OK, about the BirGorkha Kothimoda

J

johngalt

Joined
Feb 27, 2006
Messages
492
I was wondering if any of the forumites have broken down and got the one khuk that they had denied themselves. I am asking because I am considering getting one for my brother, his birthday is coming up. I try to get gifts for people that I secretly want for myself, but would never break down and do something so selfish. Well...maybe they won't like it, return it to me and I will be forced to keep it myself.
I'm wondering if anyone has purchased one and if they can share any personal information. The pictures on the HI site make it look great, an I'm sure it's better in person. Thanks to any of the owner's, or anyone who has seen one in person!
 
John, it's a beautiful display khukuri. It has a bone handle which is not particularly well suited for hard work as it does not hold up as well as horn or wood. It comes with a scabbard with lots of silverwork. There has been at least one of them that sold on the deals with a red leather scabbard for only $100 (which I kick myself for not grabbing), and then another interesting one in an AK configuration with standard scabbard. It is not a knife we see very often because of these reasons.

For the $ you could get 3 very nice knives here that would probably be much more useful to your brother, but it's your call. I have one and it's a thing of beauty. I also have a matching kothimoda katana and a dhankuta. For that one, I really wanted the inlaid scabbard as shown on the web site at the time, but Uncle Bill did not have one so he sent a kothimoda silver scabbard instead.

All that silver needs to be kept polished, and is much more suitable for display that use, but it is pretty stuff.

Regards,

Norm
 
Thanks Norm! I'm looking for something that he can pass down to his son, or daughter, and they can have a good story to go with it. I know he would really enjoy knowing that it was helping the Kami's, and a place like HI. My father had a khuk, that I have now, that has been in our family for about fourty years. I want my brother to have one that he will be proud to have.
I am going to get a HI khuk for myself, I just have'nt decided which one yet. I have been reading the top 10 favorite khuk threads and the like and I still can't decide!
 
I have to respectfully disagree...I have seen very old bone handled khukuri and other styles of knives. In my opinion, if properly done, they seem to be as sturdy as horn or wood. For its stated purpose, the kothimoda would be a great choice...as a family heirloom.
 
To make it more special even if you get a different Khuk why not have it inscribed with something maybe a saying or a prayer or something of meaning to him. If it's going to be passed down and displayed then why not consider one of the swords or a Cherokee Rose?
 
I don't have one, but the reason many do is sound. If the working blades of HI are real then it stands to reason that the ceremonial renditions are both real and something extra- honor, I'd guess.





munk
 
I have one I got as a blem from Uncle Bill years ago. It had a slight crack in the horn handle. I fixed it with superglue and it has never been a problem since. I can tell you that this blade is a worker. I did not use it heavily, but I did take it out for a light duty run before putting it up as a safe queen. If this had a regular sheath it would make a great user! I can think of no greater khuk to give as a sentimental gift to be looked at for generations to come. Beauty, function and generations of tradition all rolled into one beautiful tool.
 
johngalt said:
Thanks Norm! I'm looking for something that he can pass down to his son, or daughter, and they can have a good story to go with it. I know he would really enjoy knowing that it was helping the Kami's, and a place like HI. My father had a khuk, that I have now, that has been in our family for about fourty years. I want my brother to have one that he will be proud to have.
I am going to get a HI khuk for myself, I just have'nt decided which one yet. I have been reading the top 10 favorite khuk threads and the like and I still can't decide!
Click to expand...

yangdu just offered one about an hour ago, that seems to be still there, 19 odd in AK with carved handle - gorgeous, good price. check it out!

bladite
 
ArchAngel, that koth is a trophy!

Nice, nice. Especially the pommel flair.

Should remove all doubt for the question poster.



Mike
 
I have an HI Kothmoda that I bought as an investment as I figured the price wouldn't go down on them as much as it seems to do for those used.
The silverwork is just an incredible work of Art and so absolutely beautiful as is the khukuri itself!!!!:thumbup: :cool:
When I got mine I took it out back and beat the crap out of it hard and it held up just fine.
Bura told Uncle Bill that he wanted the Kothimoda to be as much of a user as any of the other khukuris so that if a man's life depended on it the knife wouldn't fail.
A few have had the bone handles break and mine could possibly break as well but I highly doubt that it would.
I wouldn't be afraid to make it my only user if that's what it came down to but it would be damned near Sacrilige to soak that beautiful silver laden in mud so it wouldn't reflect the sun or moonlight. :( ;)

A friend of mine that lurks here fairly often has an older bone handled AK that he got when Uncle Bill was selling the hand picked village khukuris that Gelbu and maybe Pala were going around hunting down.
This was before Shop 1 even but I don't know how many years Uncle Bill did that before the deal was made with Shop 1 to make the HI Khukuris but I gather it was quite some time, Yangdu would know I'm sure.

But anyway this particular bone handled AK has seen real jungle use as well as other hard duty and it has never failed.
What's kinda funny about it is that the khukuri has a punch stamped design on the blade which usually means it's a tourist model.;)

Bone can and does make a good handle as it is a very hard and dense material.
It just has to be well cured and then taken care of.
Ballistol would make a fine treatment for it as will glycerin and mineral oil.
Being well filled with the cutler's rosin helps a great deal as well.:thumbup: ;) :D :cool:
 
Nasty said:
I have to respectfully disagree...I have seen very old bone handled khukuri and other styles of knives. In my opinion, if properly done, they seem to be as sturdy as horn or wood. For its stated purpose, the kothimoda would be a great choice...as a family heirloom.
Click to expand...


Well, I gladly stand corrected by Nasty and Yvsa, and know they know of what they speak. I am glad to hear this, as I had heard stories that it was somewhat fragile, but that must have been examples of uncured material. You know how you get a bit of information locked in and go with it, so I am happy to hear that this was not necessarily the case.

I also have a white bone handled Bura BGRS that I bought second hand a couple of years ago, but I have not used that either for fear of cracking it. It is a wonderfully made knife. I have always felt that horn was good for hard work and wood was better, but did not consider bone.

Archangel, that is a beautiful swell on the pommel of yours. Really nice. I paid web site prices for mine 2 years ago, but the silver work is incredible and I felt it was well worth it.

Thanks to everyone who chimed in for the clarification and setting me straight.

Regards,

Norm
 
Yvsa said:
<snip>

Bone can and does make a good handle as it is a very hard and dense material.
It just has to be well cured and then taken care of.
Ballistol would make a fine treatment for it as will glycerin and mineral oil.
Being well filled with the cutler's rosin helps a great deal as well.:thumbup: ;) :D :cool:
Click to expand...

Ok, I have Glycerin, Mineral Oil and Hooflex....
Did you mean to use the Glycerin AND the Mineral Oil, or just one or the other...

Is Hooflex better than either?

I would have never thought of using the Glycerin... I have a bottle here to use with Potassium Permanganate to start fires with...
 
jamesraykenney said:
Ok, I have Glycerin, Mineral Oil and Hooflex....
Did you mean to use the Glycerin AND the Mineral Oil, or just one or the other.
Click to expand...

Just one or the other James. The Hooflex may work just as well but I have heard a lot of folks talk about the glycerin and the mineral oil that recommended it highly.
 
jamesraykenney said:
Ok, I have Glycerin, Mineral Oil and Hooflex....
Did you mean to use the Glycerin AND the Mineral Oil, or just one or the other...
Click to expand...

James, et al:
I am somewhat embarrased.:o My friend whom I said used the glycerin on the bone handle gently corrected me and reminded me that it is Jojoba Oil that he uses on his bone handled AK.
Jojoba Oil is the closest thing to the old Sperm Whale Oil that you can get without having a dead whale.
Evidently I was thinking about Charles Clements who posts on the old rec:knives forum that recommends the glycerin for any and all stag, bone and ivory handles.
I have what I think is an ivory handled Keris, very old and stained, that I use the mineral oil on in lieu of glycerin.
It is holding up well after I fixed a rather large crack in the handle that I probably should'a left alone.:o

I'm sorry for any misleading that I have inadvertently done.:o
 
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