Gurkha SpecOp knife, cigars, & case???

[dasronin]

The knife is styled after a discontinued model of the Italian knife maker Extrema Ratio. Having inspected one of the knives in each of the Gurkha sets and recently inspecting an authentic Extrema Ratio knife... I will state the following with some confidence:

-The knife is not made by Extrema Ratio
-The knife is not of quality to bring a $300 price tag alone.
-Though the sheath is marked "Made in Italy" it is doubtful it actually is *.

*The sheath is a clone of the Extrema Ratio sheath with one glaring flaw. The rivets are chrome, where authentic Extrema Ratio sheaths use subdued (blackened) rivets. And there are near identical clones of most Extrema Ratio knives made in China complete with ER trademarks and "Made in Italy" markings.

HOWEVER, considering the typical price of the Gurkha cigars, the price of a comparable herfador, the "challenge coin" (a $10 value considering most challenge coins are that price), and the price of even a cloned "fake" ER knife (it is in the $75.00 Chinese clone price range). The selling price is a decent price for the package! ($160 - $10 - $75 = $75 for 20 Gurkha cigars and a large travel herfador).

I wrote Gurkha about the time I posted the original post in this thread asking who made the knife and have not (most likely will not) received an answer.

If I were working and had the disposable income... I would buy each of the two sets offered and consider it a fair price for 20 (40) Gurkhas and the (2) herfadors, THEN consider the knife & coin a freeby to persuade me to purchase the sticks.


ETA: I have done a lot of research on Extrema Ratio knives and traded for an authentic ER Fulcrum S this weekend. I found this Chinese website with clone/counterfeit ER knifes (link left cold on purpose) which MIGHT be the ones commissioned and I add again MIGHT to make the knives for Gurkha... as they are the best counterfeit ER knives I have found. AND the Gurkha knives I inspected were relatively well made (blade material unknown factored in). SINCE the Gurkha knife has no ER markings and it is a discontinued design of ER, really... no harm/no foul. http://www.knife911.com/extrema-ratio-c-21.html

2nd ETA: Here is an authorized Extrema Ratio USA knife site for those like me that appreciate a well made working knife. http://www.xtremeknives.com/

After tooling around for a bit, I found absolutely no makers mark, country of origin, steel type, etc. I've several people in the IPCPR making inquiries for me to find out from the "Kaiser", as to the origins, etc. about the knife. It's a hidden tang knife.

All I can say is that the case appears to be a variant of the Madeline series of pelican stylized cigar cases; beneath the second row of Spec Ops is an over turned third pre-cut ten stick tray. The stock humidifier can easily be replaced with a Cigar Mechanic 25ct round travel humidifier as the the case has already utilizes a magnetic plate to affix the humidifier to it. The case itself is made in China, the cigars are from the DR, the leg sheathe is from Italy, and as for the knife (I've been told from one of my sources that it actually does have an MSRP of 300$ (not a Gurkha MSRP)).

An additional note, the haft/quillion/guard all bear striking resemblances to ER's Venom fixed knife.

[mavmech13]

Thanks for all the info Dennis.

[The_Smoked_Blade]

Now the most important question? Have you smoked one of the Cigars yet? When you do please write a review. I'm not paying that much for a knife, coin and Herfador till i know the cigars inside it are worth smoking. Espcially since the knife and coing are just marketing ploys, I could use the Herf though...

I've had two of them already, I'll not have a sufficient review up till December, or as a double feature in November. They are surprisingly good actually when humidified to around 72% otherwise they're dry on the palette. Body wise they are medium-full, the strength is medium. I've tasted anise, hints of apricots, bell peppers, butter cream, 72% cacao, cocoa, cracked white peppercorns, fennel, ginger, ground espresso, hickory, jalapeño peppers, madiera, mahogany, mesquite, oregano, saffron, tarragon, thyme, white chocolate, and white peppercorns. Granted that one won't experience all of those hints and flavors at once; every half-inch or so have variable flavor shifts. The created is firm, with a salt & pepper complexion, the smoke is cloud white. The double corona lasts a good two and a half hours.

[bsief]

I received the special op kit 2 weeks ago

the black travel case will hold at least 30 sticks

the cigars were 7 1/2 x 54 with a dark oile wraper, the band was marked spec op. iIve only had tie to try one, it was about 1 1/2 - 2 hour smoke
very pleasing to the palet
mine came with the tiger stripe version on the knife
the knife is rasor sharp so watch out when handling

I ordered direct from Gurkha arount th middle of Sept.

cost was 150 plus shipping

[The_Smoked_Blade]

I received the special op kit 2 weeks ago

the black travel case will hold at least 30 sticks

the cigars were 7 1/2 x 54 with a dark oile wraper, the band was marked spec op. iIve only had tie to try one, it was about 1 1/2 - 2 hour smoke
very pleasing to the palet
mine came with the tiger stripe version on the knife
the knife is rasor sharp so watch out when handling

I ordered direct from Gurkha arount th middle of Sept.

cost was 150 plus shipping

Actually they're 7.25", with a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, a Nicaraguan binder, and a Dominican filler. The as for the bands, the top band is the overused embossed gold Gurkha Legend band, the lower band is marked in gold leaf on a black background in two tiers, with the first tier "SPEC OPS" and the lower tier "SRS LIMITED EDITION".

[n3uka]

To make it a little more tempting. Was looking around the site to see anything else I would like to bump me to $200 for free shipping and found this.

https://www.coronacigar.com/products...-the-week.html

We appreciate the orders you place with us at Corona Cigar Co. Each week we'll offer a particular item for FREE with any order of $75.00 or more.

Here is this week's FREEBIE!
Corona Gold Limitada 5-Pack ($70.00 Value)

The Corona Gold Limited Edition Connecticut is mild to medium-bodied on the medium side and is toasty, smooth and creamy with a slight coffee undertone, like the perfect latte with a slice of buttered toast.

Make an online order of $200 or more and get 10 Corona Gold Cigars + a 10ct Glossy Travel Humidor ($160 value)!