Personalised Khukuri

titus? generally..

HI folks have no need to ridicule other mfrs. Kind of goes against the spirit of the place, ya' know?


Kis
 
Kismet said:
titus? generally..

HI folks have no need to ridicule other mfrs. Kind of goes against the spirit of the place, ya' know?


dear Kis
I would have to go a long way without food or water to call an opinion like "so-and-so's khukri only good for a display item".
These manufactures do not advertise their products as tools or give a warranty on use. In fact, alot of these other suppliers use the prefix 'replica' when they list their products.
Therefore, by their own admission, their products are display items. NOT the lifetime guaranteed, tried and tested, indestructible genuine articles that Himalayan Imports supplies.
Noo, sir, I would not call that ridicule. I would rather call it a fair comparison, without breaking a sweat.

Does anyone else share this opinion?

I could in reality post negative reviews of other manufacturer's products, but that would not be in keeping with my own personal value system.
My sainted Mum used to tell me,"If you can't say anything nice, dont say anything at all". So the fact is, I dont say much. Even when the situation begs some creative retrospect.

What I can say is in all reviews and tests, HI kuks are on top, so there is the proof of product integrity. This fact coupled with the philosophy of Uncle Bill and those who run HI, it makes for something to be proud of. Especially because He charged more than everyone else because he wanted to support a larger network of people. He was not out for profit. he said he would not be a part of the exploitation of desperate people.
These other suppliers ARE out to make a profit, and this leaves me with a bitter taste in my mouth that luckily is not expelled as a negative comment. but the bitter taste remains and so will my comparisons between Himalayan Imports (including everything it represents) and the capatilists that make our world an un-better place.

Peace to everyone, but as important, higher living standards to the artists who are the Kami of Nepal.
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I have to say something else, just so you all know where I am coming from (literally)

Growing up as a young kid in South Africa, I could not count the times with the hairs on my head where I would come home from school after chewing on my two slices of bread with a bit of black cat peanut butter dabbed in between, and supper would be a boiled potato and a cup of tea. We didnt know the difference back them. Man, that stale peanut butter sandwich tasted like angel cake! And I would look at my sainted Mum with her arm around my little brother and feel guilty that I was still hungry.
I have a younger brother who didnt really understand what 'no money' meant and when my Mum used to take us with her to the store down the road, my little brother used to ask all the time for all sorts of things like an ice cream or soda while we were shopping.
He was too young to realise that the only stuff Mum was looking for was the vegatables from the budget section and the day-old specials at the bakery.

We lived on the wrong side of the tracks and I was just too much of a softy to stand up for myself when the other kids threw stones at me at school. Yes, this did happen.
And it only happened because I was too ashamed to even look at them.
I would be teased about my old suitcase I had used since kindergarten and about the fact that I stuttered when I spoke. I still stutter even to this day!
I have since been able to scratch a little better a living than my dear old Dad was able to, and I am now able to lead a relatively normal life in a country that could offer me better employment.

In short, I want to say that the little guy holds a special place for me.
There is nothing more humbling than a man who is better than you, thanking you for the spare change out of your back pocket and slowing limping away in his torn, dirty clothes while leaning heavily on his old wooden crutch.

Affluence and high society, along with misplaced chiding, never go down well in my heart.
I have experienced a tiny part of what poverty is.
So it just seems logical that I would carry a small flame for people who dont know where their next meal is coming from
 
Now, could we all get back to the topic of "Personalised Khukri is order to make big impression on wider public audience to make glorious the name of Himalayan Imports"

Yup, that means you too Kismet my ol' buddy! LOL!!

"Life too short to not hug everyone around you" - Jesus
 
titus010782 said:
Its still looks good. From Kukri house will only be good as a display item though! LOL!!

Would like to see the sheath too
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Not to sure about that, when I reworked the blade the cutting edge was quite tuff and the spine was just nice to file,chopped a few 2" logs with the new one seemed to work well.

Richard
 
When I was in high school, my Grandfather had a small coal furnace and an anvil in his shed.
I liked nothing more than to heat up bits of scrap metal and beat them into a vaguely useful shape.
Of course, I didnt make anything worth keeping till I was older, but I did make an axe out of a leaf spring off the scrap Land Rover he had out back.
I just cut a basic shape and folded it over, hammered the two ends till they stuck together (later I read about forge welding and this was in fact what I had done!).
let it cool, shaped it roughly with a file and heated it up. Grandpa said I would need to use a hardening oil?! He gave me some grey oil and instructed me to heat the axe head till cherry red and dip the edge in the oil and hold it there till the whole thing was cool enough to handle.
I tell you, I used my little tomahawk on EVERYTHING! From bits of wood to old car doors in the junkyard. I threw it into trees and it got stuck in a scrapped refridgerator door once.
Nothing touched the edge. I did stupidly attack a railway line with it once and made a small chip on the upper edge. It didnt affect the usability much. My point is, I made a donkey.
I didnt take any photos because that kind of thing does not occur to a young kid.
I did take pictures of some of my other stuff, but exposures and they are all back home.
When I get a forge going this side, I will make a few tomohawks and post them here.
Knives are very difficult to make well, but any piece of metal can be made tough.
Cpl Punishment, you'll be suprised at what you can do if you are not afraid of doing it badly! My buddies loved the junk I made! So I gave most of it away.
They were useful tools.
 
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Not sure if this is actually personalized ,but here's a crappy picture of the two sirupates I put leather handles on.

khukscane.jpg
 
TWB- I was hoping those would show up! I couldn't remember who did them, but I did remember they turned out great. :thumbup:
 
Thanks MacHete they turned out ok. One of these days I'll get lucky and snare another blade in need of a handle.
 
TWBryan said:
Not sure if this is actually personalized ,but here's a crappy picture of the two sirupates I put leather handles on.

They look good. Did the old handles break?
I like the layered leather handles, they slip less than wood and MUCH less than horn.
Better shock absorber
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C.S. Graves said:
If it works, it works! :thumbup:
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So true. At the end of the day, its a piece of metal used for cutting, chopping and bashing.

When the first caveman discovered metal and how to use it, he must have been very excited.

its true folks. Humans were refining steel long before we originally thought.

Archaeologists are finding evidence of worked metal tools many thousands of years before we even (supposedly) starting knapping flint.
 
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titus010782 said:
TWBryan said:
Not sure if this is actually personalized ,but here's a crappy picture of the two sirupates I put leather handles on.

They look good. Did the old handles break?
I like the layered leather handles, they slip less than wood and MUCH less than horn.
Better shock absorber
Click to expand...

Bought on dotd, handles were horn with cracks. Decided that it would only get worse so I gritted my teeth ,built the clamping jig,and went through the tedious process of putting the leather handles together. They are good shock absorbers..
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Finally, I get to add something to the thread I started. That 19" Sirupati I go a while ago that came without a sheath, I made a quickdram sheath for it. Its quite comfortable in side or crossdraw.

http://www.picbonanza.com/titus010782/238/6867/view

The brass rivet near the middle is handmade. Its placed so that even if you tug too hard on the handle, you dont cut the stitching. Stiching is synthetic sinew (very tough) I could not find anything worth using at B&Q (useless for craftmen, BTW).

http://www.picbonanza.com/titus010782/238/6870/view

10oz vegtan with some tooling. I got the standard carving set but found the shapes too generic. So I did most of this tiger with a #1 screwdriver and a plastic toothpick.
Yes, it took AGES!! I did a few practice runs on some scrap pieces.
All the leather carvings I do are one off. So You wont see another tiger like this again.

http://www.picbonanza.com/titus010782/238/6869/view

This particular piece is made for my Shifu and I will be sending it too him next week.
he was the one who gave me a printed copy of the forging techniques from the HI website, years ago. I was making simple practice weapons for the guan and he asked me if I could do THIS (forge khukuri!). that was the first time I laughed at my Shifu. Of course I could try, I said!
I have made a few nice (small) working knives, but struggle with anything over 6".
I dont have access to a forge over here in the UK. I have worked with leather since I was 11 years old, so now I am trying my hand at carving and tooling.

http://www.picbonanza.com/titus010782/238/6868/view

Let me know what you all think!

Sorry about the crappy pictures.
 
Next project is a low, gunslinger style holster in black with a howling crescent moon to match my M43 (which, BTW, is an awesome knife! Thanks Bura Kami and Aunty Yangdu)

The sheath for the Sirupati points straight down. I balanced it before cutting the slots for the belt, so it stays put.

Watch this space in about a months time.. It takes me that long to get anything done.
 
titus010782 said:
So true. At the end of the day, its a piece of metal used for cutting, chopping and bashing.

When the first caveman discovered metal and how to use it, he must have been very excited.

its true folks. Humans were refining steel long before we originally thought.

Archaeologists are finding evidence of worked metal tools many thousands of years before we even (supposedly) starting knapping flint.
Click to expand...

Titus, to go off topic for a moment, where did you see such references if I may ask? :) This is only one of many subjects that has piqued my interest for a good many years...:thumbup: :cool: :D




.
 
Yvsa said:
Titus, to go off topic for a moment, where did you see such references if I may ask? :) This is only one of many subjects that has piqued my interest for a good many years...:thumbup: :cool: :D




.
Click to expand...

I will check the references in the books I have on lost civillisations, but basically its "ancient" technology.
Archaeologists, anthropologists, ancient historians and other extremely clever people have found that some old flint tools they found are in fact tens of thousands of years older than when man supposedly started sharpening sticks.
Like bits of lead acid cells found in Mayan ruins and a very curious bronze clock that was found in Syria that has some ferric oxide stains that could have been working STEEL springs. This was around 4000BC, long before the advent of the 'Iron Age' around 750BC.

Also there are more fanciful legends about blades, made using falling stars, carried by heroes that could cut through stone and were unbreakable.


Apparently, humans evolved alot faster than most people think.

This money based economy whose yoke we all are forced to labor under, suppresses technology and advancement.
If we could live under a RESOURCE based economy (fact:there are than enough resources for EVERYONE), money would become obsolete (amirite?).


off the topic againso no comments about the sheath? I was hoping for some negative critique at least...:foot:
 
titus010782 said:
off the topic againso no comments about the sheath? I was hoping for some negative critique at least...:foot:
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Very nice sheath, titus!
What is not to like about it.
Nice design and workmanship, and the tiger looks fantastic.
I wish i could do 1/2 as well.
 
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