- Joined
- Aug 12, 1999
- Messages
- 64
Shop 2 is now making the best khukuris being made in Nepal and at the best prices. How do we do it? Here is how.
We have some of the best kamis in Nepal working in our shop. All totaled we have 8 kamis, 3 sarkies, Gelbu and a helper for a total of 13 employees. Additionally, we have Ganga Ram directing his own effort and we have various village kamis who come in and work for a week or two and then return to their homes.
We have the best equipped shop in Nepal. I have power grinders of various sizes, an assortment of power hand tools, and four forges equipped with electric blowers. This allows us to combine ancient methods of manufacture with modern electric powered tools. For example, we still drill the hole in the handle as it must be drilled to fit the handle to the tang. But rather than using a two man team using an old bow and string drill we use one man with a power hand drill and can do a better job in a 10th the time -- and we don't destroy as many horns getting this job done. We still edge the blade as it has always been done, including the final use of the "magic stone" which very few shops use. But we use an electric grinder which requires only one man rather than a grinder driven by one man pulling on a bicycle chain and another grinding the edge. We get the job done better and in maybe 10% of the time it takes other shops.
What I am very happy to report is we can produce a better khukuri at a cheaper price than any shop in Nepal. This is good for both us and our customers. I was not sure we could do this when we were starting and I offered the fifty dollar temporary discount on shop 2 khukuris. Now I am sure and that discount is no longer temporary but permanent. Bill Jwai will adjust prices to reflect this on his brochure.
It is you, our customers, who because of your interest have made this improvement in quality possible and are responsible for this price adjustment. So, please thank yourselves and not me if you are pleased with this.
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Pala (Kami Sherpa)
Owner, Himalayan Imports
http://members.aol.com/himimp/index.html
We have some of the best kamis in Nepal working in our shop. All totaled we have 8 kamis, 3 sarkies, Gelbu and a helper for a total of 13 employees. Additionally, we have Ganga Ram directing his own effort and we have various village kamis who come in and work for a week or two and then return to their homes.
We have the best equipped shop in Nepal. I have power grinders of various sizes, an assortment of power hand tools, and four forges equipped with electric blowers. This allows us to combine ancient methods of manufacture with modern electric powered tools. For example, we still drill the hole in the handle as it must be drilled to fit the handle to the tang. But rather than using a two man team using an old bow and string drill we use one man with a power hand drill and can do a better job in a 10th the time -- and we don't destroy as many horns getting this job done. We still edge the blade as it has always been done, including the final use of the "magic stone" which very few shops use. But we use an electric grinder which requires only one man rather than a grinder driven by one man pulling on a bicycle chain and another grinding the edge. We get the job done better and in maybe 10% of the time it takes other shops.
What I am very happy to report is we can produce a better khukuri at a cheaper price than any shop in Nepal. This is good for both us and our customers. I was not sure we could do this when we were starting and I offered the fifty dollar temporary discount on shop 2 khukuris. Now I am sure and that discount is no longer temporary but permanent. Bill Jwai will adjust prices to reflect this on his brochure.
It is you, our customers, who because of your interest have made this improvement in quality possible and are responsible for this price adjustment. So, please thank yourselves and not me if you are pleased with this.
------------------
Pala (Kami Sherpa)
Owner, Himalayan Imports
http://members.aol.com/himimp/index.html
hehehe.