Thumbnail history of HI.

Durba .....

munk said:
Clifton, you're the one who has the collection of the retired Master Kami whose name is alluding me at the moment.

I remember a time we couldn't buy any M43's because you scarfed them up all the time.


munk
Click to expand...
 
Durba Durba Durba; how could I forget?

If I become wealthy and famous, will you let me buy one of your Durbas?

No, you probably won't.



munk
 
cliff355 said:
It seems to me I got about 13 - 14 khuks over the past year, four of which are now riding other guy's belts. It was necessary to make all of these acquisitions to determine that the ultimate khuk for me is a 17" GRS. When I finally get my hands on some more dough I'll be concentrating on "spares" for this model.
Click to expand...

I think that is their best model I own. Perfect combo of weight and sharpness.


I am a weenie compared to most of you all from reading this thread. I only have a 12" Ak Villager, a 12" Pen Knife, a 17" Ganga Ram, an M43, an 18" AK, a AK Bowie, and an 18" Ganga Ram-ish Villager. I DO have a YCS on order though. I think one of the reasons I have so few is related to what Cliff said above. I got the 17" Ganga early on, and I liked it so well that I haven't been so tempted to get much else in the price range. It and my GK Bonecutter do about everything I want.

I do want another Ganga Villager and maybe a Bo Jange eventually though ;)

Back to HI. I think one major contribution that they have made not only to us but to the history of Khukuris is that they have really popularized the khukuri for chopping and utility use by outdoors people more than anybody ever before. :D
 
"........they have really popularized the khukuri for chopping and utility use by outdoors people more than anybody ever before."

Right again. Because of the path we blazed others in Nepal are able to sell khukuris directly to the world market.
 
I have no idea how I missed this entire thread that was almost 6 week ago. Must have been sick or something. Only found it because I was doing a search on "Ganga Ram Villager" based on Satori's posting. I agree that the BGRS is just a great knife, and hope to get a Villager BGR soon. Right now I have only 3 villagers, two Ak's and a sirupati.

I especially enjoyed Uncle Bill's HI history, and kick myself thinking I almost missed reading it. I seriously think that HIKV can be an addiction, and I was really bitten badly last year. Uncle Bill has counseled me wisely that "patience is a virtue", but I am so scared of missing out on some of these beauties that I have at times unwisely bought when I should have waited.

For instance, for the first 7 or 8 months I was online it seemed that everything was either horn or satisaal and I bought quite a lot of that, but now we are seeing these beautiful chandan and sandalwood and antler and osage orange handles that just add a whole new dimension to these great knives. I look for gaps in my collection to fit these new guys in, but the gaps are definitely shrinking!

In any case, in almost exactly 3 weeks I will be celebrating my 1 year anniversary of finding HI and don't know exactly how many triangular and rectangular HI boxes have come my way, but all I am currently lacking is an original cross-hatched 18th century, and a full length Himalayan Sword, both of which are on the discontinued list for now, and one of the new hanshees. This doesn't count beautiful one-off's I missed like Sgt. Karka's Chiruwa WWII the other day. (Let's just say that at my current rate I should be close to LCS in a month or two!) Thank God Uncle Bill stopped most of the special orders or I would be in serious trouble. As it is he was nice enough to get me a 25" Malla and a 25" Chitlangi that are just fantastic.

I am looking forward to the new Foxes Folly as well and hope that project goes OK. I cut back my book collecting to almost nothing, and decided the new bandsaw and planer/jointer could wait, and stupidly delayed my flight training for 4 months, but I managed to scratch my HI itch pretty much into submission, but it does flare up again from time to time! (Can you say "Manjushree"!?) :D

Regards,

Norm
 
I have been here for one year now and put about 3,000$ into the company.
(that's about 10 % of my total yearly income)
I have only managed to keep about 3 or 4 of those products for myself.
I cant help it!
My friends are all serious martial artists and they all have the "eye" for a serious weapon.
Some of these guys just walk up to me at the dojo and say "what do you have for me?" and open up their wallets.
I am not joking.
I lost my first kerambit that way and my dui chirra.
(I will never take my second kermabit back to the dojo)

I have been very lucky in that I can buy, try, and then I have the option of keeping it if I really really like it. (like my Rod allen Hanshee, kerambit, etc)
or selling it to my grabby MA friends if I think I might want to try something else...
 
I got one of the early photo ads. 3 knives in a Kodak photo. Wish I knew where that was - maybe floating around my parents' house.

Up to, oh, maybe a dozen, with one gifted off to family and two to Sarge to get knuckleheads of of jambs (or jams).

As they say in the Mastercard commercials

UBDOTD - $95

22" GRS - $175

A knife that won't let you down and the knuts that come with it - Priceless
 
Amazing, Uncle.

If you'll notice my brief time here, and realize that I'm a poor student, then perhaps you will understand that I only own 1 so far. But with you all as my witness, I *will* become part of that happy 80%! You already have me a khuk nut! This place is the best. As I get money, HI gets money. And I get knives! :)

Namaarie
 
I have to say that Uncle Bill has continued to transform himself in the five years I've known him. He's busy with other things now, but when we met he was very concerned for each new person he met, and tried to remember the important things about all.

I also have to say that deep down inside him there's probably one heck of an S.O.B. struggling to get out. I say this in admiration - and from what I've learned from him. I'm awed of him in some ways.

He's made the difference for the Nepalis he wanted to help. Moreover, he's helped bring those of us affluent physically but in relative poverty spiritually an example to learn by. Like Heinlein's Lazarus Long, when you have Bill's attention you have his full attention.

This forum is sacrosanct to me because it has drawn together those of like minds regardless of religion or other differences. Bill, Yvsa, Howard, JP, munk, and on and on. Make that kindred spirits, sharing openly and honestly.

You have done good, Bill: Just wanted to make sure you knew that - kick the bucket or stick around another 5 or 10 years. Love

PS: more smoke rising.
 
Love Bill.

I see the spiritis rising...0' ver the San Gabieals

(sic)


if any body needs to b3 shon the way, I know the way through the San Gabriuals and the San Bernardinos.

You want to know the secret?

go downhill, even by moonlight, and do not hurry, do not panic. take it slow and..fun

munk out
Im gone for 30 days

\
 
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