Im new to this particular forum, so forgive me if my questions are old hat. I would like to learn the difference between those cheap Indian-style military khukris and the HI khukris. I am fully aware that HI quality is far superior, but would like to learn more specific details. In comparing photos, it looks like the HIs are better polished, but is the metal of the same origin? Also, the wooden handles on the Indian military khuks dont look as attractive as the HI buffalo horn, but which is more durable? Will buffalo handles hold up as well in tropical/winter climates as wood? And, are all the sheath materials pretty much the same? Oh, being new here I am not quite familiar with all the lingo & slang yet, so I hope you can respond in plain English. Thanks guys!
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What's the Difference?
- Thread starter GYMBOOEE
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Cliff Stamp
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The blade steel is quite probably not the same quality, but the critical difference is that the hardening is very different. The cheap khukuris are very soft and thus go blunt fairly quick and are easy to damage. The handle attachment is also not usually as good, nor is the sheath construction, sloppy stiching and the like.
-Cliff
-Cliff
Kendo
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the difference is firstly the steel in the hi is top quality spring steel,
about twice the thickness sometimes three times as thick.
made by master kami smiths in nepal,and as a result are correctly tempered for hardness ect.
the indian ones are usualy mass produced,stamped steel poorly,
made and soft,
if you try chopping a piece of wood with two khuks a indian and a hi ,
you would soon notice the difference,the indian would jarr your hand badly,and cut poorly,also loose its sharpness very fast.
about twice the thickness sometimes three times as thick.
made by master kami smiths in nepal,and as a result are correctly tempered for hardness ect.
the indian ones are usualy mass produced,stamped steel poorly,
made and soft,
if you try chopping a piece of wood with two khuks a indian and a hi ,
you would soon notice the difference,the indian would jarr your hand badly,and cut poorly,also loose its sharpness very fast.
Bill Martino, of HI, best described the buffalo horn to me years ago when he said it sticks to your hand like glue. I have several knives I have had for over ten years with no problems from the horn handles, even though the Ang Kola's have seen some pretty heavy use. All of us have gone through trying the cheap, India made copies. Metal is way to soft, handles are junk, sheathes are junk. I threw them away, literally, when I got my first HI. I have tried the Cold Steel kuk's & found that they are too light, not zone tempered, & not made to handle the work even the lighter weight Sirupatis are capable of. The AK's are great, but you will be amazed at the amount of work the WW II's, & the Sirupatis will do. Some people like the wood handles better. I like them, but I like the horn a little better. Neither style will give you any problems. The quality Uncle Bill sells at HI is just far superior to any thing you will get anywhere else. If you are in doubt as to which to buy, & other questions on useage & function, Uncle Bill is a walking encyclopedia; give him a call. These are good people & they won't steer you wrong.
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And there you have it from the experts. Thanks for help.
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If you're gonna hang it on the wall, they both will look cool. If you;re gonna use it, the HI is the way to go.
In addition to the other fine comments, I would add that the HI khuks are warrantied, stand up to an insane amoount of use and abuse (like cutting metal and other things you've been told not to cut), are finely wrought, made by hand from quality steel.
If you asked a custom knifemaker in the US to duplicate an HI khukuri, It'd end up costing 3-8 times as much, depending on the make and maker. (coincidentally, this is how I got into collecting antique and ancient weapons. Example: I could get a nice modern spear for 80-120 USD, but here's this 500 year old chinese spearhead, handmade and decorated for 100 USD...yup, a no-brainer) Anyhow, you wil get your money's worth in the first one you buy. Then you'll get another to make sure you did not dream the first one. then...and so on.
Keith
In addition to the other fine comments, I would add that the HI khuks are warrantied, stand up to an insane amoount of use and abuse (like cutting metal and other things you've been told not to cut), are finely wrought, made by hand from quality steel.
If you asked a custom knifemaker in the US to duplicate an HI khukuri, It'd end up costing 3-8 times as much, depending on the make and maker. (coincidentally, this is how I got into collecting antique and ancient weapons. Example: I could get a nice modern spear for 80-120 USD, but here's this 500 year old chinese spearhead, handmade and decorated for 100 USD...yup, a no-brainer) Anyhow, you wil get your money's worth in the first one you buy. Then you'll get another to make sure you did not dream the first one. then...and so on.
Keith
Your comments here were better than I expected. I think you made me an expert in a short period. I never doubted the quality of HI, I'm simply trying to learn. Plus, when I discard those Indian-style military cheapos I want to feel comfortable about it. Time to start ordering some HI's.
Thanks guys! I also have a feeling you made Mr. Martino's job easy on this thread.
Thanks guys! I also have a feeling you made Mr. Martino's job easy on this thread.
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Customers are much better salesmen than me.
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Wouldn't throw them away !
Shaped like a boomerang, they might turn around and sneak up behind you.
Hmmmm......
Birgorkha Boomerang.
Start with an M43,
thicken the blade on one side,
Reshape the handle slightly,
I think we could do it !
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Why not find a use appropriate to a less hardy blade?
[
Insert joke/cartoon here......]But seriously......
Just because it's not a survival-ready blade
doesn't mean it can't be useful.
I keep a couple of $1.00 1" long folding-blades
in the car to cut open packages, apples, and other things.
Yvsa once told me every blade has a use
& that fits my own philosophy.
Less durable blades might find a home
in kitchen, workshop, yard, garden, .......
Also, good for practicing on:
Polishing, etching, sharpening, handling, throwing, .......
Also, consider that a typical village model used
every day in nepal, is not up to HI standards.
When HI occassionally sells a village-made khuk
(different from village-style made by Birgorkha kamis
such as was put up yesterday for sale.)
they pick over lots of offerings of the village kamis
to find only the best blades.
I have one of those and I like it a lot.
But it looks like garbage
that anyone would pass over at a flea market.
The tourist khuks -Look- better than my Villager.
-Some- may even be as good or better.
It's just that we here have come to know that
we are not gambling to buy a khuk from HI.
We know it has passed several inspections
by people who care about doing a good job.
And if there is ever a mistake,
it will be corrected.
That keeps things simple.
Nothing better.
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Regarding Indian khuks -
I think I'd have more trust in a hand-made khuk than something mass-produced in a factory where quality control is low, and where corners are cut to put out a wall-hanger with the greatest possible profit maragin. I'm sure there are some smiths in India who do at least as well as the average village kami. In both cases they put experience and individual attention into the blade. Also, their usual situation is one where a very angry customer will be hunting them down to complain if the knife doesn't perform.
Just my $.002
I think I'd have more trust in a hand-made khuk than something mass-produced in a factory where quality control is low, and where corners are cut to put out a wall-hanger with the greatest possible profit maragin. I'm sure there are some smiths in India who do at least as well as the average village kami. In both cases they put experience and individual attention into the blade. Also, their usual situation is one where a very angry customer will be hunting them down to complain if the knife doesn't perform.
Just my $.002
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Good stuff usually sells itself. Some khuks are priced so reasonably it almost makes me feel guilty if I buy them. You would be hard pressed to find a better knife for the price anywhere in the world. The fact that they are handmade by a master craftsman who has been making them for decades adds to the fascination.
Heck if not for poverty and the hassles of etting them through customs in this country, i'd be buying one every other month...
Andrew Lim
Heck if not for poverty and the hassles of etting them through customs in this country, i'd be buying one every other month...
Andrew Lim
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- Jun 9, 2001
- Messages
- 346
AND ORDER ONE!( or several ) Much like yourself, I had fallen victim to the cruddy "Indian military contract" khukuris sold by atlanta cutlery. Having heard of the heroism displayed by the Gorka soldiers wielding such knives, I was sorely disappointed with what I received. I wondered how anyone could garner such a reputation with a piece of garbage like that. I dismissed the genre of knife and attributed it all to folklore. That was 18 years ago..
I made contact with a fellow who touted how great his "Himalayan Imports World War II Model" was. Yeah, right. Once bitten, twice shy. I told him that seeing was believing. He went out to his car and brought it to me. Holy Toledo! I was stunned. It was big (18"), Beautiful, and heavy! He then told me to take it home and test it out as hard as I could. My first swipe at a 2 x6 bit in 1 3/4". I sarted looking for other chopping chores, and cut up everything I could find. My eyes were as big as saucers. So this was the type of knife the Gorkas used, not that Indian trinket!
I ordered a Malla Khukuri and there has been at least a dozen since then! Don't sit on the fence if you have an interest in the best, toughest, and most attractive Khukuris made anywhere at any price.
The only problem with getting a HI Khuk is that they get lonesome and need company of their own kind!
-Craig
) Much like yourself, I had fallen victim to the cruddy "Indian military contract" khukuris sold by atlanta cutlery. Having heard of the heroism displayed by the Gorka soldiers wielding such knives, I was sorely disappointed with what I received. I wondered how anyone could garner such a reputation with a piece of garbage like that. I dismissed the genre of knife and attributed it all to folklore. That was 18 years ago..I made contact with a fellow who touted how great his "Himalayan Imports World War II Model" was. Yeah, right. Once bitten, twice shy. I told him that seeing was believing. He went out to his car and brought it to me. Holy Toledo! I was stunned. It was big (18"), Beautiful, and heavy! He then told me to take it home and test it out as hard as I could. My first swipe at a 2 x6 bit in 1 3/4". I sarted looking for other chopping chores, and cut up everything I could find. My eyes were as big as saucers. So this was the type of knife the Gorkas used, not that Indian trinket!
I ordered a Malla Khukuri and there has been at least a dozen since then! Don't sit on the fence if you have an interest in the best, toughest, and most attractive Khukuris made anywhere at any price.
The only problem with getting a HI Khuk is that they get lonesome and need company of their own kind!
-Craig
- Joined
- Mar 5, 1999
- Messages
- 34,096
Thanks for help, all.