A Question for Pala

Jaeger

Jaeger

Joined
Feb 27, 1999
Messages
543

Greetings Kami Sherpa,

It is an honor to be able to address you directly. I pray that your stay in the US will be enjoyable and fruitful and that your visit with your family will be pleasant and memorable.

My question is relatively simple. I posed this question to the participants of this forum some time ago but it is your answer that I am most interested in. If you could have only one khurkri in your lifetime what would it be and why? (size, style, etc.)

I would like to thank you for allowing us the opportunity to purchase these amazing knives. HI knives have changed the way I think about knives and have significantly raised my expectations of what a good knife should be capable of.
Your work and that of your fellow kamis is without peer. It is an honor to do business with you and Uncle Bill (and all those associated with HI)

Respectfully,
Michael Travis
 
Mike, he and Yangdu are washing clothes right now but I'll ask him and post reply ASAP.

Many thanks for nice welcome.

Uncle Bill
 
Namaste, Mike:

Thank you for your kind words and concern.

My favorite khukuri and the one I would select if I could have only one khukuri is the one we call the Gelbu special, named for my youngest son because he initiated the making of the first one in our shop, but certainly not his design.

This is an old design and I think it may come from the village of Udaipur. In Nepal, this knife is sometimes called a "full Ang Khola." I like the way this knife works and feels in the hand. The unusal cho on this knife is called "pariwa ki aka" which means the "eye of the dove."

I understand the first model went to a Scottish Highlander who served with Gurkhas. He knows what I am talking about.

Namaste!

Pala
 
Namaste Pala,

What does "Ang Khola" mean, then? if this Udaipuri looks so different from an Ang Khola, how is it then a "full Ang Khola"?

I like the Gelbu Special, too, and I think that I will have to get one after my Ganga Ram Special.


------------------
Namaste,
Jeff Paulsen
 
Thank you for your reply Pala. Fortunately for me I ordered a Gelbu Special just before you got here. If the one I get is anything like the first one that went to the Highlander than I am sure that it will be nothing less than spectacular. I am anxiously awaiting it's arrival!

Most of the other forumites here and I have all but begged Uncle Bill to write a book about khurkris. Our pleas have fallen on deaf ears. Perhaps you could be persuaded to write such a book?

Again, thank you for your time and knowledge.

Respectfully,
Mike
 
Namaste!

I will try to answer Jeff's question. An Ang Khola has a smaller fuller near the top of the blade. If a full fuller extends the full length of blade some kamis will then call the blade form a full Ang Khola. I do not think this is a proper name for the khukuri but this is what some call it.

And, Mikeji, I cannot write a book. I do not have the education required for such a task.

Namaste

Pala
 
WOW! The Gelbu Special is the khukri I have ordered and am anxiously awaiting. To read that Pala would choose it were he to only be able to have one is an unassailable endorsement of the merits of this blade. I knew I liked it when I saw Uncle Bill's picture of it and I went for it over the 18" Ang Khola, but this is simply too much
smile.gif
!!!


------------------
-=[Bob]=-

I did NOT escape from the institution! They gave me a day pass!

BFC member since 3 Oct 98
AKTI membership pending
VHA and NRA member


 
Namaste Bobji:

This is a wonderful khukuri. It has a fine feel to it. It works equally well in the jungle or in battle. If I were personally in charge of khukuri issue to the Gorkhalis this is the khukuri I would equip them with.



------------------
Pala (Kami Sherpa)
Owner, Himalayan Imports
http://members.aol.com/himimp/index.html
 
Pala:

quote from Gelbu Special #1 thread on 25 August 99
---------------------------
Rusty 2:00 PM
... the enclosed circular cho is more symbolic to me of unity, of rebirth, of the eternal cycle, you get the idea...
---------------------------
Uncle Bill 3:37 PM
Rusty, I understand perfectly and can appreciate your preferences more than you might think. It is the wheel of life in steel, with one spoke to signify one in unity.
--------------------------

And now, Pala, you tell us the cho is called "the eye of the dove". In some religions, the dove is symbolic of the spirit or essence of the Deity. That I understand as the eye of the God that I know better than I understand the buttcap being shaped as the eye of God. Thank you for bringing more meaning to that symbol for me.

"Everything the power of the world does is done in a circle. The sky is round and I have heard that the earth is round like a ball and so are the stars. The wind in it's greatest power whirls. Birds make their nests in circles, for theirs is the same religion as ours. The sun comes forth and goes down again in a circle. The moon does the same and both are round. Even the seasons form a great circle in their changing and always come back again to where they were. The life of a man is a circle from childhood to childhood. And so it is in everything where power moves.

Black Elk, Oglala Sioux, 1863-1950

( Pala and Uncle Bill, I quote this as I did the other day to tease my brothers. Love and respect for them does not stop me from taking advantage to make us all laugh at ourselves. Now Yvsa can drive himself crazy alng with Dave K wondering how I can come up with a Jewish liturgy one day and an Indian sage the next. It's fun to pull rabbitts out of hats, but it is even more fun to pull hats out of rabbitts when your friends least expect it. )
 
Namaste Rustyji:

Your Black Elk was a wise man. He looked, observed, and found truth.

Pala



[This message has been edited by Kami Sherpa (edited 12 September 1999).]
 
Palaji - what a regret! From the very beginning I like Gelbu Special #1 @ Full Ang Khola - it's hollow ground make it look unique & very special. The moment I read your posting in this thread - I regreted more! Why I kept quit all this while? Ohhhhh ... I have log my name for so many models - GRS, WW II Handled Hanuman, Chespeake Bay Knife Club Khukuri and Kagas Katne! Should I log my name in another one more list?

Why not you kindly inform Chacha Billji to reserve any extra Gelbu Special #1 @ Full Ang Khola for mohd? Please tell him that insyaa-Allaah! mohd will email him later!
 
Nephew Mohd:

Pala is still sleeping. He is still on Nepal time -- stays up watching TV until 4am and then sleeps until 10. I will log your name for Gelbu special with thanks.

Uncle Bill
 
Whenever I hear of a distinguished visitor coming to America and watching television I am a little embarassed for my country. Hopefully late night TV in Reno has something entertaining and informative and Pala is not stuck watching reruns of Night Court.

------------------
Namaste,
Jeff Paulsen

"Oh, a magic khukuri. Why didn't you say so?"
 
Pala,

You are much too humble. You are probably one of the most knowledgable people in the world when it comes to khurkris. You could "write" a book in the same manner in which you are posting on this forum. Through an interpreter! Your knowledge of khurkris is invaluable and it would be a shame for it to be lost.

Namaste,
Mike
 
I'm going to answer this one.

Pala has poor English ability yet he will watch English language programs with great intensity. He is looking at what he can see and learn in the picture rather than listening to the words. Sometimes he will repeat aloud the words he understands. I have to bite my tongue to keep from laughing.

As far as humility goes, Pala has it.

And, the great thing about the relationship is Pala and I operate on much the same wavelength. He treats the kamis, lowest caste in Nepal, with great respect and extends great kindness to them. I know he is close and perhaps I should not say this but he is one of the finest men I have had the good fortune to be associated with.

------------------
Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
http://members.aol.com/himimp/index.html
 
Namaste Pala,

Thank you for answering my question about the 'full Ang Khola'. It is very nice of you to answer our questions here. I hope you are enjoying your visit as much as we are,

------------------
Namaste,
Jeff Paulsen

"Oh, a magic khukuri. Why didn't you say so?"
 
Jeff, thanks for the kind words. Pala views answering the questions as an honor and duty.

He always has a blast when he is here. He enjoys the bright lights and action of the casinos. Almost every Gorkhali I know loves to gamble. Pala is just another one of them.



------------------
Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
http://members.aol.com/himimp/index.html
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top