill said, the answer is simple: more villagers. Perhaps we could get a greater variety of villager styles sent over. I can imagine what a village version of a Gelbu Special would look like!
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How about it, Uncle Bill!?

[This message has been edited by Steven F (edited 11-08-2000).]
 
Crocous cloth will help you take out the small scratches.

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Ida-Al
 
Villagers are a good solution. I picked up a couple of 13”ers a while ago for $35 apiece. I took one up into the Cascades with me the other day. It was little and light and fit well in my daqpack. It rained, it snowed. My 8 year old Danner boots finally gave out and started letting water in to my feet. The little khuk allowed me to chop into some wood to get to the dry center, and start a fire. I spent the day by a toasty fire, looking into the sky and watching the snow come down. As I sat I heated up the chape in the fire and pulled it off the scabbard, so the point wouldn’t injure my packs. I’m kind of attached to that little villager that helped turn a possibly miserable day into a very special one.

On the other hand, if you want a blade with exceptional quality control, don’t hesitate to mess up the finish on a BirGorkha blade. Just take it out and use it. Clean it with a Scotch-Brite pad when you’re done. That pesky mirror finish will soon be gone, and you will be left with a using blade of unequalled quality.
 
One has to bare in mind that these knifes are not originally made to only look upon.
They are in fact tools made to work with.
But I know what you mean, it's hard discover the first scratches on beautiful blades...
 
Howard, it sounds as if you and that little khuk shared a "storybook" experience -- a wonderful time you'll never forget. It's things like that that forge bonds between people and inanimate objects, be they knives, boots, vehicles, etc. I have certain items that I can just look at and have a warm, "fuzzy" feeling because of the special memories it brings forth. (Of course the opposite is also true, but the objects that dredge up bad memories I usually end up getting rid of.)
 
Steven, I can relate about your resistance to using your khuks. My GS is too pretty, even my Villager seems too shiny to use. However, I fondly remember that my favorite knife is the one that is pitted, scratched, repeatedly sharpened and with some rust because of constant use.

Get a Villager, heck get two and use them!
 
Don't forget, the higher the polish, the less chance of rust. Rough finishes retain moisture and fluids more. That's why fine old blades have such a high polish.

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"To know and to act are one."
 
I know how Steven feels about the scratches. Part of you hates to spoil the perfection of the khukuri's beauty. Then the beast in you takes over and causes you to search out stuff to satisfy the craving of the khukuri's perfection of function. Or something like that...
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Bob
 
A khukuri is polished to call another one to you. I guess the "magic stone" has lots of HIKV on it. As kami rubs it onto khukuri blades, more HIKV is pasted on them.

I've concluded that the HIKV is what shines the blade surface. My GS should also be a user when purchased, but I've done nothing but sharpening, oiling, and fondling so far for a month. I'm afraid I'll email Uncle Bill for another before long....

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(T_T) ...crying
\(^o^)/ ...cheerful
(ToT) ...crying
Mizutani Satoshi
 
WrongFriend, I think you may be on to something! In fact, I'm sure of it! That "magic stone" stuff is nothing more than a sneaky kami plot to worsen our HIKV. How very sinister! Have they no shame?! A few years ago we had to worry about "commies," now we have to worry about "kamis."
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