Apprentices at work.

Bill Martino

Bill Martino

Joined
Mar 5, 1999
Messages
34,096
ffd4ebe6.jpg.orig.jpg


top -- Ramu files a blade.

center -- Gosai polishes a blade.

bottom -- Uvaraj polishes a handle.

Apprentices generally do detail work such as this and swing the 5 KG hammer for their boss. These boys are learning quickly and as apprentices working at BirGorkha earn more than most master kamis do working in other shops.

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Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ
 
More great pictures! Keep 'em coming Uncle. I just love looking at the knives casually leaning against the wall...

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JP
 
Hey Uncle Bill,

Is that the Uncle Bill Especiale that Gosai is polishing in the center picture? Thanks for the great pictures and for the Puja pics---nice to see what the khuks are capable of, though quite gruesome. Makes me respect khuks even more when handling and swinging them.

Rob
 
In a couple of years these boys will be trying their hand at some forging and I suspect they will do a good job due to the caliber of teachers they have.

And, yes, that's the Uncle Bill Especiale Gosai is polishing but I didn't know it was my khukuri at the time I took this pix.

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Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ
 
Great pictures!

In the last picture is a protective strip being applied to the handle before the butt cap is polished? Does he use the hammer to hold his hand in the correct position.

Put your safety glasses on when using the grinder!

We are loosing many of our apprentice programs here in Canada. Is it the same in the USA?

Will

[This message has been edited by Will Kwan (edited 03-05-2000).]
 
I'd noticed the lack of safety glasses earlier, but Will's post made me look at the third picture more closely and see another safety issue. Is Uvaraj actually sitting on the blade of a khukuri, applying torque to the end of the handle while the sharp edge is aimed directly at the... er, centerline of his trousers? Makes me want to yell "DON"T SLIP!" loud enough to be heard on the other side of the planet
eek.gif
.Yikes!

[This message has been edited by Berkley (edited 03-05-2000).]
 
We have safety goggles available but their use is optional. The boys use all sorts of body parts in their work which is bothersome to me but they never have accidents. Luck, skill, karma -- maybe a combination of all three but no accidents, thank God!

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Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ
 
My brother is giving me an old stone wheel for sharpening the khuks. I bet it will work very well.

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