Who wants a Ganga Ram Special?

Bill Martino

Bill Martino

Joined
Mar 5, 1999
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<img src = "http://members.aol.com/yangduspag/pict41.jpg">

You remember 80 year old Ganga Ram and his 70 year old helper. Ganga has agreed to make a few khukuris for us like the one shown in the picture "if I live long enough."

The khukuri will be around two feet in length give or take a little depending on Ganga and will weigh in at about 1 KG -- we think! It will definitely have the forward curving configuration rather than the forward angle. The bottom line is this is to be Ganga's creation and we will supply no spefications, only the springs to be used, but I expect the effort to be of very high quality. Handle will probably be wood. Finding horn large enough and straight enough for this khukuri could be a problem.

Because of the logistics involved in this project (the only way to coordinate with Ganga is in person -- no computer, phone, FAX and mail service maybe once per month -- this means a day on the bus, fording the stream, walking through jungle and then we have to get back) the price is $250 per khukuri.

A minimum order of 6 pieces is required to make the project feasible. The maximum order will be limited to 12 pieces. Ganga figures he and his helper and maybe a pounder or two can produce one khukuri per week so adjust delivery schedule accordingly. If we reach maximum orders there will probably be a split delivery of 6 and 6. These will be delivered on a first come, first served basis.

Interested parties email me personally or call.

Uncle Bill
 
Interesting, kindly check your e-mail Bill.
Jim

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What? Another knife? Don't you have enough of those things already?
How many does one person need?
And just what are you going to do with this one that you can't do with the others?
What is the purpose of all these knives anyhow??

 
Bill,

Have you received your “magical” khukuri from Ganga Ram yet? If so, can you tell us a bit about it.
 
Pakcik Bill, I have been waiting for you to post this thread since I read about this "Magical" Ganga Ram Khukuri in one of your thread.

Alhamdu-li-(A)llaah, I am interested to have this Ganga Ram Special. Please check your e-mail Pakcik Bill.
 
I would like to but I just bought the 18" AK. I'm afraid that's all I can afford right now.

Have you recieved that "magic khukuri" yet? What did it look like and how did it perform?


 
Seven are gone so the project is a go. I will place the order next week. I think it will be at least three months before we see our first khukuri so be patient.

I have not seen the khukuris yet. US Customs has been holding this shipment and are fighting with our UPS agent. They say our knives are undervalued. There are five of the very labor intensive 18th century khukuris in this shipment and I think they may be the ones causing the problem.

Everybody who has emailed or called is logged.

I will be interested to see what Ganga gives us. We have to supply him with some springs and he may need a few other items from us. He will be paid more for these khukuris than for any khukuris he has ever made in his 80 years.

Uncle Bill
 
Ganga Ram came to visit us in shop 2 and was our guest for a couple of days. I didn't know this until last night when we called. He was greatly impressed with the bright lights of Kathmandu which he has not seen for quite some time and he was especially impressed with all the "high tech" stuff in our shop.

He has headed back home now and does not know that he has an order for 16 Ganga Ram Specials. After speaking with Kami and Gelbu last night we feel that we can handle the 16 piece order and here's why.

Ganga and his 70 year old helper may very well decide to do the work in shop 2 rather than their little village shop. We have good tools and equipment and young men who can swing the hammers for them and do a lot of the tough work. Ganga and his helper can work the tongs and the forge and do the "intricate" work. Ganga is too old to be swinging a 12 pound sledge all day. It is his skill and experience we want to use , not his strength. If he prefers to use his own shop we will supply him with a couple of young strong men who can do the hard work. At any rate it will still be three or four months before the order is complete. We will try to split delivery and make 8 and 8 so perhaps we will see the first 8 in a couple of months.

This is to be Ganga's effort alone. We will not interfere or supply any specifications. We will help in any way that we can but he is the boss on this project, not us. This is not an HI knife so it is all up to Ganga. He may make bolster and buttcap out of steel. He may use wood or horn for the handle. We don't know and this is part of the beauty of it.

This leaves two Ganga Ram Specials available.

Many thanks for the interest in this project. Ganga will be delighted. I am guessing this is the biggest single order he has ever received and I am certain that he will be paid better for these khukuris than he has ever been paid in his 80 years. My only regret is that I cannot be there to work with him personally. I know I would learn a lot and have a great time.

Uncle Bill
 
This will teach me to go out of town for the weekend
smile.gif


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Namaste,
Jeff Paulsen
 
Hello Uncle Bill

I waited one day to decide, and I hope I'm not too late. Please sign me up for one and check your e-mail.

Eric Takabayashi
Fukuyama, Japan
 
:
Uncle Bill:
I think I know what you and your cohorts in Nepal have done by your message;sold out untill next year.

That is a wonderful thing.Maybe this year and another years work will let him do what he would like from now on.

Do you think so?


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&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;---¥vsa----&gt;®
The civilized man sleeps behind locked doors in the city while the naked savage sleeps (with a knife) in a open hut in the jungle.

 
Yvsa, we will see. This is a big undertaking for one so old. It is my hope that he will do the work in shop 2 where we can watch over him so he doesn't overdo it. Plus, we can feed him so we are sure he is getting enough of the right stuff and also make sure he gets enough rest and sleep. I do not want this old timer to get himself sick making khukuris. The pay will be a big motivator for him but I do not want it to overide good sense and care.

Uncle Bill
 
:
That would be good.He can make the Kuhkuris in a good atmosphere around good help and other good Kamis.Tell some stories,eat good,maybe even drink a little Kuhkuri Rum,sleep well. Make some money and go home to live for a year or more on what he makes and God willing come back next year and make some more.
That would give him something to look forward to.Hopefully everything will work out in a good way and he won't have to work or worry any more about
the things the old ones like him worry about.
I really like being able to be a very small part of all this by doing something I love anyway.
All Y'all are good people Uncle.


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&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;---¥vsa----&gt;®
The civilized man sleeps behind locked doors in the city while the naked savage sleeps (with a knife) in a open hut in the jungle.

 
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