3. There is not a single knife on the market from any company that even comes close to the work of HI, I have many samples and everyone uses machines to do the work to save money and employ fewer people -- HI does use some machinery , but most of the work is done by hand so they can supply livelihoods to those who work for them.
4. I will put any HI knife to any other , the pepsi challenge so to speak, the only armorer I even have the barest respect for other than HI is simon at raven armory.(and you will pay 20k dollars for a set of simon's work)
5. I think HI supports the traditions better than any other company that sells khukri's they provide these monster knives and provide traditional livelihoods for nepalese which is far more important than providing traditional khukris to outsiders
I disagree with 3 to 4 Gehazi and
I hope since we are on a free forum and Americans I can express my view and experience here with out censorship.
From studying, buying, testing, and handling Himalayan Imports (HI), other Kukris makers, Philippine traditional makers, Indonesian big knife makers, Blades from Malaysian companies, and Australia, American, English, German Importers (names withheld because of HI Forum rules) I:
1. think some HI products are superior to some other similar products out there. That is so true :thumbup:.
2. For traditional Kukri products from my experience there are equals in quality, build & some better in the traditional design.
3. In the area of non-Kukri manufacture of other traditional blades there are many equals in quality and a few that are better.
4. A Pepsi challenge of traditional HI knives against other blades would be great I did the closest thing to this already with the HI BAS. I won't comment on the winner of that because I want the viewer to decide. But in reality there are too many factors that would negate the outcome.
For example you mention monster knives; many manufactures don't make monster knives because traditional societies don't use them except for butchering live animals. And the
most important factor was said by Karda:
"...Himalayan Imports produces it's own style of product. It copies no one. HI has never claimed to make historically accurate reproduction khukuri. Those product we do sell that are patterned after historical khukuri are made to our specification and no one else."
He said this in response to others opinion about the usual heavier, thicker, and (I add this myself) tougher HI Kukris that are non traditional and not used in Nepal.
My words maybe taken as criticism and I might be attacked/flamed but in the way I see it and
there's nothing wrong with HI Imports selling non-traditional Kukri. Why? Because that is what many people seem to want, i.e. there's a market for them. sweetcostarica has always said Himalayan Imports has the toughest knives in the world. They are over built and usually around two pounds in weight. I also have said for traditional blades (
if you want to use what Nepalis use) get only certain HI models (early Foxy Follies, ligher BAS', Tamang Knives, KLVUK, for example). Traditional as defined in size, weight, and thickness. As long as the above is made clear we are all good.
I have had conversations with many people about this and the one that stuck with me was from a Swed. He said he uses his HI in the back yard for fun and loves it
but for camping he brings the other unmentioned company (ies) blades for field work. I am not going to be arrogant here and say brand A is better than brand B, that depends much on your use of the blade. But I will say there are many other very good Kukri, Barong, Golok Parang, Parang, etc. makers out there with just as much love and care for their blacksmiths and families. We should and can support them all and enjoy life together.
Himalayan Imports
is the best in their polish on the knives though, that's not arrogant it's clear. Only one Indonesian manufacturer famous for making Goloks comes in a close second.
I'm not an expert but the views above are honest and there's no agenda just the opinion of one man.