Andy, it's a legitimate question, just as Steve says. If anybody gives you a hard time about it ignore them.
I and a lot of other folks got pretty steamed at a previous unfair comparison, but it was a mistake that was made and then picked up by fans on both sides and then had the flames fanned (by people probably just like me at the time), and being upset I in turn said some stupid and unfair things about the Other Company. Howard helped me out of that one.
They make some good stuff. So does HI. Variety is the spice of life. No one can say they are not authentic. They have maybe a dozen models. HI has 60 or 70 last time I checked. You would never see anything like a falcata or bob white bolo or big ganga ram or tarwar or manjushri or YCS or katunje come out of their shop.
But you do see creative beauties like the Crescent Moon Sirupate and Tin Chirra and the new Highland model. It's all good, and there is room for everyone. They are evolving just like "we" are here at HI.
It's like everything else; most folks can appreciate the creative differences between the two companies. But there are diehards and extremists everywhere, and whether it's the Niners and the Rams or Dems and Republicans or Tora and HI, someone is probably going to say something extreme and dumb if the mix is right and something gets taken the wrong way. Which is why Howard is standing over this thread with a big mallet in hand...
(Just so you understand that the Niners Rule, we won't have any trouble!
)
Regards,
Norm
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