A serious Sirupati -- the 24 incher

Bill Martino

Bill Martino

Joined
Mar 5, 1999
Messages
34,096
A special order 24 inch Sirupati arrived in the last shipment and I am impressed. This is a serious piece of equipment. Here's the specs.

blade length 18.5
handle length 6.5
overall 25 inches
blade widths 2 inches
blade thickness 1/2 inch at back
weight about 1.75 lbs

This is a very beefy Sirupati. Sorry I can't post a picture but my scanner won't extend that far.

Uncle Bill
 
Got any scans or digital pics of one?

I know it is hard to get a 24" khukuri to fit on a scanner...



------------------
Clay Fleischer
cdfleischer@yahoo.com

"My redneck past is nipping at my heels..." -BF5
 
Clay, a digital camera is on my wish list. Look at the 20 incher and add 5 inches and beef up the thickness about 1/8 inch.

Uncle Bill
 
Hello Uncle Bill

Speaking of big, today I was reading the Japanese "Knife" magazine, and saw an ad for a 120 cm (47 inch) khukuri with 95 cm (38 inch) blade, claimed to be actually used by the Gurkhas. The two utility knives were 28 cm (11 inches) long. The proportions of the blade made it look like a Sirupati style. It sells for about $500. The photo was certainly impressive. I wonder how many free hanging 1" manila ropes it can cut.

Eric Takabayashi
Fukuyama, Japan

[This message has been edited by E (edited 31 May 1999).]
 
Hi Eric:

Did it look something like this? This is what we call an Okaldhunga Janawar Katne but it is only 38 inches long. We ship via air, registered, and are limited to a parcel length of 40 inches so that's why the length is 38 inches. The karda and chakma for this blade are about 12 inches.

When you get into lengths like this you are almost forced into a Sirupati style otherwise the knife would weigh 40 pounds.

A knife such as this is almost never used by Gurkhas. The only time they use a large blade is for Kali puja and it is never this long. Generally about 20 to 25 inches or else a kora is used.

And, welcome to the forum. If you run across Mr. Seto tell him Bill Martino sends his best regards.

Uncle Bill

<img src = "http://members.aol.com/yangduspag/pict63.jpg">


[This message has been edited by Bill Martino (edited 30 May 1999).]
 
Wow! What a beautiful piece of work! I'd like to have an authentic Japanese katana, but they're much too expensive. Something like this would suit me fine (shorter actually, I don't want the blade to drag along the ground when I walk - Hmm. Shoulder sling ...). I wonder what it could do in a knife review.

The blade I saw advertised was not billed as a Himalayan Imports work, though the advertiser apologized to those who've had to wait months for a shipment and claims it is authentic Nepalese. Is there an HI dealer in Japan? That would save me the trouble of trying to get my big blades through Japanese customs. Or is Mr. Seto one of the "Blade" staff?

Eric Takabayashi
Fukuyama, Japan

[This message has been edited by E (edited 31 May 1999).]
 
Hi Eric:

Mr. Seto is Seto Cutlery of Seki City. At present HI has no dealers in Japan simply because we have not been able to supply them. If shop 2 increases our production this may change.

If you want a 24 inch Sirupati we can make one for you. But unless you get someone like Seto Cutlery to import it for you customs will give you BIG problems.

Cliff tested the 20 inch Sirupati and has some results posted. The 24 inch will perform better and is stronger.

Uncle Bill
 
Thanks, Cliff. Your tests are of great value to everybody. Keep up the fine work!

Uncle Bill
 
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