Test your khukuris. The kamis are in a hurry.

Chopsticks, go to town!:)

Dean, I like some of those videos too. They'd also be good as part of a display at a Knife or Gun Show.
 
I volunteer to do the testing here in the USA - I'm pretty strong, and probably twice as big as a large Nepalese (6'3", 260 lbs, +/-). I also volunteer to keep all blades that don't pass the test... ;) Not responsible for any blades lost in shipping... :D
 
Dasein is the annual harvest; the kamis go home to help their families and hence try to pump up production to make up for the coming downtime. 99 out of 100 still isn't too bad, you just have to watch out for a lemon. I got a YCS last year around this time (maybe a little earlier, I don't remember for sure), that wasn't fully hardened. The edge deformed with light chopping, UB made it right so now I'm the proud owner of a 21" chitlangi so all is well.
 
Now that I think of it, the Chiruwa AK that I broke was this time last year. Got a 18in WW2 and a 18in AK.
 
I've been pushing for "proof testing" for some time.

I think the proof tester should have the highest status job in the shop, and good pay. He should be responsible to see that only trustworthy blades are sent to customers, and that they represent the best Nepal has to offer. The mark of the proof tester on the blade is the assurance that it has been tested for quality. Proof testing might be a good job for one of the older master kamis who can no longer work at the forge.. Maybe he could use a lower paid strapping youth to do the actual impacts of the blades under his supervision.

The fact that 10 thousand blades have come through without failing does not mean proof testing is unnecessary. All it takes is a little water in the wrong place to harden the tang. The next blade could fail at a critical time for a customer, potentially damaging the customer, the reputation of BirGorkha, and the reputation of Nepal.
 
Yangdu called and threatened to close operations here if some kind of testing program was not implemented. Of course, this kind of news puts everybody at BirGorkha on high alert -- panic mode, actually. We'll get this straightened out one way or another. I like Howard's notion of a proof mark.
 
Uncle Bill;
No insult intended but it sounds like you should let Yangdu deal with getting the kamis to make a better mix of khukuris. She seems to have the touch. Or wouldn't they listen to a woman?
 
Well, I just went out side and tested my two new Khukuris. the Bura 16.5" WWII and Bura 20" Sirupati. Both of them passed with flying colors.:)

Boy, I forgot how hard Ceder Posts are. lol. Nothing the WWII couldn't handle though;).
 
Bill

Any Chiruwa handle failures in the bunch?? I can understand the normal rat tail handle failure but I would be surprized if the Chiruwa was failing too. Have you had any??

Semp --
 
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