A kukri and the wonders of internet shopping & shipping

[Chantry]

I decide to buy a kukri with a 12" blade for actual use.  I ordered it on Amazon from a maker in Kathmandu, Nepal on 10/30.  It took about 14 days for them to process  the order and make the kukri.  It was delivered to FedEx for shipping on 11/15, arrived in Memphis for customs clearance on 11/16, arrived at my local FedEx hub this morning and arrived at my door by 11 am today.

 

I've also gotten spices from Istanbul, Turkey, books from South Africa and oddly enough,  CR123 batteries from the island of Tonga.

 

On edit as a response to existing and/or future questions: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kukri

[Utah Bob #35998]

Pretty quick delivery!

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

Pictures?

[Chantry]

26 minutes ago, Forty Rod SASS 3935 said:

Pictures?

[Cold Lake Kid, SASS # 51474]

Do you know what the smaller knives are used for?

[G W Wade]

Will be waiting to hear about quality of blade when you get to using it    GW

[Alpo]

14 minutes ago, Cold Lake Kid, SASS # 51474 said:

Do you know what the smaller knives are used for?

I have read that they are used for sharpening, which makes no sense. I have also read they were used for eating - just general-purpose knives. Like pulling out your pocket knife instead of your Bowie.

 

That one makes a little more sense. Although why you would need two I don't know.

[Chantry]

51 minutes ago, Cold Lake Kid, SASS # 51474 said:

Do you know what the smaller knives are used for?

One is a small utility knife (Karda).  It's not very sharp....yet.  The other is has no edge (Chakmak) and is used for sharpening the kukri

[Rex M Rugers #6621]

37 minutes ago, Alpo said:

I have read that they are used for sharpening, which makes no sense. I have also read they were used for eating - just general-purpose knives. Like pulling out your pocket knife instead of your Bowie.

 

That one makes a little more sense. Although why you would need two I don't know.

Use them together like chopsticks ??

[Chantry]

46 minutes ago, G W Wade said:

Will be waiting to hear about quality of blade when you get to using it    GW

The build quality appears to be very good.  Real kukri's made in Nepal (as opposed to tourist or copies made in Nepal, India or wherever) usually have differential heating treating, so the edge is harder than the rest of the knife.  Supposedly they are made out of car or truck suspension leaf springs with Mercedes being preferred.

[Utah Bob #35998]

The small edged blade is called a Karda and the sharpening knife is a Chakmak.

(I am mentally talking with a thick Nepalese accent)

I think I’ll put The Man Who Would Be King in the Blu-ray now.

[G W Wade]

I have watched some videos of the Nepalese working their tails off making these knives   Impressive  BUT, there is always the question"Who to buy from"   GW

[Utah Bob #35998]

1 minute ago, G W Wade said:

I have watched some videos of the Nepalese working their tails off making these knives   Impressive  BUT, there is always the question"Who to buy from"   GW

There are a few companies who have been contractors to the army. They are your best bet for quality.

[Chantry]

43 minutes ago, G W Wade said:

I have watched some videos of the Nepalese working their tails off making these knives   Impressive  BUT, there is always the question"Who to buy from"   GW

 

There are several makers based in Nepal and there are a multitude of copies, good and bad from probably 12+ makers in the US & Canada.  I went through Amazon, partly because of their rating system and partly because they much better at running a website (due to language differences)  than some of the makers in Nepal.

 

 

[Chantry]

For informational purposes only here are some links to what I believe are kukri makers based in Nepal:

http://www.himalayan-imports.com/

http://www.khukurihouseonline.com/

 

This appears to be the same maker with two slightly different websites

https://egkukrihouse.com/

https://www.nepalkhukurihouse.com/

[Texas Joker]

Don't show a Ghurka your Khukri. Unless you earned it or it's gifted to you by a Ghurka. 

 

[Smuteye John SASS#24774]

3 hours ago, Chantry said:

One is a small utility knife (Karda).  It's not very sharp....yet.  The other is has no edge (Chakmak) and is used for sharpening the kukri

The Chakmak is for burnishing the blade after use just like using a chef's steel.  Sharpen the blade on a stone, use it and burnish it after use to straighten up the fine edge.  You end up having to sharpen less doing it this way.

 

The karda is for small work or fine cutting for when a foot of khurki is too much knife.

[Yellowhouse Sam # 25171]

7 hours ago, Chantry said:

I decide to buy a kukri with a 12" blade for actual use.  I ordered it on Amazon from a maker in Kathmandu, Nepal on 10/30.  It took about 14 days for them to process  the order and make the kukri.  It was delivered to FedEx for shipping on 11/15, arrived in Memphis for customs clearance on 11/16, arrived at my local FedEx hub this morning and arrived at my door by 11 am today.

 

I've also gotten spices from Istanbul, Turkey, books from South Africa and oddly enough,  CR123 batteries from the island of Tonga.

 

On edit as a response to existing and/or future questions: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kukri

 

Please point me to the specific ad you ordered from.  My SIL wants one.

[Chantry]

11 hours ago, Yellowhouse Sam # 25171 said:

 

Please point me to the specific ad you ordered from.  My SIL wants one.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Authentic-Gurkha-Kukri-Knife-Handicraft/dp/B074LYMXBQ/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=EGKH+-+12"+Blade+World+War+II+'The+Survival+Alive'+Kukri+Full+Tang+with+Brown+Leather+Sheath-Handmade+by+EGKH+Kukri+House+in+Nepal&qid=1637240651&sr=8-1