Primitive Making

Taking “Making of kukri” to new zenith…
KHHI moves further with the beginning of Nepali New year BS 2076 by establishing its new unit “Primitive Wing”. Kukri making has always been a passion for KHHI; a pioneer company in kukri industry. It takes pride in being the first ever company to be the official supplier/maker to British Gurkhas, first ever to work on customizing kukris-knives with latest CNC technology and also first to manufacturing high quality kukri knives through the traditional way in Nepal. Now it is time to look beyond the ordinary and hence this new “Primitive Wing”…..

What is / Why Primitive Wing at KHHI nepal??
One of the main reasons to establish KHHI Nepal was to promote this national knife (weapon), the skills and methods to the world outside and also to ensure that the living standard of Kamis, the born kukri makers, is exalted. Being a pioneer and responsible company KHHI also felt the need to saving the age old blade smith of making the khukuri knife from the classic era. The way our great great grandfathers forged knives without electricity, power tools and various modern industrial raw materials must be conserved for the new generation to admire the art and respect the profession and people involved. Moreover in today’s context where machine completely rules why not man and his skill be the domain here. This gave birth to the primitive wing at KHHI Nepal which is more a conservation project than any commercial benefit. Here the making is done entirely by hand. Moreover only very old raw materials, tools and basic equipments (no power tools at all) are used to get the final product.

How was it possible??
Briefly speaking, we spent many months doing rigorous research and exploration in the field, interacting with local blacksmiths, gaining important knowledge and trying to find the right people to undertake the job in the best and as accurate as possible. The journey was tough but worth by every bit. It made us realized the hardship and prolong time devoted by the Kamis into making back then. The determination got stronger than never before. Finally the day came when we found the right person, an expert in this field in the fashion who knew every bit of this age old makings. So we brought him back to KHHI nepal in Kathmandu to commence the primitive making and thus the “Primitive Wing (making)” is finally materialized. It took him almost one month to make only the tools ready, let alone the old raw materials, equipments and final product…

the “Primitive Wing (Making)”; conserving the age old craftsmanship..
KHHI Nepal is very proud to be the only company in Nepal to offer the primitive making. It is one of the making departments in which just bare hands, sharp skill, basic tools, very old raw materials and homemade equipments are used to accomplish the final product. As said above it is more a conservation project to showcase this unique method of making to the locals and people worldwide. This would not only preserve the age old craftsmanship that has almost extinct as we speak now BUT would also make people realize the hardship, skill and time that is put into making a single piece. This will bring admiration and respect to the kukri and kami itself.

What’s so special about the Primitive wing/making??
Man over machine, sweat and skill, uniqueness and rawness, and the nobility make the Primitive wing so special and stand out.

In our primitive wing any guest or customer is well entertained should he desires to be the part of making and in the process learn a skill or two from the master. We have tried our best to set up a typical outlook of a Kami’s house up there in the hill so the visitors can feel the ambient and warmth of the classic environment. One can also lay his hand in sharpening a dull khukuri under the expert’s eye to get the hang of the making as a part of basic survival skill. A visitor can also find various backgrounds, materials, articles, things and paintings exhibited that have close tie with the khukuri and it’s making in our Primitive Wing. A buyer gets a full documentary video of his knife’s making from forging to finishing. There are also short videos of the raw materials, tools and equipments used for primitive making. Along with it he gets the maker’s bio-data and signed document, a Nepali national cap (topi), traditional silk scarf (khada) and an old Nepalese coin.

Come, witness the making in an age old method and be part of conserving the aboriginal ways of making the national knife of Nepal, the KUKRI!

NATURAL RAW MATERIALS used for Primitive Making ::

Charcoal for primitive kukri making