Bhairab khukuri, what a blade!

[b.c.molin]

I'm hoping she reads this and makes another sharp and pointy dream come true

Ok to that, especially considering the electricity cuts currently happening in Nepal limiting production, it would be proper to let the Kami's get on with their regular work.

However, now that the idea is planted in my minds eye, it will be hard waiting.

Shall we give it six months and then enquire about the project?

 

[Wolf_1989]

Ok to that, especially considering the electricity cuts currently happening in Nepal limiting production, it would be proper to let the Kami's get on with their regular work.

However, now that the idea is planted in my minds eye, it will be hard waiting.

Shall we give it six months and then enquire about the project?

Can we wait that long?

 

[b.c.molin]

Can we wait that long?

Well that question brings us back to the question: which one of us emails Yangdu?

Seriously I am happy to go ahead with an order for a Bhairab blade style Chiruwa handled Khukuri weighing 30ounces max. Blade length is secondary to weight.

From memory when you had your 'Battle Chitlangi' made there soon after appeared a similar one for sale in the dotd... maybe HI prefers to make a few at the same time, and if so, I would be pleased and happy to put in a request at the same time if you decide to do so.

 

[Wolf_1989]

I'm only speculating but I reckon when they make something special like that, they make two of them in case one of them has a flaw. The kamis are very skilled and masters of their craft but they are only human. Imperfections and serious flaws can and do happen with anything hand made. It even happens to us Westerners despite all our fancypants modern CNC technology and such.

 

[Carolina River Rat]

I'm only speculating but I reckon when they make something special like that, they make two of them in case one of them has a flaw. The kamis are very skilled and masters of their craft but they are only human. Imperfections and serious flaws can and do happen with anything hand made. It even happens to us Westerners despite all our fancypants modern CNC technology and such.

It might even happen more often with our technology because we know it'll take less time to fix any screw-ups. When you take days or weeks to make something, you tend to do it right the first time.

 

[Cpl Punishment]

I think I read on here before that when something entirely new is made, they make 5 to begin with. I think there were 5 Bhairabs made. I know with the faied "masterpiece" a few years ago that there were 5 made.

 

[Wolf_1989]

Hey Bonkers...


I've been comparing my khukuris and still theorizing this "worker bhairab".

Basically what we are talking about is a modified Gelbu Special, in about the 21"-23" length category with a chiruwa handle and the hilt of a bhairab. IMO I don't think we should specialize it any more than this. Let's keep it simple. No copper inlay on the blade. The guard should be plain; no carvings or embellishment. Just a simple curved brass guard shaped similar to that seen on the bhairab and it doesn't necessarily need to be so robust either.

The lion-head pommel is groovy, but on a smaller lighter version it wouldn't be necessary. The extra steel in the handle of a chiruwa style khukuri provides just enough extra weight to balance it out, and remember we are not trying to balance a 5 lb beast here. It should be under 3 lbs.

I've considered other blade forms and I think the Gelbu Special is exactly what we are looking for as the basis for this project. It's geometry and dimensions are just about right.

 

[b.c.molin]

Hey Bonkers...

I've been comparing my khukuris and still theorizing this "worker bhairab".

Basically what we are talking about is a modified Gelbu Special, in about the 21"-23" length category with a chiruwa handle and the hilt of a bhairab.

Yes, a hollow forged khuk (as is the GS) of identical blade shape as the Bhariab's having a Chiruwa handle.

IMO I don't think we should specialize it any more than this. Let's keep it simple. No copper inlay on the blade. The guard should be plain; no carvings or embellishment. Just a simple curved brass guard shaped similar to that seen on the bhairab and it doesn't necessarily need to be so robust either.

The lion-head pommel is groovy, but on a smaller lighter version it wouldn't be necessary. The extra steel in the handle of a chiruwa style khukuri provides just enough extra weight to balance it out, and remember we are not trying to balance a 5 lb beast here. It should be under 3 lbs.

I've considered other blade forms and I think the Gelbu Special is exactly what we are looking for as the basis for this project. It's geometry and dimensions are just about right.

The 'lion-head' is I believe the figure of Bhairab, he is the fierce manifestation of Shiva associated with annihilation. He is one of the most important deities of Nepal, sacred to Hindus and Buddhists alike. Link.

And I agree that in a less than 3pound 21-23inch oal length Khuk with a brass guard as well as the chiruwa handle it is not needed. :thumbup:

I've considered other blade forms and I think the Gelbu Special is exactly what we are looking for as the basis for this project. It's geometry and dimensions are just about right.

I'm in 100% agreement.

So do we both email Yangdu when she returns from this weekends wedding or do we send her a link to this thread and hope for a positive comment about requesting the Kami's to make just such a Khuk?

 

[Wolf_1989]

Well then, perhaps we shouldn't call it a 'bhairab' then.

It wasn't too long ago on here I saw a khukuri made by Sher which had an S shaped crossguard. This modified Gelbu wouldn't be too different. I'm still not entirely decided whether this would need a chiruwa tang because Gelbu's tend to be relatively lightweight.

... which is one of the reasons a 20"+ Gelbu is at the top of my Want List. I like the design. I like the concept. I need to handle and use one personally.

 

[Yvsa]

Yes, a hollow forged khuk (as is the GS) of identical blade shape as the Bhariab's having a Chiruwa handle.

The 'lion-head' is I believe the figure of Bhairab, he is the fierce manifestation of Shiva associated with annihilation. He is one of the most important deities of Nepal, sacred to Hindus and Buddhists alike. Link.

And I agree that in a less than 3pound 21-23inch oal length Khuk with a brass guard as well as the chiruwa handle it is not needed.

I'm in 100% agreement.

So do we both email Yangdu when she returns from this weekends wedding or do we send her a link to this thread and hope for a positive comment about requesting the Kami's to make just such a Khuk?

Wolf & Bonkers, not trying to discourage y'all here but it seems when the kamis try to go longer and lighter in weight there's almost always a problem of some sort.
Check the history of the 18" Foxy Folly and how many were made until it was deemed correctly executed and ready for sale.



.

 

[b.c.molin]

Wolf & Bonkers, not trying to discourage y'all here but it seems when the kamis try to go longer and lighter in weight there's almost always a problem of some sort.
Check the history of the 18" Foxy Folly and how many were made until it was deemed correctly executed and ready for sale.



.

Yvsa, I appreciate your sage advice.

I seem to recall that the 17inch Foxy Folly went something like this:
* 2 prototypes;
* 17inch Foxy Folly Fighter;
* 17inch Faux Foxy Folly (5 made by Sher with brass habaki bolster in June 2005...I brought 'Big Bob's' example which was a replacement for his broken Foxy Folly Fighter);
* 17inch Foxy Folly with white metal bolster as original specifications; these came out in batches which went to the members who had paid in advance;
* regular 17inch FF production upto when "Western" style grip was introduced.
* 17inch Foxy Folly with traditional grip to be re-introduced in 2009? Or something different next??? Which is why I brought used...

Were Wolf and me to suggest a GS/Bhairab hybrid I sure we would face similar struggles as with the 17inch FF. But the final result sure could be interesting?

 

[Yvsa]

Yvsa, I appreciate your sage advice.

I seem to recall that the 17inch Foxy Folly went something like this:
* 2 prototypes;
* 17inch Foxy Folly Fighter;
* 17inch Faux Foxy Folly (5 made by Sher with brass habaki bolster in June 2005...I brought 'Big Bob's' example which was a replacement for his broken Foxy Folly Fighter);
* 17inch Foxy Folly with white metal bolster as original specifications; these came out in batches which went to the members who had paid in advance;
* regular 17inch FF production upto when "Western" style grip was introduced.
* 17inch Foxy Folly with traditional grip to be re-introduced in 2009? Or something different next??? Which is why I brought used...

Were Wolf and me to suggest a GS/Bhairab hybrid I sure we would face similar struggles as with the 17inch FF. But the final result sure could be interesting?

Trouble is though was HI lost money on the 17" FF IIRC.
I'm not saying it won't work but a more standard/familiar weight/length ratio to start with would more likely be able to come to fruition first and make HI a little profit so as to further help the kamis and everyone else in Nepal.:thumbup:

 

[Wolf_1989]

Right, which is what I'm getting at.

We need to keep this simple. The best way is to modify an already-existing pattern. Something the kamis have made regularly for years. In this case it is a Gelbu Special, but having a guard similar to the Bhairab. We are theorizing a smaller, lighter 'working' version.

What we today call the Bhairab Khukuri on the H.I. forum was once called a Kopis in ancient Greece. The Kopis/Machaera/Falcata was europe's cousin to the khukuri.

A 21" or so Gelbu is at the top of my list for future H.I. acquisitions. It intrigues me because... as I see it, my favorite, the chitlangi is halfway between the sirupati and the ang khola. I think a Gelbu would be the halfway point between the chitlangi and the sirupati. I don't know this for a fact - yet - but I definitely want one and I have yet to be displeased with anything I have bought from BirGorka crew.

So... take that, and add a simple bhairab-style guard, and we might have a real practical user version. It wouldn't be a true bhairab but it would fill that niche and it would in reality be a khukuri/kopis hybrid. Kinda groovy.

 

[b.c.molin]

...but a more standard/familiar weight/length ratio to start with would more likely be able to come to fruition first and make HI a little profit...

Very valid and valuable points you make, Yvsa, and I see the wisdom in following them.

We need to keep this simple. The best way is to modify an already-existing pattern. Something the kamis have made regularly for years. In this case it is a Gelbu Special, but having a guard similar to the Bhairab. We are theorizing a smaller, lighter 'working' version.

I think a Gelbu would be the halfway point between the chitlangi and the sirupati. I don't know this for a fact - yet - but I definitely want one and I have yet to be displeased with anything I have bought from BirGorka crew.

So... take that, and add a simple bhairab-style guard, and we might have a real practical user version. It wouldn't be a true bhairab but it would fill that niche and it would in reality be a khukuri/kopis hybrid. Kinda groovy.

Very groovy indeed.:thumbup:

Maybe if an 'upfront' payment was made for the production of two Gelbu/Bhairab Hybrids it could be a 'win-win' situation with Wolf & myself getting our GBH (grievous bodily harm) khuk's and HI turning over a small profit?

 

[Wolf_1989]

Yeah what I'm talking about is keeping the Gelbu Special blade as it is; no changes. No unnecessary tinkering with it. Just leave it as it is. Leave the handle as it is too. Just add a smaller single brass guard to it in the same form of application as what we see on the bhairab.

If I ever need to replace a handle on one of my khukuris, that's the type I'm going to make anyway. It's just too good.

 

[b.c.molin]

...what I'm talking about is keeping the Gelbu Special blade as it is ...Just add a smaller single brass guard to it in the same form of application as what we see on the bhairab.

Sorry for been so s-l-o-w to understand your thoughts.

In my vision the GBH would be a hollow ground Bhairab blade shape with a guard with a chiruwa style grip which I feel would give a handle weighted balance to a 23inch/32ounce khuk.

It sure has been both insightful and fun and working through the design concepts in such an open way with the input from others rather than being alone with my thoughts.

Thanks to all for the experience whatever the outcome.:thumbup:

 

[Wolf_1989]

I originally thought of it having a chiruwa handle.

But on second thought after studying the khukuris in my collection, I thought against it for two reasons:

- a gelbu special is supposed to be somewhat lightweight
- the brass guard would add some extra weight to the rear

Strength-wise, H.I. khukuris really don't *need* chiruwa handles. The standard internal tangs are nearly as wide as the blade is near the bolster and plenty strong. When I had the Battle Chitlangi made, I had it made with the chiruwa handle; not for extra durability, but to add some extra weight to the rear of the khukuri to help balance out that heavy 17.5" blade... and it did. Something a little smaller and lighter really wouldn't need that feature.