My journey to a Kailash mini-khukuri began with this vid from Rocky Handsome appearing on my YouTube feed.
I have always wanted a khukuri but never got around to getting one and that video reignited the fire so to speak. After doing extensive research, getting some recommendations, and experiencing Kailash’s legendary customer service first hand (as you will see below), I placed my order for a mini.
It still boggles my mind how Kailash can provide such service with work in progress pics and provide such a great product at their prices!
I have asked Kailash for permission to share their emails and they have graciously granted it so here we go with my journey…
I love the way they signed it “from the top of the world”
Based on this, I went with the performance grind. Here are the full specs.
Here we go with the first in progress update!
Rotated for a better perspective
Second update
A lot closer to completion by the third update
Cropped the pic a bit
I also took the liberty of mocking up how it might look next to my full size Himalayan Import WWII…we will see how close I was in my estimate
Final update on the sheath making process
And it arrived today! Just 2-3 days to get to Canada from India! Great packaging as well! Even that is professional and artistic
Package within a package!
Still some layers to go
And here it is!
Feels great in the hand. I am glad I got the largest handle option
Beautiful horn
Ok let’s see how the size really compares to the WWII
Since seeing the Nor-tech 400 Supersport at last year’s show, I have done a lot of research about it, including lots of videos of sea trials. Needless to say, it performs as good as it looks! I was glad to see Nor-tech back at the show and for the opportunity to embark for a closer look.
The Nor-tech 400 Supersport has a top speed of 92.8 MPH
Courtesy of Quad Mercury Racing 400R V-10
All with space to sleep
Rest
Or sunbathe
If 92.8MPH isn’t fast enough for you, how about a racing cat from C.J. Grant Racing that will do 140!
You might end up with one of these guys in your rearview mirror! So happy to see the Zodiac Milpro again! Thank you Toronto Police!
So badass
The helm
Cool to see inside the tube
Interesting that the Police are using Salus gear. I thought they use Mustang Survival
What’s better than one Zodiac Milpro, why two of course! This one courtesy of York Region. Slightly smaller but faster than the TPS boat.
Cool dive helmets
More police boats! OPP brought their Boston Whaler
Also great to see Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary
Looks like they are also using Salus floatation vests
BTW, some civilian Zodiacs for comparison to the Police Milpro boats
They use some of the same technology, like the Shockwave seats
No SAR boat from Stanley this year
But this landing boat had the same type of bumpers that we saw on the SAR boat last year
As I mentioned last year, the I love the way the windscreen is protected on the Tiller 17DC. It is definitely my favourite of this style of compact runabout boat.
The Hewescraft Alaskan 270 was one of my show favourites last year. This time they brought a slightly smaller 250 that shares many of the same great features.
private head closet
10 different styles of cabin configurations
the helm
lots of adjustments on the captain’s chair
Captain’s view
You can also steer from the rear deck
Diesel for the heating system
More great boats from Hewescraft
More aluminum boat options from Stabicraft. I don’t think they were at the show last year so it was great to see them in person.
Kingfisher had a 3025 Destination last year, which was very nice, but I think the all new 3025 XRS on display this year was much nicer
Ok now here is an interesting option for fishing, the Kawasaki Ultra 160 LX-S Angler Jet-Ski
Complete with rod-holders (1 in the front, 4 in the rear)
ORCA 55-litre hard cooler
And Garmin Echomap UHD2 7cv chartplotter
This thing is so cool!
Boston Whaler
Reputed to have an unsinkable hull
To that point, they had a really cool display with a cross section of their hull
Beautiful boats
While I am not usually into large cabin cruisers, I gotta say the 380 Realm was pretty stunning
At the other end of the size spectrum, the super sport
Or if you prefer a more classic look, Rossiter
Or Ranger Tugs. They are so beautiful and always draw long lineups at the boat show.
No Brabus this year but still some nice luxury boats from Axopar
A couple of others that caught my eye, the Formula 27BR bow rider
Whally!
Last but not least, some interesting motors, such as this V12 from Mercury Marine
6.2L V8, coincidentally my favourite configuration for car engines lol
First hydrogen powered outboard from Yamaha
And if your stock engine needs more power, talk to Riversports Recreation who had an Argo to showcase their work
I usually like to end my reviews with a recap of my show favourites. It should be no surprise what they are here, the Zodiac Milpro and Boston Whaler police boats along with the Nor-Tech 400 Supersport. I will give some honourable mentions to Boston Whaler for their cool hull display and beautiful 380 Realm, to Kingfisher for their new 3025 XRS, and to Kawasaki for the Angler Jet-Ski, it’s so cool!
I haven’t been to S&R Knives since before COVID so it was definitely about time for another visit! Sure, I made some online orders in the meantime but there is nothing like visiting the store in person and seeing their incredible selection as well as my good friends Sean and Rodney of course!
Ok I will start with some general store pics and then move to closeups by brand.
Karambits are among my favourite types of knives (if not, THE favourite) and I absolutely LOVE the design of this Schrade Shasta Mcnasty (great name too lol)
The ring was a bit big and the handle a bit short for my hand but it was super tempting…
I also love balisongs and trainers so here is another of my top picks, the Boker Plus Papillon(unfortunately my closeup of the knife came out blurry)
Next Cold Steel, which had most of my favourites of the day
Including my absolute favourite, the Gurkha Kukri Plus CPM-3V Steel.
It is quite light for a Kukri and feels fantastic in the hand.
More fire from Cold Steel, the Espada XL Lynn Thompson Collection. I already have the full micarta version but I need this one too!
Perhaps you can see the grind better in this pic
More from Cold Steel, their lineup of impact tools
Once again, I found another favourite of the day, the Cable Whip Cane.
Next up, Spyderco
They had all sizes of the Yojimbo so I could do a side-by-side comparison
Microjimbo
Yojimbo 2 Black
Yojumbo, definitely the best for my hand
I am not quite as familiar with Reate so I wanted to check them out
Especially the wild Exo-K Karambit (did I mention that I love karambits? Lol). I knew there was a trainer available for this knife but what I didn’t know is that it actually comes as a set with the knife! That’s right, the price listed INCLUDES the trainer!
Speaking of karambit trainers, these are made by a local knifemaker
I didn’t get a closeup but here is another karambit on my “list”, the DART, designed by Doug Marcaida
Some fine blades from Bastinelli
And Extrema Ratio
Including the new aptly named Fat Boy. This thing is heavy! It actually feels much heavier than the Cold Steel Kukri
Classic Buck knives
Civivi
Ka-Bar
CRKT
Some fantasy/movie knives
Tactical pens, including the Boker Tactical Fountain Pen that I picked up recently
Such a great store! To recap my favourites of the day:
Cold Steel Gurkha Kukri Plus CPM-3v Steel
Cold Steel Espada XL Lynn Thompson Collection
Cold Steel Cable Whip Cane
Boker Plus Papillon
Thank you to Rodney’s son (didn’t catch his name) for his time and helping out with the pics.
I definitely wont wait several years till my next visit!!
S&R Knives is pretty much the go-to place for knives in Toronto. Owned by Sean and Rodney for over 25 years, the store moved to a new location just three minutes away from its old home at the Woodbine Mall. The visit below was during their soft opening. I will be back soon to update with their latest stock.
Blades of all shapes and sizes from spears to neck knives (this is one side of the store..i missed getting a full pic of the other side…oops)
Ok let’s start with Tops knives
And my favourite knife of the day, the Tac Ops karambit…this thing is SICK!
I would be hesitant to spin it but here it is in retracted and extended grips
Next, the Kuma Tac-Ri, designed by a martial artist, holding it makes you just want to destroy things and the only thing that diminished its impressiveness was that I just finished handling the Tac Ops Karambit lol
Smaller Tops fixed blades on display, including the mini Tracker.
I have a Beck Tracker on order and I am a big fan of the design…wow they are not kidding about this being a mini version!
Next Fox knives out of Italy
Including this SUPER RARE kempo Banty, designed by Borut Kincl, Official trainer of Slovenija Army
The knife has a lot of great features like a handle shaped for use as an impact tool (very similar to the Spyderco Yojimbo), integral glass breaker, secondary lock, divots for grip transitions etc.
Next Spyderco..
i was most anxious to see the Introvert, again designed by a martial artist as a sort of folding version of Fred Perrin’s famous LaGriffe. It is the first flipper lockback and I really like the deployment. I was glad it was sitting next to a P’Kal for size comparison as I have one of those so it was a good reference.
Tons of folders from Cold Steel
As well as impact tools. The British Police Truncheon is a lot heavier than you would think
My favourites were the boomerang
And Steven Seagal walking stick
More knives from…Spartan Blades
Esse
Fallkniven
My first time handling a Medford…well deserving of its beefy reputation although the Micro Praetorian was a bit small for my hand
Zero Tolerance
Ka-Bar
Including my favourite, the TDI
CRKT
Including a Kasper Fighting Folder, one of my favourite knives of all time (I have two Crawford customs)
Kitchen knives and other accessories
So that should give you sense of why S&R is reputed to be one of, if not the top knife store in Canada. As I mentioned, I will be back very soon and will be sure to post a review of my visit.
Given the current turmoil in the world, I think it’s appropriate to start my review of the North American International Motorcycle Supershow 2025 with Mad Max themed bikes. Yes, Toecutter or Lord Humungus would feel at home on this one.
and for his crew…
Perhaps this is the Feral Kid’s ride?
For those who need to make a speedy getaway, some race bikes
Ok I don’t think that engine is stock lol. This was actually one of my favourite bikes of the show.
The Ducatis seem tame by comparison
Corse Panigale V2
Panigale V4
Multistrada V4S
950 S
I tried to capture the crazy finish on this Diaval but no luck
Streetfighter
They also had some classic Ducatis, such as this 848, on display in the Century of Motorcycles section
I liked the classic Norton 750 Commando
V-Max
Royal Enfield
What could be more classic than a Harley?
Especially the Fat Boy
Electric Harley (or as I call it, Hoover Davidson)
Not sure why this one was roped off
Peel Police bikes
Altered Sound showcasing Rockford Fosgate audio in some custom Harleys
We started with wild customs, let’s end with those too
some trikes even
Good to see my friends from Madhatter Industries
and Widows Sons
For my post show meal, I hit Zet’s as usual but this time I tried the gyro dinner for the first time. I am not sure they gave me enough though…
So that was a pretty good start to this year’s show circuit. I did 25 shows last year, we will see how this year goes lol.
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