About Kami Markings and the reluctance to put it in

K

Kmark

Joined
Mar 21, 2000
Messages
320
I read in a post around here that the kamis 'went insane' when they heard that their work would be sold for cheaper if they were without markings.

I wonder if they understand that a marking on their work represents their endorsement that their khukuri is the best they can make and that they're proud of it. It is almost spiritual, that marking, because it imparts some mysticism to the blade. It brings a closer tie between the khukuri owner and the smith who made it and many generations from now, the khukuri's owner's great grandkid will pick it up and proudly say 'This khukuri was made by so-and-so. See? That mark on the blade is the smith's mark. My great grandpa told me so.'

Not only that, I'd kinda like to point to the mark myself and say 'My khukuri was handforged from a block of steel by hard work and labor by kami so-and-so and I'm proud of his work'.

I realize that they have made lots and lots of these khukuris that it may seem routine by now, but the fact is each and every khukuri is special! Only those who make the mass produced, cheapo khukuri-like objects should fall into the trap of thinking that every khukuri they make is no different than the last.
 
In determinging the worth of a khukuri the kamis feel if the knife works good and looks reasonably good what good does a small mark on the blade do? They do have a point but I think my last message may have convinced them that we really do want the blades marked.

Of course, I don't think we will see many village models with marks but I am trying to get even visiting or part time kamis to mark the blades with their initials.

It is the difference in culture -- East is east........

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Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ
 
That would be really top notch if the village kamis would start marking their blades as well. I am very impressed with the quality of the 20" village Chiruwa Sirupati I received, and I really regret that the visiting kami didn't mark his work, because I am proud of his work and I want to connect the artist to his work, but without his mark, how can I? Of course, this has no affect on the quality of the blade, but never the less, I wish I knew who he was, so I could watch for his work again and brag about him to my friends.

When I see a khuk I'm really impressed with, the first thing I want to know is, 'who made it?' That full sun on the base of my 18.5" mirror finish AK leaves no doubt who made it, although the 5/8" thickness is a dead giveaway to us forumites who it was.

IMHO, having a fine khukuri without the maker's mark is like having a Picasso without his signature on it. I know, I'm preaching to the choir. Uncle, we thank you for your efforts to get them to mark their work. I know they're proud of their work, they just don't see the point to this.



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"i have trouble with the persons with the signs
but i feel the need to make my own" --King's X
 
I wonder ... do the kamis understand that people are buying their khukuries without having a chance to see them first? I suppose they know that, but maybe it hasn't really sunk in.... That's really what it's all about, IMHO -- if customers could see and handle the khukuries before buying maybe it wouldn't matter so much whether they're signed or not (though I think we'd still want to know who made it). The point is maybe the khukuri works good and looks good or maybe it doesn't ... who knows, if we don't know who made it? Maybe that could be explained to them ... or maybe there's an insuperable culture gap here ... I dunno.

-Cougar :{)
 
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