Why go for ebay or amazon,go Desi

[alameinite]

Hi all,having read a lot about people buying knives,my only query is qhy not Indian experts..like Khukriwala imporium in Dehradun..you will be bedazzled to see their collection of hundreds of models of daggers, swords and knives..incl push daggers, tantos,even a Katana. Also,for good folding knives,have a look at Mussourie market as well which will surprise you.

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[mundaire]

Sure they have some interesting blades, but I'm sure you'll agree that 'variety is the spice of life' and since WE CAN then WHY NOT buy/ see/ compare against all that is available all over the world? Unfortunately the same situation does not prevail in the guns & ammunition market and we must make do with antiques and second rate IOFB products for the most part

[nagarifle]

[quote="mundaire" and second rate IOFB products for the most part [/quote]

how dare you say that IOF is second rate? by saying second rate you are dishonoring good second rate items. it should be junk rate at least.

[essdee1972]

Apart from the important factor which Abhijeet mentions - CHOICE, there is another word - QUALITY - which makes us go to the knifecenters and ebays and amazons of the world.

Since in India, the culture of knife usage (amongst urban folk) is very very limited (only to outdoors types and crazy guys like me), the knives sold in handicrafts shops are mainly for show. Many of the people I know who do buy knives look at the utility aspect also (even though some of them have more knives than they can possibly use!). Does any Indian knife manufacturer mass-produce something like, say Ka-Bar Becker BK series? Nope! The best you see here are truck spring stuff. Which is an OK material, but nothing like the special steels used by the international manufacturers.

Another aspect of quality is repeatability. Suppose you and I buy two specimens of exactly the same type from a handicraft shop / street market. Will they be exactly the same as far as steel properties go? Hardness? Tempering? A coal fire, I am sorry, does not give as uniform a hardness as a modern electric furnace controlled with CNC processors.

Of course we can get a beautifully made hand-crafted knife or sword. Customised for me, to the exact hardness and tempering as I specify. Made with as much care as it was long ago for Emperor Akbar or King Richard the Lion Heart. But then, it would also cost as much as only Akbar or Richard could afford!

I do have a few wall hangers I bought from the market below Red Fort in Delhi, from the lanes of Agra and Jaipur.... but they are of the category of flower vases - just for show!

[alameinite]

Well,about the quality,they do have damascus steel bowies and daggers,which are very much bought and used by armymen.Yes,repeatability and uniformity may be an issue.

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[Amit357]

[quote="mundaire" and second rate IOFB products for the most part

how dare you say that IOF is second rate? by saying second rate you are dishonoring good second rate items. it should be junk rate at least. [/quote]
,Naga plz dont berate Junk,though Junk sells too

[essdee1972]

"Repeatability" is the reason I (personally) would fight shy of most "handicraft" knife makers. Say, you get a excellent knife from ABC Chaakuwala. If I go to the same ABC and get the same knife, there is a high probability that I won't get the same quality. Of course, all over the world, there are excellent custom knife makers. But then, for the really good ones (who ensure uniform quality even in hand-made stuff) I need to shell out a LOT more $$ than I need to do for a slightly lesser quality mass-produced knife, say a Buck or Spyderco or Becker.

Also (I realise I might be ruffling a few feathers of many knife lovers worldwide), Damascus steel, IMHO is a bit overrated IN THE PRESENT CONTEXT. It would have been great, the best steel in the world, 500 or 1000 years ago. But today, with steels available in so many different alloys and heat treatments, it seems rather pointless to go for a technology which is centuries old. You wouldn't travel in a chariot when there are cars available, would you? Moreover, I have my own doubts on whether the Damascus available today is true Damascus, or just patterned. Not having seen a sample, I can't really comment.

And before someone pulls out the "Delhi Iron Pillar" example, that pillar has not been subjected to destructive testing (rightfully so). I used to work at some point of my life in a metallurgical lab. I don't think any practising metallurgist will allow the famed pillar to be "mysterious" once he gets his hands on a few samples. But then, we would lose a large chunk out of a national treasure!!

Of course, a large part of the popularity of the imported stuff is also due to the increasing incomes of Indians.

[choombak]

Well,about the quality,they do have damascus steel bowies and daggers,which are very much bought and used by armymen.Yes,repeatability and uniformity may be an issue.

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Army men know no better than us, and they vote with their wallet. It is a known fact in the US that most army men purchase the Walmart dished trash (gerbers, smith and Wesson). They are equally likely to be caught in marketing hype of bear gryllis using a gerber.

Damascus sold in India isn't very reputable exactly and besides it may not be a good choice for a knife that is supposed to be used hard. There are known examples of well known knife shops in India selling acid etched dubious steel as Damascus.

So when it comes to purchasing a knife, my fingers are more valuable than anything else. I opt for folders that are reputed to have excellent quality and superb customer support. I'll opt for a spyderco, benchmade, Emerson, zt any day over no name dehradun dubious Damascus.

Having said that, there are quality handmade/forged knives in India, but they are rare as hens teeth. The British made sure of killing our great legacy of edged tools.

[alameinite]

Choombak,couldn't agree more on the second part about the damascus steel. Today I spoke to Mr Nizam,proprietor of Khukriwala emporium about Japanese sword that they make. He confirmed that damascus is just a showoff material,opposite to my perception. A specially ordered Wazikashi,a mid sized japanese sword may not cost more than 5-6k ,high carbon,folded steel. I am ordering one this week and expect to get it in a week or so.

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[Moin.]

Hi all,having read a lot about people buying knives,my only query is qhy not Indian experts..like Khukriwala imporium in Dehradun..you will be bedazzled to see their collection of hundreds of models of daggers, swords and knives..incl push daggers, tantos,even a Katana. Also,for good folding knives,have a look at Mussourie market as well which will surprise you.

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Their website is very poor. Can't make out anything. Looks like the stuff exported to Hollywood for movie props.. Any first hand experience with these ?

Regards
Moin.

[essdee1972]

Moin, you seem to be right about the Hollywood prop part!

I recently contacted a few Dehradun manufacturers for Khukris (through Indiamart dot com). Spoke to 9 people. I said I was looking for 4-5 pieces for a trekking / outdoors group in Mumbai who will use the Khuks hard for chopping, digging, etc.
1. Four did not supply less than 25 nos. of one design.
2. Three stopped communications when I started asking technical questions about steel, heat treatment, full tang or partial, etc.
3. Two stopped when I mentioned that this was for hard use in camping / outdoors situations.

Now I am back to square one! I honestly don't need any wall hangers (people anyway look askance at my air rifle!).

[brihacharan]

Moin, you seem to be right about the Hollywood prop part!

I recently contacted a few Dehradun manufacturers for Khukris (through Indiamart dot com). Spoke to 9 people. I said I was looking for 4-5 pieces for a trekking / outdoors group in Mumbai who will use the Khuks hard for chopping, digging, etc.
1. Four did not supply less than 25 nos. of one design.
2. Three stopped communications when I started asking technical questions about steel, heat treatment, full tang or partial, etc.
3. Two stopped when I mentioned that this was for hard use in camping / outdoors situations.
Now I am back to square one! I honestly don't need any wall hangers (people anyway look askance at my air rifle!).

> There's an old oft repeated example I used to talk about on 'quality' during my teaching days (business school)...
> It was said that "To demonstrate the smooth & vibration free performance of a 'Rolls Royce" Car Engine, the showroom mechanic used to place a 'Shilling Coin" on its edge on top of the car's radiator & then start the engine....
> The engine sprang to life & purred on... but the "Shilling Coin" stayed put on its edge
> As for us we are always on the edge - not knowing which side we would fall
Briha

[choombak]

Moin, you seem to be right about the Hollywood prop part!

I recently contacted a few Dehradun manufacturers for Khukris (through Indiamart dot com). Spoke to 9 people. I said I was looking for 4-5 pieces for a trekking / outdoors group in Mumbai who will use the Khuks hard for chopping, digging, etc.
1. Four did not supply less than 25 nos. of one design.
2. Three stopped communications when I started asking technical questions about steel, heat treatment, full tang or partial, etc.
3. Two stopped when I mentioned that this was for hard use in camping / outdoors situations.

Now I am back to square one! I honestly don't need any wall hangers (people anyway look askance at my air rifle!).

http://www.himalayan-imports.com/ are reputed manufacturers of khukri, though I don't know how it would work to ship from Nepal.

[Moin.]

Moin, you seem to be right about the Hollywood prop part!

I recently contacted a few Dehradun manufacturers for Khukris (through Indiamart dot com). Spoke to 9 people. I said I was looking for 4-5 pieces for a trekking / outdoors group in Mumbai who will use the Khuks hard for chopping, digging, etc.
1. Four did not supply less than 25 nos. of one design.
2. Three stopped communications when I started asking technical questions about steel, heat treatment, full tang or partial, etc.
3. Two stopped when I mentioned that this was for hard use in camping / outdoors situations.

Now I am back to square one! I honestly don't need any wall hangers (people anyway look askance at my air rifle!).

http://www.himalayan-imports.com/ are reputed manufacturers of khukri, though I don't know how it would work to ship from Nepal.

No they dont ship to India Amar. Had checked with them a few months back.

Regards
Moin.

[alameinite]

Yes,about the website part,pretty poor. But you should speak to Mr Nizam,the owner who is very helpful and will provide you all info about the blades suiting your need/requirements,outdoor or just souvenirs

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