Mohd, no, I'm not offended. You've asked very straight forward questions, and I will answer to the best of my ability. First of all, I must say you've done your homework! I didn't mean to stir up any trouble with my posts (those comments were made as part of other posts that really had nothing to do with HI).
Second of all - and EVERYBODY should read this statement - I am NOT stirring up trouble here. Folks, I was asked a few simple questions, and to not answer them as straight forward and as honestly as I can would be insulting to everybody involved. Not answering them would create just as much controversy, I think, as answering them badly would create. As in poetry and drama - silences are usually filled deep meaning, and I wish not to be misunderstood in my treatement of Mohd's very fair questions.
However, here are the questions, answered to the best of my ability, in the order you asked them:
1) Who is Til Bahadur Bishwakarma? Is he the same person who previously supplied Khukuris to HI before Uncle Bill open HI 2nd Shop and then followed by Birgorkha?
Answer: TB is a retired gurkha who is the "director" (for lack of a better term) of most of the "factories" (again, not the best term) in Dharan. 99% of his khukuris go directly to Khukuri House for sale to discriminating tourists, Nepali citizens, various military organizations, and us (we demand "the pick of the litter," slap on a guarantee, and call them Gurkha House khukuris). I do know that TB must have supplied khukuris to HI before Uncle Bill opened HI 2nd Shop. The reason I know this is that I saw documents faxed from the states for the design of the bowie, and that TB told me so. I also bought the remaining HI stock because TB really couldn't do anything with it (it had the HI logo, but TB said he'd try to grind it off). That being said, I cannot speculate as to where HI got ALL of their khukuris - it would be irresponsible and speculative for me to say so. That's a question better answered by Bill. I do know they (HI) got some khukuris from TB (see other answers). That is, Kami Sherpa bought, in the past, many khukuris from TB for export, but stopped suddenly about a year and a half ago. This can be confirmed by the following quotation:
A year ago or perhaps a bit longer circumstances promped us to open our own little factory, BirGorhka, and that's how it will be from here on out.
Source:
http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum53/HTML/000158.html
2. What Hanuman Khukuri is that? Is it the same 16½ Hanuman Special Model which is offered by HI?
ANSWER: TB was the original designer of the modern-day hanuman, and he actually did the wood carving of the handle himself. Although I didn't ask him for whom he did the design, the similarities are so strikingly similar (I'll post pictures of my Hanuman when it comes), and the quality so good, that it seems unlikely that two bishwakarmas, independent of one another, would both come up with such a unique design at approximately the same time.
3. Is that White Deer Horn Mini Jungle is actually HI CBKC because it just look very similar with my HI 9 Deer Horn Handled CBKC?
ANSWER: I have no idea. I found this khukuri hanging on a string in Lalit's Jawalaklel shop, and really fell in love with it. I liked it so much that it's the only khukuri I carried back with me. Although the similarities were striking once I saw the recent post about them on the HI forum, I cannot say if it is "the same knife." Once again, though, in light of the above info, one would bet that they are. Of course, the one I brought back is unmarked and not numbered, so it technically ISN'T the same knife to a discriminating collector.
4. You mentioned about Bowies of HI design ... is that the HI Ang Khola Bowie?
ANSWER: Again, you'll have to wait for the photo and make your own determination. However, TB did tell me that the bowies he gave me were the ones they made for export through HI. And, holding it in my hand, I have to believe that it's true. It will be for sale if someone wants to buy it and compare the two models.
Okay, so I know that I probably have offended some people in some way. Please give me the benefit of the doubt and know that any offense is accidental, and is purely a result of my writing style. I've tried to answer these questions as truthfully and as openly as possible, without making ANY conjecture. I ask those of you who are no doubt angry at this entire topic to wait until I post the photos before passing judgement.
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Craig Gottlieb
Gurkha House
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