Want to import khukuris from Nepal? Here's how.

Bill Martino

Bill Martino

Joined
Mar 5, 1999
Messages
34,096

Cliff made a post somewhere which said roughly that anybody can be a khukuri importer and he's dead right, as usual.

If you want to import khukuris from Nepal you don't have to go there to make the arrangements. In fact, you don't have to go anywhere but here. If anybody is interested in trying this venture let me know and I will put you in touch with a half dozen dealers in Kathmandu any of whom will be happy to send you khukuris.

But here's a couple of things you should know before you try your hand at importing khukuris (or anything for that matter) from Nepal . First, when you buy from a dealer he is your quality control man in Nepal and he is not very good at this because he is more interested in making the sale than in quality assurance. You might get a good khukuri or you might get one that has its handle set with a mix of paper and water buffalo dung. Chances are very good that the blade is not spring steel -- could be something good or could be something not so good. If you are buying only one knife give yourself at best about a 50-50 chance of getting an acceptable khukuri. If you are importing in quantity for resale your chances are very good your first few orders will be decent quality -- then be careful because the quality will probably fade. This is how it's done in Nepal with everything from carpets to khukuris unless things have changed drastically since I was there last which I hear from friends and relatives is not the case.

If you are lucky you might get a HI reject. When Kami inspects our khukuris those that don't meet with his approval are sent back to the shop for a little rework. The scrolled buttcap is removed and replaced with the standard and the HI trademark is ground off. Then the reject is sold to a dealer in Kathmandu.

How much will you have to pay? Let's take the British Army Service for an example and you can scale up or down depending on size and style. You'll pay ten bucks for this khukuri, give or take two or three dollars, depending on the dealer. Shipping to the US via air will run maybe 10 or 15 bucks. You might be able to find a cheaper way of shipping but if you do don't look for your khukuri any time soon.

Another consideration is the dealer beats the kami down to bottom dollar, paying the least amount possible for khukuris. By contrast, Himalayan Imports tries to pay as much as possible, asking for top quality and that the khukuri be made by master kamis rather than an apprentice or even worse made by a non-kami. When you buy from a dealer you are buying from a man who asks the kamis to work for 10 or 20 cents per hour -- and, sadly, some are forced to do this simply to stay alive. There are no food stamps in Nepal. Knowing this might be troublesome for a few.

A final consideration is the dealer sells khukuris the Gurkhas and kamis refuse to bless. The dealer might tell you they are blessed if you ask but they are not. Best case would be a bogus blessing of some sort which in my opinion is worse than none at all. This might be important to those seeking a blade with a spirit.

So there it is. If you want to give it a try post your name and address and I'll round up some dealers for you to contact.

Bill

 
Bill, actually it was me that made that statement.

Excellent post, by the way. I agree 100%.
 
Actually, you are right, Cobalt, and as usual, too! It was not Cliff but Cobalt who inspired this post. Sorry for the mixup.

I told you the Heineken was getting the brain cells.

Bill
 
Remember that aluminum handled AK Cliff helped me post a while back? The owner said he paid a little under $100 while he was in Nepal.

So just because you go yourself, doesn't mean you get a serious bargin on the top merchandise.
 
The dealer is in business. He buys as low as possible and sells for as much as possible. Tourists are always fair game. I am not suprised at the $100 figure and thanks for the info.

Bill
 
You get what you pay for. Interesting that the pretty aluminum handled khukuri went for around $100 in Nepal. I just bought an old knife with a part aluminum, part ivory handle from a very good dealer in London and paid a lot less than that. Bill has a pix of it, and it's a very nice khukuri. Like anything, you've got to know what to look for when you're searching for quality, authenticity or rarity. Caveat emptor my fellow Romans.

------------------
JP
 
post script to above posting: Bill, you stick to the importing, the headaches, the ulcers and the Heineken and I'll keep buying.

------------------
JP
 
Those who are interested may wish to check the general discussion forum under the kukri thread for my response to Mr. Linden's recent post. I'm going off to cool down a while.

------------------
Russ S
 
Rusty, Dan's comment about someone trying to scam him out of a knife was directed at me not you. As is often suggested, have a few Heineken and forget about it.

I know one thing. If we ever get together to go to Nepal as Bill suggested awhile ago and most of the group is off of the forums, we could probably fund the next trip with the empties.

-Cliff
 
HEINEKEN? Give me a break. C'mon, can't you guys go drink something better?
 
Now Bill, why would I go through all that when I can call you and get what I want.
Besides if I didn't get a blessed Khukuri, my Dogma may get run over by my Karma :-)

take care
Gregory

 
Bad news. The ulcer is telling me to cut down on the Heineken. Now what do I do?

I'm not sure who's trying to scam who out of what but I can say with absolute certainty that any HI khukuri tested by Cliff was PAID for by Cliff. And, if Cliff doesn't have his cancelled checks to prove this I have papers that do.

Bill
 
Cliff, I didn't think he was referring to me trying to scam a khuk, I just didn't like the way that his circumlocution implied he was responding to questions that I *did*not*ask*.

Since ( as far as I know )no-one on either forum has yet asked the questions he seemed anxious to answer, his post seems to me to be a "freudian slip" that reveals more of his way of thinking than he intended to. Just in my humble opinion.

Were I to actually ask him the questions I'd have, well, I'm am amateur who only knows that I like pretty shiny pointy sharp things, and admit that I'm a Walter Mitty type ala James Thurber ( not a Rambo wannabe ). I have however, done professionally over 500 abuse and neglect investigations alone, never mind the hundreds of investigations and reports on behalf of the court, ranging from adoptions to presentencings and pre-parole. I don't think he'd like the questions that an ex-parole revocation hearing officer and certified Parole and Probation instructor would pose ( insert very evil grin ). Again, just my most humble opinion, and we all know how widely my humility is renowned.

------------------
Russ S
 
Thanks for the clarification Rusty, I understand what you are referring to now.

Bill about the ulcer get another doctor's opinion that's all I do. Eventually you will find one with some sense.

-Cliff
 
Bill, if you would feel inclined to take up boxing, I believe you might find a doctor associated with the IBF or WBA who can certify that you do not have an ulcer. I am not sure what they charge, though.
 
I think you've hit the nail right on the head, Ivy. That's what the boxing world needs -- a 65 year old novice who smokes, drinks, has ulcers and has a tough time walking up a flight of stairs. And not enough teeth left to bite off an ear!

Bill
 
If the $100 Ang Khola in question is
mine (it may, as I'm sometimes asked
about it), this one:

<A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Lab/2323/knives/khukris.html">
_angkhola.jpg
</A>

then there's been a misunderstanding:
I think I got them all three for less
than that.
 
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