(very) High end khukuries

not2sharp

not2sharp

Platinum Member
Joined
Jun 29, 1999
Messages
20,466
Where can one go to have someone reproduce a modern kukri to the level of refined detail found on the best of the 19th century presentation pieces?

Are there still craftmen around who are up to this level of craftmanship. US custom knife makers are producing extrodinary works of art, so is anyone in Nepal up to producing at that level of quality? I guess these would be targeted at the $1000.00 plus crowd. :eek:
 
I don't have a khukuri from any of the following but try:

Wayne Godard, Phil Hatsfield (saw one of his on a website but I can not remember who's).

A guy name Rheinhart (SP?) made the khukuri for Dracula. It was his favorite design if he had to kill vampires.

Will
 
Will,

US makers are producing some good stuff. But, it's not quite the same. It tends to lack the weight and balance of the 19th century examples. It might be a combination of the Western handle size, modern steel stock, or the lack of appreciation/information on these very refined knives.
 
:
I believe that the H.I.Khukuri's are up to that standard as I have some that are of first rate quality.
All of H.I.s'Khukuri's are very well done, but occasionally a kami will outdo himself. The 1st YCS I got is that sort of quality along with my Kothimoda and Hanuman Special.

The Royal Kami does such work consistently with the other kamis catching up with him.

If you mean other makers other than those in Nepal then I have to concur with Will as I don't know.:)
 
I recently sent a silver mounted Royal Dhankuta made by Bura, of course, to the guy who owns 800 khukuris. He called upon receipt and pronounced it the best khukuri I'd ever sent him and commented that it harkened back to the quality of khukuris of 100, 150 years ago. He also said I was $100 light on the price.

This fellow is going to have a table at the upcoming Cheasapeake Bay Knife Club show that will feature only HI products. He'll be taking orders.

My kind of nephew and customer. Been with HI from day one.
 
pict27.jpg
 
That's the HI kothimoda.

This is the Royal Dhankuta.
 

Attachments

  • bura silver mounted spotted deer horn dhankuta.jpg
    bura silver mounted spotted deer horn dhankuta.jpg
    88.4 KB · Views: 318
:
That the Kothimoda would be/is one helluva using khukuri if it didn't have that beautiful bone* handle and the silver embellished scabbard.
I know mine cut like a banshee when I tested it!!!!

Hmmmm I wonder if Bura would make a plain Kothimoda style blade with a nice burly grain wood handle?
And the YCS little tools with no inlay burled grain wood handles would make it a very, very nice rig don't y'all think?:D

IIRC the Kothimoda is/was H.I.s' first Dui Chiara khukuri was it not Bro?

Perhaps one of these days when I get a desperate need for an HIKV Fix.;)

*However I keep remembering that village AK that a Bud has with a bone handle that's been over a lot of the world. And the bone handle has stood up to very hard use.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EDIT....
Walosi this would be right up your alley!!!!:)

Now you talk about something fondable!!!!!!!:cool:
With a purty _burled grain_ handle, Especially if it could be had in Rosewood ;), would keep you busy for a mighty long time.
I'm thinking maybe a 200 or 2,000 coat handle.:rolleyes::D

Kidding all aside I really do wish you could get a khukuri with a Rosewood handle!!!!
Those are absolutely the epitomy of wood handled khukuris, or anything else for that matter.IMO
Can you tell I really love the Rosewood?:rolleyes::)
 
Bura can do about anything he feels like doing. The problem is getting him to feel like doing it.

And, I think you're right, Bro. The HI kothimoda was our first dui chirra.
 
not2sharp: If you are serious about your request -then have Bura make the khukuri of your dreams. The level of skill the forumites attribute to the kamis IS for real. You must realize these men have 20-50 years experience doing just this!!! Provide specifications and a model to Uncle Bill and it will be made with incredible precision and finesse!
 
I've got them on my Smih 686 snub, and a Rosewood Khukuri would make a matched set :D (and an ex-wife). But then, I'd have lots more wall space to hang khuks.
SERIOUSLY (in case she reads this) what is the availability of Indian Rosewood at BirGhorka? This is a truly beautiful wood, and is dense and workable as well. Eagle Grips, or the family that owns it, has a captive supply, I believe, from family property in India.
 
We get rosewood from time to time. It is not the choice of the kamis, however, who seem to prefer the saatisal for whatever reason. I believe they think the saatisal is tougher.
 
Like Yvsa, I'm crazy about the Rosewood....but when I get overheated, all I have to do is pick up my Malla, and the Rosewood kinda fades off into the distance.
 
Billpaxton writes:

You must realize these men have 20-50 years experience doing just this!!! Provide specifications and a model to Uncle Bill and it will be made with incredible precision and finesse!
Click to expand...

I plan to do just that. The kothimoda will be keeping company with my other khukuries soon, and I hope to follow on later with an order for an even more elaborate example. I first want to get a bearing on what I want to improve (if anything?).

So what kind of features would you guys suggest for that once-in-a-lifetime ultimate khukuri?

Lets' dream a little.

1) Handle Material: Ivory, unfortunately, is out; so it would probably be a solid tooled 100% silver handle. (tooling pattern suggestions?)

2) The blade would be a tin-shirra pattern with a full tang and integral bolster, and pommel (pretty is as pretty does - this thing should be built rock solid so the great grandkids can enjoy it later on). Just for the fun of I was thinking about giving the whole blade assembly a deep old fashion chemical blue (the blade, bolster, pommel, and tang would be a deep blue/violet under bright light).

3) Edge bevel runs all the way back to the first fuller. It should make for a maximum performance knife.

4) The HI marking would be 18K gold filled.

5) The sheath would be very similar to the kothimoda sheath with two exceptions. I would inlay a small 18k gold rope chain and placard (about .5"x.25") around the throat to provide a place for the owner's initials, and a very small amount of very thin gold wire to highlight some of the major siverwork (just enough to draw attention without being readily apparent). The sheath's drag would also be soften and rounded (sharp points are definitely not needed)

6) Accessory pieces would include 5 pieces: Small but fuctional karda (like the one HI offers with the YCS), traditional chakma, sissors, awl, tweezers, all built to match the main blade.

7) The whole thing to ride on a comfortable high quality leather frog. It is really hard to look cool when your knife falls off after the first couple of steps. :)


What did I forget?
 
I was thinking the 24K gold might be just a tad too soft to stay in place. But, we can leave that up to the jeweler.
 
A little while back Rusty posted some links to exquisitely exotic handle materials. Perhaps if you ask him he'll repost them (or do a search). Perhaps Uncle Bill could send the raw handle materials to BirGorkha for the kamis to use?

Regarding the five accessory tools your thinking of ...sounds good. I was wondering if you/the Sarkis would consider placing a leather flap over the area of the scabbard that will contain and secure these. Just to help protect and prevent them from falling out during carry?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top