- Joined
- Nov 29, 2005
- Messages
- 887
To my surprise and delight, when I opened a recent package from the Computer Shack in Reno, the little khukuri I'd bought came accompanied by a baby hasiya--the tiny (well, 3.5-inch-bladed), sickle-shaped knife that I believe Yangdu brought to our attention in her posting of April 5, 2007:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=465935&highlight=pix+baby+hasiyas
First, MANY THANKS!! Yangdu's sacrificial generosity deserves to be duly noted.
Second, I'm very intrigued by the description. In her April 5 posting, Yangdu wrote that "The baby hasiya is carried by the Rai women of Nepal as a means of protection. This baby hasiya comes in a round wood scabbard with a white metal chain to be worn around the waist like a purse."
If Yangdu (or any of the rest of you) knows more, I'd love to learn more. For starters, I'm curious about how it's worn. The scabbard-attached chains that are pictured in the April 5 posting look like they're about 13 inches long. I'm thinking from this that even in Nepal, that's not going around someone's waist like a belt. Is it typically hung from a belt, or is a longer chain or cord used? Is it usually carried to the right or left side, or in front, or in any other position? Any ordinary direction in which the point points while being carried? Any special tricks needed to keep from getting poked with the point as it projects from the bottom of the wooden disk scabbard?
Similarly, I'm really curious about how it's used. Does anyone know if it's used with the blade projecting up, out of the thumb side of the fist, or down, out of the other side, or some other way? Any customs or advice as to how it's used?
It is, I must say, a nice-looking knife and scabbard--certainly a conversation starter, and unlike anything I've seen before! The natural recipient, I think, is my beautiful (and strong-willed) daughter--at least upon her attaining to a cutlery-safe age greater than her current three years.
When that time comes, I'd love to be able to tell her more.
Oh, also: what is the name for this knife in the Nepali language?
Thank you again, Yangdu!
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=465935&highlight=pix+baby+hasiyas
First, MANY THANKS!! Yangdu's sacrificial generosity deserves to be duly noted.
Second, I'm very intrigued by the description. In her April 5 posting, Yangdu wrote that "The baby hasiya is carried by the Rai women of Nepal as a means of protection. This baby hasiya comes in a round wood scabbard with a white metal chain to be worn around the waist like a purse."
If Yangdu (or any of the rest of you) knows more, I'd love to learn more. For starters, I'm curious about how it's worn. The scabbard-attached chains that are pictured in the April 5 posting look like they're about 13 inches long. I'm thinking from this that even in Nepal, that's not going around someone's waist like a belt. Is it typically hung from a belt, or is a longer chain or cord used? Is it usually carried to the right or left side, or in front, or in any other position? Any ordinary direction in which the point points while being carried? Any special tricks needed to keep from getting poked with the point as it projects from the bottom of the wooden disk scabbard?
Similarly, I'm really curious about how it's used. Does anyone know if it's used with the blade projecting up, out of the thumb side of the fist, or down, out of the other side, or some other way? Any customs or advice as to how it's used?
It is, I must say, a nice-looking knife and scabbard--certainly a conversation starter, and unlike anything I've seen before! The natural recipient, I think, is my beautiful (and strong-willed) daughter--at least upon her attaining to a cutlery-safe age greater than her current three years.
When that time comes, I'd love to be able to tell her more.Oh, also: what is the name for this knife in the Nepali language?
Thank you again, Yangdu!
