USPS damaged my khukuri

shao.fu.tzer

shao.fu.tzer

Banned
Joined
Nov 23, 2005
Messages
325
Good news: Today I received my 18" horn handled AK by Bura.

Bad news: The pommel was sticking out of a hole in the box. There's a 1cm or so chip in the handle and the buttplate is bent inward.

Apparently some gorilla in the employ of the USPS dropped my shipment. My first khukuri and my first USPS insurance claim! I just know it's going to be a pain in the ass. Anyway, I'm not letting it get me down too much.

Shao
 
Shao?

Got pix?

Most of us have modified or repaired some khuk or another.

We'll help if you'd like.

Read the safety thread. That sucker can hurt you.
 
My suggestion: sand the handle a bit and save the dust. Mix up some epoxy and then add the dust. Fill in the hole and then sand it down.:thumbup:
 
Hollow's right.



Before I did anything, though, I'd see how the khuk felt in my hand and what changes would be best in the handle if any.



munk
 
I'm sure that Yangdu will replace the knife for you :)

Here is a photo link that shows a similar situation on a recent "Nepalese Khukuri House" knife that I sent back for that and some other reasons.

http://img302.imageshack.us/img302/5848/dscn06412ru.jpg


It not only had the chip that was caused during shipping, but also had what I now consider to be that dreadful "cho/kauri fracture"

I don't know who or what was responsible for your handle break, but on the knife pictured above, it was definitely caused by absolutely poor packaging. It came all the way from Nepal with only a tight cardboard wrap, having no cushioning between the cardboard and the knife itself. Any impact to the package was basically a direct hit upon the contents :(
 
I wouldn't worry and I know Yangdu will take care of you. I see you are now infected. It only gets worse, pretty soon your spare kidney will be on ebay. lol I know mine is going up this weekend.

Billy
 
I was just silently laughing here in front of my computer screen.......

The reason why is because my above description of how poorly that NKH knife was packaged before shipment, made me think of what I consider to be probably the worst packager ever............ Century Arms International.

I worked many years in the gun business, and the worst packages I ever saw arriving were that of Century Arms. They were especially negligent with their Curio and Relic rifles. They would oftentimes literally just place the guns in a box, with no cushioning whatsoever. So many times did we receive guns with their muzzles sticking out of the box (and with serious metal scrapes and deformation to prove what the uncareful packing had caused).

If anyone deals with receiving package shipments for any length of time, one realizes how brutal the package treatment can be. Not saying that careful packaging will always protect the internals, but careful packaging is a must if one wants to at least lessen the chances of damage.
 
I've received around 20 or more boxes from Yangdu so far, both the famous triangle ones and square ones too. Quite a few times I had more than one item in the box.
My items were always meticulously wrapped, taped and cushioned with plenty of newspaper.

Shao, my guess would be that someone opened your box in a way that it would look as accidental tear/hole.
 
Too bad it happened to Shao.

He seemed to really badly be after his first HI purchase, and then gets hit with bad luck shipping damage on his first order :(

Again, I'm sure a call or email to Yangdu will solve the problem for him :)
 
You know you have HIKV REALLY bad when you know the local news in Reno better than your home town! Yangdu does a great job yet accidents do happen. Usually to me!

Billy
 
mmmm, given the way that yangdu wraps her packages, and the care that she uses, i cannot imagine that even if the end of a box was ripped off, that the inner contents would become actually exposed... to agree with someone above, i'd have to say that someone opened your box and/or it was ripped open, violently - and somehow the wrapped knife was exposed - either deliberately or via some tragic violence. either way, you have a definite right to complain to the USPS - there is NO way they should have handled the package the way - complain. formally, in writing, to your regional postmaster - call them first, tell them the deal, tell them you want to complain that a custom/special item (insured no less) was damaged. let yangdu know as well as a courtesy, but the USPS is on the hook.

years ago i had something like this, but FAR worse happen to a package sent UPS. they had the nerve to drop it off - it had tired tracks on it, oil, chemcial ICK scent, and ... basically was destroyed. they actually said "it was shipped that way". i just smiled and said "really, you'd accept a package in this condition? send it back, i don't accept it" and they wouldn't take it. that pretty much clinched it for me and them, and we worked it out fairly fast.

good luck!

bladite
 
Completely agree with Bladite on this one.

Really sorry this happened Shao, but I have received probably 6-8 packages a month from HI for over 2 years, and the wrapping has always been superlative. I have never had a knife that failed to be wrapped, and then wrapped on top of the wrapping, with the ends getting special treatment, and paper stuffed into both ends of the box to keep the knife from moving at all. I keep a special razor sharp little karda in the garage just to help with getting the packages open AFTER I open the box. and in slicing thru all the Reno news I often ask myself why Yangdu had to wrap it so tight! (-: But then I get them open and am glad she did.

So frankly, in all deference to the advice you have been given several times, I wouldn't bother Yangdu at all. She didn't drop kick your package, it is inconceivable that on this one package out of the thousands she has sent out that she cruised the wrapping on it, it's not her responsibility that someone either tampered with the package or damaged the knife, so why should she have to eat it? Your instincts are absolutely right on and I would have the PO pay to replace it, especially as Yangdu always carefully insures each shipment. So there's now no problem setting a value on the knife.

I have had only one knife come with that exact kind of damage, and it was a very nice Tora I bought some months ago, that was wrapped fine in the middle but had no end padding at all, so the knife slid back and forth in the square box, banging on each side of the box until a fist sized hole appeared. It was dropped on the buttcap, repeatedly it looked like, or else once extremely hard, and the butcap bent in and knocked off a small piece of wood (sisnal I believe) at the top rear of the cap.

With much effort I was able to bend the buttcap back into place, and then glue the wood chip back in place, and then sand the whole thing out. There are still lines there, but they are very faint. It took a couple of hours, but I did not want to hassle the Tora people abut something that was somewhat out of their control, and yet at the same time I let them know about the lack of end padding which they kindly noted.

Count on the PO to find a way to ruin a good box. I ordered an airplane calendar once that is advertised to be shipped in their "famous bulletproof box", which IS an excellent box, and it came literally ripped in half. Box, calendar, invoice, everything. Must have taken 2 guys, one on each end to do that one. They were probably fooling around, bored, and taking a break from reloading...:D

Thanks,

Norm
 
Hey, I'm sure your right about how Yangdu wraps her packages.
Just in case, my comments were directed at packaging things up in general.
Lack of quality packaging statements are not aimed at Yangdu, especially since I have not personally seen or opened up one single piece of her packaging,......... at least not yet ;)
Soon I'll be able to judge with "my" own two eyes when I receive my HI knife ;)

The situation that occured with the NKH knife that I received was put up to show more or less the similar damage it had to what Shao was describing on his received knife.

I also wrote:

"I don't know who or what was responsible for your handle break, but on the knife pictured above, it was definitely caused by absolutely poor packaging. It came all the way from Nepal with only a tight cardboard wrap, having no cushioning between the cardboard and the knife itself. Any impact to the package was basically a direct hit upon the contents."

That was for how it happened in my case, but as you can all see, I specifically said that I did not know who or what was the cause for Shao's situation.

It is true that some companies, like "NKH" and "Century Arms", simply don't take the extra precautions needed during their packaging. There is a responsibility that lies with the company that is shipping out the item to make sure that they have done their very best to ensure safe packaging for the items trip. I've noticed that "certain" firms partially or completely fail at this...... and that's just a fact.

The shipping companies, oftentimes under demanding schedules, are notorious for harsh treatment of their packages. Even good packaging can be little armour against some of this treatment.
Anyhow, I do stress that because of the expected rough handling, one's packages have to oftentimes (depending on the product) be overkill to help the item survive the ordeal.

Will Yangdu replace this knife?............ That I don't know, but she just may (makes for great above and beyond customer service). Besides, as another poster wrote, mistakes happen. "If" it turns out that Yangdu may not have protected this knife as well as some others (remember, mistakes happen), then she may just reship another knife out to him. She may see the possibility that maybe her packaging on this particular knife could have been a bit better. Maybe it could have prevented this particular damage from happening. So knowing there could be this possibility, will she replace this knife?....... My guess is that she will :)
 
I'm not going to bother Yangdu about it since it's obviously USPS's fault. I notified her and asked for additional info as proof of purchase price to show the inspector(s). My first impression upon seeing the hole was that it was indeed intentionally created, but upon further inspection I've come to the conclusion that it was probably accidental. I could be wrong though. Unfortunately, the chip is long gone, so straightening and re-gluing would be out of the question. What I'm really concerned about is whether or not they're going to take my khukuri away from me when I file a claim. Has anyone here ever had to do so in the past? At first I assumed they would inspect it at the post office but after reading through the USPS website it all became a bit unclear. If I have to wait 30 days while they send it to someone to look at, then I'm not sure I'll be able to go through with my claim. It's my first kuk after all. Even with the chip I find myself playing with it entirely too often. My girlfriend showed up about 10 minutes before the package arrived and is staying the week with me for her Spring break. I've noticed definite hints of jealously as I seem to be paying more attention to it than her. :D However, I have a feeling my sense of justice won't let me sit idly by, as long as these images of a snickering pencil-necked kid tossing my beloved cargo out the back of a truck with abandon while bragging to his friends about some pimply-bottomed girl he rolled around with last weekend keep popping into my head. In fact, that's the dream I woke up to this morning. Rage kept me from returning to my slumber.

Shao
 
Shao,

I hope you are able to keep your slightly damaged knife and get your money back from USPS as well :)

If this works out, you can then order another knife soon ;)

Wish you all the luck on this ordeal, and on your future orders.

Take care, buddy!
 
shao.fu.tzer said:
I'm not going to bother Yangdu about it since it's obviously USPS's fault. I notified her and asked for additional info as proof of purchase price to show the inspector(s). My first impression upon seeing the hole was that it was indeed intentionally created, but upon further inspection I've come to the conclusion that it was probably accidental. I could be wrong though. Unfortunately, the chip is long gone, so straightening and re-gluing would be out of the question. What I'm really concerned about is whether or not they're going to take my khukuri away from me when I file a claim. Has anyone here ever had to do so in the past? At first I assumed they would inspect it at the post office but after reading through the USPS website it all became a bit unclear. If I have to wait 30 days while they send it to someone to look at, then I'm not sure I'll be able to go through with my claim. It's my first kuk after all. Even with the chip I find myself playing with it entirely too often. My girlfriend showed up about 10 minutes before the package arrived and is staying the week with me for her Spring break. I've noticed definite hints of jealously as I seem to be paying more attention to it than her. :D However, I have a feeling my sense of justice won't let me sit idly by, as long as these images of a snickering pencil-necked kid tossing my beloved cargo out the back of a truck with abandon while bragging to his friends about some pimply-bottomed girl he rolled around with last weekend keep popping into my head. In fact, that's the dream I woke up to this morning. Rage kept me from returning to my slumber.

Shao
Click to expand...

Good for Shao. Yangdu wraps the khuks so well that sometimes I'm scared I'm going to damage the knife or scabbard in my excitement to get at it. A good khukuri owner learns how to dress the wounds his knife sustains during its life. This is where you will learn such skills. Put the knife down for the weekend and give that girl some attention. You don't want to sand horn around her buddy, it stinks something terrible when sanded. The results are worth it though. With your good attitude you'll be an excellent addition here at the forum.:thumbup:
 
Having been buying and selling stuff for years I've found that quite often carriers make a small hole in the boxes in order to make it easier for them to carry. It's usually enough to get one finger in. Problem comes from that hole getting bigger and the item potentially coming out of it and getting damaged.

I hate shipping one of a kind things.

Good luck, it will all work out in the end.

Billy
 
So you are saying that they make their own little suitcases out of them, ain't that a B----......... well, you know what I mean ;)

That reality is a darn shame, but once a package goes in to that deep hole we all call "shipping service", one has a lot to worry about.... LOL!
 
Problem located !
Affirmative Action..
I ship live fish worth hundreds to thousands..
SCARY aint it ?
 
LIVE FISH!!! Oh man!

One little hole to the container holding the water, and you sure have a lot of dead critters,....... I mean fish ;)

As I said above, I had worked in the firearms business for quite a few years, and though nothing is perfect, my packaging was "always" overkill, but not once in 7 years did anyone complain that their package contents did not arrive safely to their destination (knock on wood) :)
 
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