Who is your favorite Kami and why?

S

Snarlin Stef

Joined
May 2, 2003
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143
well im almost positively sure that im going to buy another khuk soon... and i just wanted everyones opinion on your favorite Kami and why.

I have tested two khuks one by kumar and another by bura. (both Chiruwas)

I liked the feel of Kumars more bcs it had a wider grip and a slightly lighter blade... it also had a more curbved belly than bura's which made me think that it sliced better... but that was kind of hard to test...

the only thing i didnt like about Kumar's blade was the wood handle.. I prefer horn... bcs it looks nicer and i feel that its regarded as a higher quality material.. (whether thats true or not I dont know)

so I was just wondering yalls opinion on your favorite Kami.. also I was wondering if there are certain standard style features that are trademarked with each kami... for instance I know that Buras blades are more pointy than Kumar's. etc etc.
 
My Kumar is my favorite, but it was also my first. I have two by his brother Sher. Also excellent but totally different sized blades. One of my Sher sirus is the only blade I've named. It is the weapon of the bunch, not because it's the quickest but because it's the angriest. And Shanker does really good work. I wouldn't be surprised to find that he studied with Sher. I'd love to own one by Bura.

Frank

That wasn't really an answer was it? I guess I'd have to say Kumar. If I had to grab one and run it would be my big WWII.
 
When all is said and done, and all the rhetoric stripped from the posts, the answer will be a resounding 'YES'. Just wait.
 
followed by Sher, followed by Kesar. Sanu dod alll the freaky and cool stuff, and did a number on the standard ones as well. All 3 of my sanus were bought from previous owners, and I didn't even knnow which kami made them until I held them. I guess I was supposed to collect his work or somethinng.

Keith
 
I think Sher has taken over the innovation now that Sanu is gone (?), except of course for Bura and his Movie Models and all his other other fun things and special orders. My two amazing/different khuks, the YCSi (chiruwa YCS in weird wood) and the M43i (M43 with AK blade and regular khuk handle) are both by Sher.

For regular blades any of the kamis will do, as not much bad gets past Pala and Uncle Bill. And just when we think we can categorize a certain kami in a certain style (heavier, lighter, handles, etc), they change things on a daily basis it seems. I usually stick with Bura or Sher or Kumar when I have a choice in kamis, but I have no problems with Sanu, Kesar, Murali, or the new guys either especially on a special deal. Actually if I had to pick just one "standard" khuk as the model of the breed, it would be the 18" WWII by Kesar that was my first khuk. In other words just try them all and the right ones will stick with you :D
 
Not sure. Each one does have thier own style it seems. Like trademark type stuff they do. Bura does a great overall job with clean lines on the sword of shiva, etc. Sanu could make a very straight blade at least on the spine, the edge typically had a little lateral curve to it near the tip with good lines. Kumar does a good job overall with very nice handles. I think Sher has him beat though as he does very good handles and does a good job on the edge with an almost convex bevel. KNN was a real good Kami. His work showed he definitely understood that he was making khuks to be used. Durba made this Gelbu Special that I have that is about as perfect a khuk as I have. The Amtrak Kami makes good khuks. Good hardness. Kesar did the simpler designs but he did them well. Typically not as hard on the edge as a Bura, but still perfectly usable.
 
Hoghead. Isn't KNN a combination of 3 kamis . Seems I recall something like that, somewhere.


I would believe Bura is my favorite, as I seem to have the most by him. Maybe he is producing the most with the aid of his helpers/apprentices. Couldn't learn from a better Master.

Bura 28
Sher 15
Kumar 18
K.S. or Shanker 6
Murali 4
KNN Butterlamp 2
Sanu 1
unk/unmarked 11
Think I counted correctly. Some I have given away, but kept record of kami, etc.

Haven't been able to participate in wine, women and song, so I devoted my ? to Khukuris. :eek: I need to find a SAFE time to lay them all out , reverify inventory . The collection has helped me keep my sanity. :) Well, maybe helped keep me away from wine, women and song, too. :D
 
Bura definitely does good work. If KNN is a combination of kamis then its one of the few groups to do so good.
Its hard to pick out a favortie kami or favorite khuk either. Each kami has their own interpretation of a particular khuk and thats the soul that makes each one special.
 
While they each impart individuality to their knives in one way or another, I feel in my heart that the knives are as good as they are because the best kamis in Nepal are working together and learning from one another. My favorite kami? Any of the ones at Bir Ghorka.:D

Must admit a sentimental preference for Bura's work, but I'll take a blade forged by the youngest kami there (Shanker) and be proud to have it.

Sarge
 
Keith,
I have a few Khuks by Sanu. Just got a GRS and it is one of the best khuks for sure. When he wanted to he could do as good as anyone.
 
It's a Kumar Kobra 21" 25 oz wood handle. Haven't found a use for it, until some tumble weeds get a bit higher. :) OR one of Pappy's snakes wanders this way, but than again I might use my .410
 
My favorites were made by Sanu he also seems to make a hard blade but Bura is also right there!
 
Originally posted by lcs37

Bura 28
Sher 15
Kumar 18
K.S. or Shanker 6
Murali 4
KNN Butterlamp 2
Sanu 1
unk/unmarked 7
Click to expand...

This information leads me to believe that BirGhorka is employing clones. :eek:

I also see that Sanu hasn't been cloned yet for some reason.

Then again I've been know to have been wrong from time to time.

:confused:
 
about said it all. There has to be a reason why Bura is the Royal Kami. I have three Bura Blades and they are as close to absolute perfection as they can be. Mine get used so there isn't any of them that look like they did when new but they still look good to me. I don't recall having been sent a bad knife from Uncle Bill. So, what ever he sends me I know it is a good tool. I have enough different blades that I don't think besides Bura I could pick a best one. The Kamis all do the best they can it seems to me. Tradition, Skill, good materials, sweat and blood so, what else can you ask a group like these gents to do? I always think about what they have to work with and I always feel amazed that they can make these beautiful knives as perfect as they do. Every Man has a stroke of bad luck once in a while. If there is any place that sells a knife as good as the HI products and the same price. It will not be made in the US. I think you are talking about World Class Kamis here.:) :)
 
Sanu sometimes took his work above and beyond Bura's.

Call Bura the one kami the most consistent. Sanu's work was about at 95% of Bura's. But when Sanu was on a roll, well, those who saw Sun, Moon, and Stars... But Sanu isn't with Birgorkha any more. Neither are some others.

I still say one day you will pick up a khukri and become enraptured, mesmerized by it's spell.

If there were no butterflies, no beautiful ladies beyond your wildest dreams, no magic, the world would be a poorer place for it.
 
For some reason, my Kesar blades speak to me the most of all the khuks I have. There not the most perfect, but then thats part of why I love em.
 
Yup, KNN, "The Kami with No Name" was a group. Bura is also currently a group.

My Sher khuks (BAS and WWII) have both been workers with the usual excellent handle.

I have two Shankar blades that haven't been given much work (15" AK, JKM 1). The AK is a tank.

Numerous Buras, and there's something different about them. For some reason, it seems like Bura knows where to put the steel. I can't put my finger on it. It's khukuri making up one level, at least with the AK's. I also have a BGRS by Bura, but it's not quite the same, either. I suspect it has something to do with the pattern not being Bura's.


From Pappy: If there is any place that sells a knife as good as the HI products and the same price. It will not be made in the US.

I'd extend that to say that a good HI blade (properly hardened, not a Daisin or Maoist stutter), in any pattern, will hold it's own with at least 90% of the blades out there, of any price. This is pretty amazing considering that the kamis make about one khuk per day, or more, while a custom maker in the US will probably spend much more time, with far more quality control tools. Experience works.
 
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