What good is a khukuri anyway?

Howard Wallace

Howard Wallace

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Well I admit they make damn good companions on a hike in the woods. But there is more.

Last Thanksgiving we had a little philosophical symposium on the subject of giving. Insights and quotes from wise ones who went before were shared. I carried a lot away from that meal.

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal.
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They can rust. Bugs can eat the scabbards. We have heard through the years of the disappointed forumites whose khukuris have been stolen. I fear that the people who think they can escape with chrome in the steel, or kydex scabbards, or a fearsome demeanor and electronic security systems, are mistaken.

All that you have shall someday be given; therefore give now, that the season of giving may be yours and not your inheritors’… Surely he who is worthy to receive his days and his nights is worthy of all else from you.
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I had a khukuri that I treasured. It was a WWII with a chandan handle. The chandan was very old before it ever took the form of a khukuri. Kami Sherpa himself had repaired a crack in the handle. The balance was exquisite, and the handle was properly sized for a western hand. The knife had split wood for me on numerous occasions, accompanied me on a snowy campsite in mountains, and removed the head of an animal that fed both me and my son. I wondered how I could safely keep such a knife.

I gave it away.

All that is not given is lost.
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Ah.. tis true.

The ones I use the most are the ones I cherish the most. As for giving them away, I'd have to agree. However, most of my friends have no interest in cutlery nor would I trust them with such items. For the few folks I know whom I'd trust enough with steel, I already have a couple ready for them. I'm just waiting for the right occasion.

:)
 
Originally posted by Howard Wallace
All that is not given is lost.
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I ran out of knives to give, and started making some instead to give away (3 in the works right now).

Brother-in-law is a chef's apprentice and is getting a crazy set of knives in his mail next week...:D :eek: :D


Originally posted by BruiseLeee
For the few folks I know whom I'd trust enough with steel, I already have a couple ready for them. I'm just waiting for the right occasion.
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Yes, timing can be critical...

I've found that "gift knives" are the ones that never get traded, sold or even lost - though the latter is less rare :rolleyes: :D .

Seems like you can always find someone saying "My __________ gave this one to me ____ years ago...."
 
Good stuff.

The dust bunnies are greedy, possessive and mean but I did manage to wrest a knife from their midst last week to give away and survived the encounter.
 
...you should see this guy doing the books.

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n2s
 
Good post Howard, Thanks. I noticed I have been giving knives away to people for about the last year. I just have so many that will never get used. I thought about selling those particular knives, but then I thought of someone I knew who could use the knife and would appreciate it. I liked doing that more than selling it. And it gets more people into knives:D
 
I'm very careful about who I give knives to. I gave my brother a Buck 110 many years ago. The last time I saw it, it had a broken tip and had rust spots on it. :(

Sometimes such things are better off sitting in my Home Depot bucket.
 
BruiseLeee,

I gave my brother a Buck 119, 20 years ago, and it still hasn't been used. Some people use them, and some have no use for them. Not to mention the guys who bleed all over you. Wow! that knife you gave me was sharp...... :rolleyes:

n2s
 
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