We are Closing.

It is with mixed feelings that I read this. Good for you to retire with such a legacy and energy to continue a good if different life style.

Sad for the knife community and your family of Kamis because HI has been an exemplar of community business and a gold standard of excellent product and service. You and HI will be missed. Thank you for continuing a great run.

Be well Auntie and happy in your retirement. 💐
 
I have to say... and I mean this with the utmost sincerity, your company has brought so much joy to my life. I have loved being a part of the forums and I LOVE my HI collection. As I have started to collect other things and show friends some of my "things", they are ALWAYS attracted to the feel, look, and quality of HI. I want to give them as gifts to all I love, but I covet each new blade so much lol!!! I probably have close to 100 HI blades and I am very proud of this. I am very grateful for you, Auntie, and your business practices, and I can't think of a person I would like to work with more. I have been purchasing HI blades since I joined the forum in 2011.. the reason I joined the forum was to try and sell a TFW Binakuko for ANY HI blade... I am so glad I did this. Being introduced to such fine craftsmanship and such a lovely and reliable business owner has been a joy for the last 13 years. I have 13 years worth of memories and HI products. I STILL am always interested in that perfect HI weight to length ratio and adore the time I have spent with you, Auntie Yangdu, and being a part of this community.
 
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Sad news to be sure but I also hope it brings new things your way, Yangdu. Congratulations on retirement but based on what I read I do wish it would be under better circumstances.

I haven't been part of this for very long but it's plain to see you have a lot of devoted people in the HI community. Your service and the quality of the blades certainly speak to that and you should be proud. I don't have many HI blades but I'm going to cherish them for many years to come! I want to wish you and the smiths all the best!
 
Thanks to Yandu for carrying on Uncle Bills legacy and I wish you a very happy and well deserved Retirement! Please check in on us and help Bawanna keep us in line once in a while. I think its actually a time to celebrate all you and others have done to build such a community which I believe will live on!


Theres a lot of Khuks out there that need no introduction, Every time I see one in the wild and what it represents warms the heart! I still use them regularly. Theres no mistaking when you see an HI Khuk. You know the quality immediately and only HI has done that in my opinion and they will be around for many generations.

As far as the webstore and printed history of stories and pictures that need to be preserved, I have been working with Al S. to make sure all of this is preserved. I thank Al for letting me help preserve this info. I believe we have the entire store and history backed up and preserved for whatever Aunti Y wants to do with it. I know for one these stories and history is one reason that made this community so much fun. Anyway aint nothin over! All you folks are great and have been a huge part of my life and hope y'all stay around!
 
Sad news. Don't forget how happy you've made a bunch of folks, I'm grateful to have found your business and to have been able to get a few blades for myself and my sons. The standard of service and value that I've seen from HI is super impressive. Thank you!
 
Hello Yangdu! It’s been a long time, and I’m so sorry to hear this! I haven’t bought anything new in years, but I remember the 2-3 years I was severely HIKV infected and sharked the DOTD religiously, waiting to jump on your latest offering! In my defense for slowing down I just ran out of storage room LOL!

Over the years I’ve parted with most of the swords, keeping only a few, and let go of many of the kukris, but still have dozens of HI blades in racks and cases and on the walls I enjoy. Bura, Sher, Kumar, Sgt. Khadka, Amtrak (RR), Vim, Shankar, Sanu, Yuvraj (Rusty’s Sgian Dubh), Dharan, Dil, Murali, Durba, Ram Bhadur, Jag & Prem, Prakash, Kesar, they’re all here! At least models from the early HI kamis. And center most among them are all the Bura Uncle Bill and Yangdu Salyan Specials, along with some other special ones, like Yvsa’s YCS’s, the Foxes Folly versions, etc. My favorite users are still the big 18” Balance models Dick Singer and I first discussed online, including the first one you had made for Dick, who Walked West 18 years ago December 7.

Please know your and Uncle Bill’s HI legacy will live on as long as these blades and their memory exist. Thank you for your dedication over the years, and all the best to you in the future! 🙏

Norm
 
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This is very sad news, but auntie deserves retirement, and it's too bad there are those who try to take advantage of her honest, and trusting, business ethics.

I met and made a few really good friends on here, and I hope we all stay in touch.

Good luck, and Godspeed to Auntie and her family!
 
Blessings to Auntie and to the HI crew for their wonderful work, I hope the kamis will be able to continue it! This is truly the end of an era. Sigh. The flow of time cannot be stopped, only enjoyed while it is occurring.
 
Bladeforums will never be the same without its Himalayan Imports subforum. This place has been our go to site to learn about these interesting knives.

I wish you well on your well earned retirement. Like many of us, I contracted a case of HIKV (Himalayan Imports Kukuri Virus) 25 years ago and have never fully recovered.

N2s
 
I cannot thank you and Uncle Bill (and by extension all of HI including Pala, the kamis, and wonderful friends and forumites I have met here). The lessons that Uncle Bill taught me sincerely impacted how I run my own business. Be fair. Be kind. Error on the side of doing the right/good thing even if it is not the profitable thing. There is an HI khuk/knife in every vehicle I own. There isn't a job around the yard where I don't bring a khuk along with me to at least aid in the efforts. Hell, my wife and I cut our wedding cake with an HI khuk 19 years ago.

This company has touched a generation of knife enthusiasts. It introduced one of the most formidable and useful tools to the western masses, showing that these were not just cheap touristy junk but hard working tools that could last decades and generations. On top of that, this forum was a beacon to all who of good character and kind hearts would flock. There was a full cantina of good guys and gals always going out of their way to be kind, pass on knowledge, or just do a good deed for a random stranger. The mark Himalayan Imports has left on the knife community AND the world as a whole is indelible. The amount of "good work" this company and these people have done to make things better is immeasurable.

It's funny. Simple rustic knives made by an untouchable caste out of old truck springs brought together some of the best humans the internet has ever had the pleasure to gather in one place. What's this have to do with khukuris? Everything.
 
That’s unfortunate - especially that fraud is a factor in the decision to close. Yangdu Yangdu , I wish you and your employees all the best and please pass along my thanks for the great designs over the years.
 
I have followed the Himalayan Imports forum every day for the past 25 years. I shall sorely miss this bright spot in my day and the kind and caring comments, suggestions and wisdom of all my fellow forumites.
With deepest respect, I thank you, Auntie Yangdu, for all that you have done in keeping the H.I. family together for as long as you did.
I know that all of the Forumites join me in wishing you, your families and the H.I. Kamis "Blessings and Peace".

Gyr
 
I (sadly) have never bought one of your products, but I did frequent this forum from time to time. You were always stand-up guys through & through. It's really sad to see you go. Godspeed to you all.
 
This is a terrible loss for BF and Kukhuri lovers everywhere, but I wish you well in your next chapter. Good luck to you, your family, and the kamis and thank you for your years of involvement here. HI will be dearly missed.
 
You have certainly earned your retirement. I am sorry that fraud was a part of your decision to stop HI. It is rampant. I still have many, many HI blades that I adore and whenever any chopping needs to be done my well used WWII comes out of the cabinet.

Your work was very important, both for the Kamis and the Bladeforums family. Thank you.
 
To be clear ......we do not wish to close this forum, if that is allowed. We are just discontinuing the business of making and selling. We would still like this to be a home for our customers to learn and interact.
 
A sad day indeed! So many more I would like to have had, but I guess this is a stark reminder that the world is always in constant change. I wish you well Auntie and prayers that the Kami's find ways to continue their lifestyle and provide for their families! You have certainly treated us well and provided a wonderful service!
 
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