Like Llamedos, I live in the UK, and received a beautifully bladed 15"AK from Uncle Bill, but unfortunately the newspaper wrapper in the cardboard box did not survive the transatlantic shipping without a severe blow to the corner of the box, which turned a magnificent (half inch+ thick bladed) khukuri into a blem with a dented brass butt-plate and chipped buffalo horn handle.
My wife having just died, I don't want to return the AK to Uncle Bill, as she gave it to me as a birthday present before she died just over a week ago.
The dilemma is that the blade is superb, but the handle will never be right, even though Uncle Bill has kindly suggested someone in England who might be able to advise on/or correct some of the horn handle damage. I think I shall have to overcome my feelings concerning the contrast between the wonderful blade and the damage, and keep it as a 'keep-sake' from my lovely wife Claire.
My main problem has been that I see Uncle Bill's khukuris as such objects of beauty, that it's like getting damage to the bodywork of a hand built Rolls-Royce :- it'll never quite be the same as one in pristine condition for the collection.
Perhaps the remedy would be to take it out and use it 'in the field' so that the damage wouldn't matter in the future, but I think I'll just ignore the damage and think of the love that it was given with from my wife and keep it just as it is.
I do however appreciate Llamedos's dilemma concerning receiving an eagerly awaited HI khukuri here in the UK to find it damaged, or at fault, without being able to return it because of the cost and 'red-tape' at this end.
However I still daily admire the wonderful skill of the Kami who made my blade and will always 'drool' at the great creations that come out of HI. Keep up the good work Uncle Bill, and thank you for your condolences in the email I received from you today.
