The success of failures. Another WHY?

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Mar 5, 1999
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Since we started selling khukuris 15 years ago we have had two total blade failures -- both Chiruwa AKs within the last week. Since these failed I've sold more Chiruwa AKs than any other model.

I want some bright marketing analyst to tell me why.
 
because it is a "Win-Win" situation?

If it survives the backyard bashing, they have a wonderful HI khuk which will last for the rest of their lives.

If it breaks, they get TWO replacements.

Maybe?

(and Bill? make up your mind. You either get "bright" or you get "market analysts.")

I am neither.


Kis
:rolleyes:
 
Uncle,

I think one reason might be that if you break a Chiruwa khukuri, you can get two khukuris for it. Or it might be because of the popularity of the Chiruwas that are working in the field right now without any breaks in them.
 
Kismet, I have mixed feelings. I certainly hope people who buy the Chiruwas aren't doing so in order to take advantage of Uncle Bill during a time of trouble in Nepal.

I do think a broken blade is not good, and we all know the replacement guarantee will be honored by H I. But at the same time a 2 for one is not appropriate considering the turmoil. Half the Kami's are sick, the shop is working under great stress, and under these circumstances, the tempering of these blades may not get the total attention that is required.

We all should show the same consideration that we would like to have ourselves. When I do I job, the state of Florida mandates a one year warauntee. If there is a problem, I fix it free but there is always those who stretch the degree of guilt.

If we want to see Big Ghorka to survive fianacily, let show some common sense until these problems are given the full attention of the Kami's and not put more strain to what is might already be at the breaking point. No insult intended to you, just making a comment on what might not be obvious to H I customers.;)

All the best, Sam
 
Rarity.

2 faulty khuks out of, like 50 million, is almost as good as those cigarette pack baseball cards that sell for millions of dollars. Factory blemishes add value - like dimes from the US mint that are stamped on penny blanks, or pennies with big numbers in the date, and related oddities.

A faulty HI is guaranteed to increase in value - especially since you have to destroy one to figure out if it's a defect!

:D

I suppose it doesn't hurt that someone put up an absolutely glowing field report in the past week, and offered to trade a Durba WWII for a chiruwa AK
 
I stumbled onto this forum initially and went to the web site.

Anything that reputes to be "unbreakable" was like a friggin' gauntlet to me. My recently acquired addiction to Absorbine Jr, Ben-Gay and related all attest that my comparitively weak body will never be able to best a proper H.I. AK- Chiruwa or otherwise.
I've put mine in between tree limbs and bounced around to show my friends how tough it was. Some here IIRC have used them for pulling stuck vehicles out. (Talk about a Cliff Stamp style test!)
Two failures in 15 yrs? I need to buy a Powerball Ticket.

BTW does anyone else love the smell of a an AK ( or other) after a good workout? Mmmm Pinon, steel and an impending storm....
 
Originally posted by Bill Martino
Since we started selling khukuris 15 years ago we have had two total blade failures -- both Chiruwa AKs within the last week. Since these failed I've sold more Chiruwa AKs than any other model.

I want some bright marketing analyst to tell me why.

FAITH, UNDERSTANDING AND RESPECT FOR UNCLE AND BIR GORKA
 
Originally posted by Roger Smith
I stumbled onto this forum initially and went to the web site.

Anything that reputes to be "unbreakable" was like a friggin' gauntlet to me. My recently acquired addiction to Absorbine Jr, Ben-Gay and related all attest that my comparitively weak body will never be able to best a proper H.I. AK- Chiruwa or otherwise.

I'm with you Roger, don't think I could ever break an HI AK even if I tried.


I've put mine in between tree limbs and bounced around to show my friends how tough it was. Some here IIRC have used them for pulling stuck vehicles out. (Talk about a Cliff Stamp style test!)
Two failures in 15 yrs? I need to buy a Powerball Ticket.

Sounds like you've been having fun with Godzilla.:D


BTW does anyone else love the smell of a an AK ( or other) after a good workout? Mmmm Pinon, steel and an impending storm....
Ah yes, such a wonderfull smell.;):D The Fire ban will be lifted this weekend and I'll be camping with my AK. What a wonderfull weekend this will be.
 
Originally posted by wildmanh


Sounds like you've been having fun with Godzilla.:D


Oh yeah Heber!
I've been clearing out some old growth for some paths lately. My plain YCS does the best for smaller trees and limbs. GODZILLA ( gosh I even think of him in caps) has had to chop 3 ponderosa stumps and (unfortunately) one old man Juniper that was blown partly over onto the shed. I'd say that he was 300 yrs and much bigger around than I can reach.
It took me a long time. I'm not Cliff Stamp. Don't have a digital camera so everyone's gonna say I full of it. It did take a long time and I'm currently scheduled for Betty Ford for Ben-Gay addiction.
 
I want some bright marketing analyst to tell me why.
Sure wish I knew one! Not to be too sarcastic but that sounds like an oxymoron to me!
My Chiruwa AK is as tough as nails. I have wailed on things (hard wood) like I was using a sledgehammer as opposed to a knife. The chiruwa just laughs it off!:D
People just like to do the things that we're told we can't do or not to do. If you're told you can't break an HI khuk and you can well maybe that makes you like the incredible hulk or something. Maybe it's that people just like to tempt fate. I personally would not like a sharp khuk coming apart while swinging it hard into something. Kinda scary!
 
Originally posted by Bill Martino
Since we started selling khukuris 15 years ago we have had two total blade failures -- both Chiruwa AKs within the last week. Since these failed I've sold more Chiruwa AKs than any other model.

I want some bright marketing analyst to tell me why.


Easy.

The chances of a HI chiruwa khuk breaking are one in a million.

Therefore, if two HI chiruwa khuks have just broken, it stands to reason that the next 1,999,998 chiruwas must be indestructible.

Buy now while stocks last!
 
I picked the Chiruwa because of the break it and get two free deal. Not because I expected to cash in on it, but because you don't sell junk with that kind of gaurantee. I thought it would out-last any other knife, and the shape of the blade is just plain beautiful.
 
If I ever had to choose only one single khuk for any possible future use, it would be a 16.5" chiruwa, hands down. I have one that I use in the field every week and it never fails to amaze observers when I use it to turn a deadfall into a few neat stacks of firewood with relatively little effort. IMHO you cannot put any more khukuri into a package that small. :cool:
 
I think I need to get a regular AK to compare with - my Chiruwa (dearly departed) didn't seem to have any magical chopping properties, but that was relative to a 20" sirupati of similar weight.

Maybe a BAS or a WWII,
Or maybe a Baby GRS

MUST HAVE MORE DATA

bwahaha....
 
That is the problem!! You need no less than 6 H I khukuris. 10 or 12 just begin to fill the cabinent.:rolleyes:
 
If I were rich I would have a Chiruwa, all other Ang Kholas, the WWIIs, and a BAS. Of coarse, I still haven't really been able to use a Khukuri yet. Hopefully I will be able to try a 18in WW2 pretty soon though, I can't wait.
 
I have 4 "AK.Chiruwas" : 2 by Durba and 2 by Bura.
I use two of them (1 horn handle & 1 wood handle) and I keep the two others in reserve.
I can say to anyone that the two that I use are incredibly robusts! I have tested them all the time when I go with my dog "Bas Rouge" in the woods or the mountains of the Pays Basque, my country. Sometimes, I use my Chiruwa 7 hours in the bush. So if it had a fragility I would find out the mistake. These knives are war horses imo because they were used and tested in real conditions. That says something all by itself.

More than never I put my trust in Chiruwas, and in consequence in Himalayan Imports.


Stephensee.
 
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