Are all water buffalo black in color?

BruiseLeee

BruiseLeee

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Sep 7, 2001
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It would explain why we only see black sheaths. Or are the tanners only using one color for making leather?

(Edited for poor ESL grammar)
 
You can see undyed leather at some places on the scabbard, along the edges of the frog, and down the back of the frog on the bottom piece next to the scabbard. Most of this appears dirty white to grey, and is consistant with a black animal. Some, tho', are brown leather under the dye. My Chitlangi scabbard was dyed with something that was mostly carbon black, and about 80% of it came off when I started putting on the Lexol. It seemed to be a good grade of leather, but I wasn't able to get enough off to keep a good finish, so I re-dyed the whole thing black. Black dye can cover a multitude of leather errors, too. The scabbard on the fancy-handled Sirupati I just got had a "crackled" finish, and the Lexol and rubbing brought up a covering of hair that had been glued down by the dye. I saddle-soaped it very lightly, so as not to allow it to stretch and sag off the wood, and got a uniform covering of 1/4" hairs over everything but the frog, which was the normal leather the new sarki uses for frogs. If it had been softer (not bristles) and about 1", it would have been a neat, unique rig :) A short "Zippo bath" took everything down to the hide, though, and four coats of Neutral Kiwi turned it into a nice looking finish. Nice "crackled" or distressed look that contrasts nicely with the handle. Thing is, I'm not sure that it is Bufao hide. Could be goat. Too heavy for dog......I think. I'll ask the Lab if it smells like a relative :eek:
 
What about the ones that are black and brown.....with maybe a little white somewhere?:)
 
..Water Buffalo aren't...:confused: ..Go figure. Uncle once said this was the reason they are not able to get the grade of leather we are used to here. Holy Toledo? - Holy Cows.
 
According to Uncle, the goat from the perodic blessing ceremonies doesn't go to waste....The Buffalo would just require a larger pot :D
 
Speaking of buffalo:

Someone posted a pic awhile back(may have been Uncle) of a sacrifice of a buffalo, where they beheaded the buffalo IN ONE STROKE with a khukuri:eek: I couldn't believe it till I saw it for myself. IIRC there was tension on the neck (pulling by people or some rig)but even so that is a thick neck with many muscles and a thick bone! Human necks wouldn't stand a chance---think twice before shaving with em boys;) :D

EDIT: Couldn't find the buffalo pics but here is a link to an interesting thread discussing scabbard leather thickness etc...http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=125774&highlight=water+buffalo
 
I hear water-buffalo is tasty, but then thats just what I hear. Then again this comes from the same people who like "chocolate meat" (meat in a fresh pigs blood sauce), patis (cured fish sauce), of course the usual pigs feet and tripe (mmm stomach lining sooo good), and the ever most popular balut (duck eggs that well have been let mature a little more than what we're used to in the West). Now of course I like these foods, but if youre more a basic meat (eg. cow) and potatoes guy, well... Though Ive always thought of water buffalos as piggy cows.
 
Buff is standard fare in Nepal -- beef isn't. You can spice it up and cook it until it's pretty tender but I'll still take a decent piece of beef.
 
probably -- like most everything -- just depends on what one is used to. Imagine having been a vegatarian all of your life and then eating steak - I imagine it wouldn't taste very good, at least at first.
 
Back to the suject of the thread gentlemen: I have a service Khukuri that has a OD green handle. The Gurkha that gave me that particular khukuri told be that the paint used was what they paint military vehicles with. I have tried to paint other handles with camo colors but found that enamel is not effective. Cheers!
 
NEVER, EVER say "paint a handle" in front of a woodchuck....especially an old one who still sees a cardiologist regularly. BAD Pipey, bad, bad, bad.....
.....bad :rolleyes:











bad
 
I certainly did not want to cause dismay on my last post but handle PAINTING is a common practice in 2nd Bn RGR (Royal Gurkha Rifles). I suggest you go tell them how bad/wrong/silly they are....They might enjoy a wood chuck curry............
 
Sorry, old bud - just making what I had hoped was humorous banter. If you want to paint your handle, by all means carry on.
 
Painted handles:barf: :barf: :barf: Just kidding, though Im not fond of them myself, to each his own. Know alota guys who just like an un-finished piece (no finish of whatever kind just good sanding), and some of them real weathered pieces look pretty neat.

And geez, can someone get alzheimers in their 20s? :D Just remembered one of my favourite foods is made with water-buffalo tail. The traditional way is good and tasty enough, but I prefer sliced beef instead (easier to get the meat from and less fatty). Anyways if you put enough spice on anything itll take the flavor...

On the other hand, the water-buffalo used to be staple drought animal in the region (including SE ASIA), but Ive been hearing rumors that theyre becoming rare. Anyone know any more about this? Be a sad day when water buffalo are no longer seen carrying kids down a muddy road...
 
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