Where are the HI khukuris?

[tangstamp]

People are recommending these to me as well as the Ghurka House models. I've seen GH now where's the HI models? I'm anxious to own one of these knives, but I want the best I can afford. I like the looks of the GH Service Number 1. Could I be missing out on the one I'm really dreaming about?!!!

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Tangstamp

"The answer's definitely no if you don't ask."

 

Tangstamp,
Stick around for a little while, and you won't believe your eyes! HI has its own shop, and has total control over design and production of its Khuks. GH seems to have some decent knives, but they are purchased from Khukuri House, I believe. This being so, Craig doesn't have as much control over things as do Bill and Pala. Personally, I think that HI knives are by far, the nicest and most durable around. I own several, all different sizes and styles, and yet I still yearn for more! Around here we call it HIKV (Himalayan Imports Khukuri Virus). Be careful, or you will contract it. Oh yeah, there is no cure, but you can treat the symptoms by purchasing more HI Khuks

. Uncle Bill has the best customer service around, PERIOD! He will make you happy one way or another, no matter what. Nowhere else can you get blades made by the Royal Kami of Nepal (Bura) but at HI. With the vast assortment of different blade styles, and sizes, I'm sure that Uncle has something for you. And, on top of that, he has a shipment of Villager models (made by Village Kamis, bought by HI in Nepal and shipped over here) that bring more diversity into the fold, while still holding the HI warrantee! Look through the posts and you will see samples of some of the styles. Also you can look at the HI website (just look at any of Bill's posts, he always has a link to the main HI site. Just my 20 cents worth (it started out to be 2 cents worth, but I tend to ramble...)


Rob

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Nothing soothes the nerves like a sharp knife in hand...

 

[Rusty]

Thanks Rob. tangstamp, I have, I hope, added the HI Website link below my signature line quote. Click on it, maybe it'll work. If not, find a post by Bill Martino which will have a working link on it.

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"They asked would I fight for my country, I answered the FBI, yea!
"I will point a gun for my country but, I won't guarantee you which way!"
Woody Guthrie


Himalayan Imports Website

 

[Rusty]

It works! It works! It works!

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"They asked would I fight for my country, I answered the FBI, yea!
"I will point a gun for my country but, I won't guarantee you which way!"
Woody Guthrie


Himalayan Imports Website

 

Congrats Rusty!
You have now graduated to "official HI senior web junky/nerd" with your ability to link to the HI homepage in your post!!! (Note: I'm sure that I could do this, but haven't tried yet so as to not make others look bad by doing it the first time) YEAH RIGHT!!!!! Anyway, enjoy the HI Site and pics.

Rob


Rob

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Nothing soothes the nerves like a sharp knife in hand...

 

[Mississippi Rifleman]

lefebvrj is right! There is no cure for HIKV. I got it about 2 years ago. I haven't bought anything from Craig, but I do know that Bill sells nothing but the top of the line and each piece is blessed before shipping. A holy knife...what more could you ask for? BTW, I can attest to his Ang Khola being indestructible. I've put mine through a lot. I've even slammed mine into a side of a tree to use it as a step! I'm 6'3" 250 lbs. HI Ang Khola...One tough mother.

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MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY
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Fear the man that owns only one rifle,
he likely knows how to use it.
- Anonymous
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Ben Lee
Computer Science
AOL IM: MSURifleman
www2.netdoor.com/~rifleman
www2.msstate.edu/~brl2
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[Craig Gottlieb]

Hi guys: I don't post much here, but I was referred to this posting, and will respond to only one thing said about GH. I'm sure I'll ruffle a lot of feathers with this post, but remember, I'm only responding to a direct comment about our ability to deliver quality products:

GH seems to have some decent knives, but they are purchased from Khukuri House, I believe. This being so, Craig doesn't have as much control over things as do Bill and Pala.

Rob: Where we purchase our khukuris has no bearing on the control we have, and it is silly for you to say that it does. First, they are purchased THROUGH khukuri house from Til Bahadur Bishwakarma, who, up until a year or so ago, supplied Bill with many or most of his khukuris (After my visit recently to inspect TBs facilities, I can prove this). Read the following thread for more details: http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum33/HTML/000345.html

I've been to Khukuri House, to the factory in Dharan, where our khukuris are created. I not only have telephone, fax, and email contact with Lalit, but also with TB (Til Bahadur Bishwakarma) who is the production manager (TB doesn't have a computer, so I don't have Email with him directly, but only through Lalit). Our khukuris are personally inspected and tested by TB, then by Lalit or one of his employees, and then by us - before they ever get to a customer. Of course, if something does slip through that we don't catch, we offer a lifetime unconditional guarantee. I can get ANY khukuri made and delivered in 4-6 weeks, and we maintain a large inventory of our 15 regular khukuris.

Rob: Pick up a copy of Tactical Knives this month and see what Ron Hood has to say about our khukuris. Or read the October 99 issue of Blade magazine and read MSG Kim Breed's article. Or contact the British Gurkha Camp in Jawalaklel and speak to the commander there. Or call the Sultan of Brunei. Or call the Gurkha contingent of the Singapore police.

Rob, you are certainly entitled to your opinion as to who you choose to buy from. And that is fine. However, don't make unsubstantiated conjectures about how we run our business (quality control, customer service, etc) unless you can back the conjecture up by pointing to a specific flaw or concrete example of a failure on our part.










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Craig Gottlieb
Gurkha House
Blade Forums Sponsor

 

[tangstamp]

Grrr... You go Craig!!! I love this hobby!!!!

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Tangstamp

"The answer's definitely no if you don't ask."

 

[Bill Martino]

I'd suggest you read the test results and make up your own mind.

TB's shop used to make some of our khukuris to our specs and for a considerably higher price than the other khukuris he produces so I'm told. He got a little too busy and illness worked its way into the picture so we simply rounded up some decent equipment and top kamis and started BirGorkha, something we should have done long ago.
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Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ

[This message has been edited by Bill Martino (edited 06-06-2000).]

 

Craig,
Cool down! I said one thing in a whole post about source, control and GH and you go ballistic on me! WHEW! If you will re-read my post, I believe that I DID say "in my opinion" at least once. I didn't at any time say that your knives are junk, or that they lack quality. On the contrary, I have seen some of them and I think that they are fine. I have, up to this point, just chosen to get mine from Bill for the reasons stated. Goodness gracious, can't you let you knives and reputation speak for themselves? I was in no way trying to flame you or your products, just praising HI and what I know and have experience in from THEM. Who knows, I may be ordering a Khuk from you later this week, but man, you need to lighten up a little. Cliff Stamp's recent reviews of your knives have been good, I don't have any problem with GH whatsoever. Let your hair down a little please and accept my apologies if I offended or misrepresented you and your company. That was NOT my intention. I understand that this is an open forum and we are free to post (within reason) whatever we want. I regret that you took such offense to this.


Sincerely and professionally,


Rob

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Nothing soothes the nerves like a sharp knife in hand...

 

[Craig Gottlieb]

I think we sold out first khukuri in 1988. In 1991 or 1992 -- I think -- we made a deal with shop 1 to manufacture to our specs and entered a sort of limited partnership. A year ago or perhaps a bit longer circumstances promped us to open our own little factory, BirGorhka, and that's how it will be from here on out.

TB had about 20 of your khukuris left over in his stock room, and when I asked him what he was going to do with them, he shrugged. So I volunteered to buy them. He is grinding off the HI logo, putting mine on, and selling them to me - at the normal prices. Now, one could say that he's just moving "stuck" inventory, but my history with TB is such that if he makes a "special khukuri" I pay a higher price - simple as that. What did I pay for these "HI turned GH" khukuris? Not a special "higher" price, but the same price that I paid for my "normal" khukuris. In fact, many of my khukuris, in the past, have come from the pile of leftover "shop 1" HI khukuris. I had one customer even write me - insisting that the khukuri he bought was a HI khukuri because he could see remnants of the logo.

And as for blade tests, I have nothing to hide. But if you're going to quote Cliff Stamp blade tests, make sure you don't take any quotes out of context. My SN1 beat a much heavier and thicker HI khukuri in chopping ability in test one. My Bhojpure, which I don't even sell anymore, was used as a pry bar and had to have about 400 pounds of force exerted before it'd bend (not break) - exactly what our khukuris are designed to do. Again, read Tactical Knives this month, or read the October Blade magazine. Or ask the British Army what khukuris they prefer.

I don't want to sound confrontational, but I must defend myself and my company when challenges are issued and comments are made. My ultimate goal is for khukuri afficionados to make informed decisions and to know the facts.

Respectfully,

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Craig Gottlieb
Gurkha House
Blade Forums Sponsor


[This message has been edited by Craig Gottlieb (edited 06-06-2000).]

 

[Craig Gottlieb]

Rob:

I wholehartedly accept your apology, and wish to offer my own apology to you. By way of explanation (not excuse): I was so strong in my response because for two years, I've heard from some camps that I didn't have control over my quality, and that opinion - quite incorrect and not based on facts - has been a thorn in my side. Again, if I "flamed" you, that was not my intent. It's just that I have had control over the quality of my product since day one.

Respectfully



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Craig Gottlieb
Gurkha House
Blade Forums Sponsor

 

[Bill Martino]

The khukuris in the shop at Dharan were khukuris HI did not want for whatever reason and anybody is welcome to them at any price as far as I'm concerned.

But the bottom line is an HI khukuri sold by anybody other than HI is not an HI khukuri unless it is a resale.

I generally don't quote anybody or anything -- I just point people to the test arena and let the chips fall where they may so to speak.

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Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ

 

OK, We're all OK now right? Let's move on now to bigger and better things! All have a great day!

Rob

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Nothing soothes the nerves like a sharp knife in hand...

 

[Craig Gottlieb]

Well, not quite (and if I'm being too aggressive here, please let me know and I'll tone it down). The last thing I want to do is offend anybody, though that is what I often do

I just point people to the test arena and let the chips fall where they may so to speak.

You're pointing to old news, Bill (even though I do like your pun)

. I don't think it's fair to refer to a year-and-a-half old contest between a lighter SN1 and a heavier AK, especially when several of my khukuris have recently run the gauntlet with Ron Hood and passed with flying colors. And, as even Cliff Stamp and others has said, the tests are out of date.

The khukuris in the shop at Dharan were khukuris HI did not want for whatever reason and anybody is welcome to them at any price as far as I'm concerned.

Why not call it "Shop 1"? Anyway, TB who you said is your adopted brother (see link at end of this post as a reference), had quite a different explanation as to why he still had HI knives sitting in his store room (it had NOTHING to do with concerns about quality).

As for the quality, there's nothing wrong with them. I'll send anybody any of them (with the HI logo) and they'll see that there isn't a scratch on them that would qualify them as even minor blems.

Reference: http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum26/HTML/000041.html

My intention here isn't to hurt anybody, but to defend myself, my products, and my partners in Nepal.



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Craig Gottlieb
Gurkha House
Blade Forums Sponsor

 

[Rusty]

Referred to boardmaster