Antique store owner spinning yarns

[freedoom]

Went into an antique store today and he had a couple of Khukiris in his case. Both were WWII era, one larger and one smaller. the smaller one had the scabbard but it was missing the two little knives. the larger of the two was just the knife. Both were completely dull.

The shop owner was telling me about how the khukiri comes from india and wouldn't believe me when i said they were from Nepal. When i asked him about the secondary knives for the one with the scabbard he was telling me about how warriors in india would have long hair and they weren't knives but hair pins that they would use to tie up their long hair for battle. I'm not really a khukiri aficionado but that just sounded a bit out there.

anyway, they were both in really poor condition. he was asking $45 for the smaller and $75 for the larger. I had to pass just on the condition of the knives.

 

[oldschool45]

freedoom, Post some pics if you can. Maybe our resident historians can tell you if he actually has something there and just doesn't know it Or might be a blade style we'd want the Kami's to try and copy.

 

[Mike L.]

What, he didn't tell you that the cho is used like a gun sight for throwing?

Got to admit, that hair pin story is new to me.

The only people I know of on the entire subcontinent who do not cut their hair are Sikhs. I believe they wear turbans, and forgo the use of hairpins. I think they also carry a blade called a Kirpan, which is different from a khukuri.

 

[Howard Wallace]

...

The shop owner was telling me about how the khukiri comes from india and wouldn't believe me when i said they were from Nepal. When i asked him about the secondary knives for the one with the scabbard he was telling me about how warriors in india would have long hair and they weren't knives but hair pins that they would use to tie up their long hair for battle. I'm not really a khukiri aficionado but that just sounded a bit out there.
...

I understand well. In my youth my hair was long and unruly. Now I am older and a bit more civilized, and keep it clipped short. Back in those youthful days, if I needed to defend myself from a bear, or a tiger, I would use a karda. It was really all I needed.

But my hair was another story. Sometimes I tied it up and used the khukuri for a hairpin.

 

[freedoom]

freedoom, Post some pics if you can. Maybe our resident historians can tell you if he actually has something there and just doesn't know it Or might be a blade style we'd want the Kami's to try and copy.

Wish i could post some pics but he's got a huge sign in his window "no photography"

 

[oldschool45]

freedoom, ahh he likes ignorant buyers. Its nice work if you can get it till your pool-o-fools runs out. I can see gun shops doing that to protect buyers but not an antiques store. I may have to start prowling antique stores for older blades in general.