Poll - Serial numbers - Exercise your Icons

The labels are on the way -- 400 of them -- so we should get the marking problem under control very soon. US customs!

There is an advantage of sorts to the SN -- if Himalayan Imports should somehow survive for 50 years and I sincerely hope that it does the early SNs would be of some value in the collectibles market. It puts a time frame on your khukuri.

However, if everybody wants the SN off it is easier to leave it off than put it on so we can readily take care of that.

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Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
http://members.aol.com/himimp/index.html
 
Good point Dave,sterile was a poor term.What you would expect to see a rich Nepali with,(a farmer isn`t going to buy a fancy khuk),is better.No number because it is one of a kind.No NEPAL stamp because he knows where it was made,and it is not normal.A makers mark, or a name could be expected.As most of us do not read Devangari,it looks like part of the design,insted of detracting from the aesthetics.I hate those big,warning,roll markings found on guns now,as well.


[This message has been edited by ghostsix (edited 28 September 1999).]
 
The first AK I ordered from Bill was marked with HI's name only - it was stamped. The 2nd
one I bought was a blem but I like it better than the first, the forging was first rate and the HI trademark was hand done - perhaps with a electric scribe, but artfully so. Both are shop 1. I have pounded both blades through 10" dia oak that I split for firewood and have had no failure. The similarity of the khuks to katanas is not farfetched and the name of the artist should reflect as much, not only in substance- but form.
 
Bill,

You may want to consider the results in this thread prior to calling Nepal about putting serial numbers back on.

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Howard Wallace
Khukuri FAQ

 
You could be right, Howard. They get the numbers mixed up anyway and use some sort of internal code when they do use them. Maybe just the old HI logo is better. I don't think we will ever get the kami's mark on the blade but you never know.

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Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
http://members.aol.com/himimp/index.html
 
As Yvsa stated, aside from special issues which would probably benefit from serial numbers, having the knives numbered doesn't do much for me in the appeal department. Given a preference, I'd like to have the actual maker's initials (not KGR's unless he made the knife) and the H.I. logo only on the blade. Bottom line...thumbs down on serial numbers. Just my penny's worth of opinion.

Frank
 
Called Gelbu last night and serial numbers are history -- I hope! Sometimes when the kamis build up momentum it is hard to slow it down. We settled on the HI logo mark and "made in Nepal" STICKERS...nothing more. Kami marks are a possibility but we think it might get too confusing.



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Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
http://members.aol.com/himimp/index.html
 
Good enough by me, Uncle Bill. Who knows when they'll start making serial #'s on knives a requirement, and having an unregistered knife a felony.




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Treat high blood pressure BEFORE the crosshairs start jumping all around in the scope.


 
I like having the HI logo on each khukuri and I really like the idea of having on each khuk the initials of the kami who actually made it. But I'm glad that the serial numbers appear to be a thing of the past.

 
Here is the problem with the kami mark. Let's take the Banspati as an example. Bura and his son, Prakash, were the main kamis -- a couple of the younger guys probably helped hammer during forging. So we have four kamis involved in the manufacure. Who signs?

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Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
http://members.aol.com/himimp/index.html
 
Uncle Bill, even if a number of kamis work on a particular khukuri, isn't one kami among them regarded as the "team chief" and held responsible for the finished product? If so, it would seem appropriate to me that this person's initials would be on the khuk. (But, I am the very first to admit that I know nothing about the kamis' work heirarchy or ethic.) It's just that having the kami's initials on a blade would personalize things for both maker and buyer and would foster a feeling of connectedness, which is in keeping with the kamis' prayer for a spiritual bond and remote friendship with the recipients of the khukuris.

[This message has been edited by Steven F (edited 26 October 1999).]
 
When the kamis come back to work from Dasein I'll ask Gelbu to take an opinion poll regarding the marking of the blades. Let's see what the kamis themselves have to say about it.

Hardhead that I am, if I made something and didn't feel like putting my name on it I wouldn't. So, let's see what they think.

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Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
http://members.aol.com/himimp/index.html
 
Serial numbers don't have much value for me. Date of manufacture would be nice and of course the H.I. logo. Keep the marking small and discrete also.

Will
 
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