Tora Khukuri

H

hollowdweller

Joined
Sep 22, 2003
Messages
13,182
I just got a Tora 1850 style Khukuri.

Beautiful knife. Rosewood handle. Beautiful shape. 19.5" 1lb 10 oz.
After I bid on it I told Simon I had and he offered to give me a WW2 instead cause he felt it was thin. I didn't want to substitute cause I liked the design. This is very similar to Fox's Folly but light. The blade is 3/16" at the thickest. Very sharp. Lovely handle curve. Non habaki bolster. Also this knife has hands down the best karda and chakma I have ever had. Both blade shape and beautiful wood and shape to the handles.

When I got home I tried it on a 4" dry pine to test the tang. The thing chopped great, but the edge was starting to SERIOUSLY waver. I had a HI knife that wavered, but it was closer to the edge. On the HI knife I could take the edge back to where it was thicker and wouldn't waver. Not on this one. If you run your finger over it you can feel the dip all the way to the end of the bevel. Still it didn't ruin it. I may be able to use a plexiglass hammer and bend it back.

The edge on this is really sharp. Even after chopping through the 4" pine log twice a few strops brought it up to shaving. Also sharp from the tip to the cho.

I like this knife but it is not capable of serious work. It would be a great fighter or machete, but I could see if I tried to cut any hardwood I'd do some serious damage to the blade. Still I'd love to see something about midway between this and the Foxys Folly. Light enough to use but wouldn't bend.
 
Glad to see other businesses getting decent khuks out there on the market. But you have to watch for problems with the kamis. Sounds like the HI kamis: do good work as long as you watch them like a hawk.

Come to think of it that applies to most American shops I've been around, too! It would appear folks are the same all over. I know I used to try to get away with what I thought I could.
 
I see what you mean

1850.jpg


Nice profile,

too bad they didn't get it hardened properly.
 
I could buy from Tora and save me some money, since they are based in the UK, (no import duty, no tax, no damn 'handling fee').

Fact is though that I wont buy from anyone else other than Uncle Bill. It's always a pleasure to do business with him, and his word is his bond. If something isnt right with a purchase then I know he will make it right. Customer service doesnt get any better.

Aside from that, I've read the tests over the years by the likes of Cliff Stamp and others.

Maybe some other people are putting out good quality khuks as well and I dont think that anyone would claim that HI have a monopoly on good kami. The fact is though that HI HAVE been consistantly providing quality khuks for a good amount of time now.

I'll stick with Uncle Bill.
 
Hmm, I see this guy who runs Tora also teaches its use along with other martial arts stuff.

Might be intresting, 'cept my own instructor and good friend learned his weapons skills from Hank Rheinhardt, among others. He must have been doing something right because Mr Rheinhardt made him a gift of his personal khukri of which he had been using for over 20 years previously. I have a picture of it and it is a lovely looking khukri.

Ah well, I like to think I seek out the best people in all things ;)
 
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