This week’s Forged in Fire had the blade smiths do a Kukri in nasty weather conditions using a coal forge and no super mechanical hammer (Big Blue). The second part, they went back to the studio to do the handle thing and you know the rest.
I like Kukris. A lot. So for fun, I checked Youtube for a video and I was rewarded with the artisans doing Kukri in flip flops and using “equipment” that looks like it is parts from old machinery repurposed for the forge work. Other than an angle grinder, the hammers and files, the rest of the stuff is ingenuity in action:
Damn it, I want one now even more! Incidentally it is not that expensive: about $110 including the shipping from Nepal.
“Dear Santa… “
That video was a good watch even if it did make my shop safety manual spontaneously combust in fear. Have loved kukris since my father showed me two he brought back and the excellent Monster Hunter International series of books.
If you have not done so already then please check out Himalayan Imports. There is an envelope in the safe that gets pocket money for one day buying a Ganga Ram from them.
I have an HI sirupati kuk that I was given years ago by a REALLY good friend. I absolutely love that blade.