Boys, meet a couple of true master kamis.

Bill Martino · Jul 26, 1999

<img src = "http://members.aol.com/yangduspag/pict41.jpg">
[11/1/2023 Edit - Uploaded copy of original picture to current server - HW]

We have just talked about master kamis in the thread relating to that. Now here are a couple in the flesh.

The old kami is 80. The "young" one is 70.
This about that. The old kami has about 75 years experience! And notice they both smoke cigarettes. I would be in good company.

Incredibly, Gelbu did not send their names but I have that knife the old master has in his hand! I got it along with some other village models that Gelbu picked up on his journey.

Gelbu was in the Taplejung area which is heavily populated by Rai and Limbu people and their khukuri of choice is the Sirupati so we got more of those than anything else. They call the horn handled Sirupati a "Himali Sirupati" in that part of Nepal and we have some. I'll be posting pix of knives and a couple more pix of kamis tomorrow so stay tuned. Fun time!

Now I am ready for my Heineken.

Uncle Bill

Bill Martino · Jul 27, 1999

Did anybody see these old timers?

Uncle Bill

Brian C · Jul 27, 1999

Sure did see them, Bill. That looks like one big blade in the old kami's hand. I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of the pictures including those of the villagers Gelbu picked up.

You can be quite a tease... posting these initial pics and then keeping us waiting for the rest.

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Cheers,

--+Brian+--

RUDY · Jul 28, 1999

I didn't see them the first time I entered the thread but they were here this time. Like Brian I will be looking forward to the rest. Thanks for posting them Uncle.

thanks and take care
collin

Bill Martino · Jul 28, 1999

OK. I thought they might have gotten lost in the shuffle.

Uncle Bill

Bob Irons · Jul 28, 1999

Thanks for a look at the true master kamis Bill.

Looking forward to more pictures!

P.S.

I'll bet you enjoy posting pictures of these older master kamis because they make you look young!

Bill Martino · Jul 28, 1999

Bob, they actually look younger than me!

Uncle Bill

John Powell · Jul 27, 1999

Great pictures Uncle, but you must tell us more about the khukuri that is in the picture.
Is it as huge as it looks, and what about its' handle, scabbard, small knives, etc.
I see the cigarettes but where is the 'raksi'? Or no drinking on the job?

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JP

Bill Martino · Jul 27, 1999

John, that is a pretty big knife -- 21 inches about and two pounds. I am seriously considering keeping this one for my collection.

Uncle Bill

Yvsa · Jul 27, 1999

:
It is nice to know that Uncle also suffers from HIKV. His must be a classic case as I believe he has had it longer than any of us here.

Uncle certainly has a good eye for Kuhkuris. Would that be Kuhkriitis??
Don't forget that pretty little Ivory Handled one John.

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>>>>---¥vsa---->®
The civilized man sleeps behind locked doors in the city while the naked savage sleeps (with a knife) in a open hut in the jungle.

Bill Martino · Jul 27, 1999

Yvsa, I don't know that old kami -- never had the pleasure of meeting him -- but I have his knife and the number he has left in him are limited since he's 80. I want to get his name, put his pix with the knife and stick it under the bed for the dust bunnies.

That old kami is one who could make you a lock and key that would work non-stop for 100 years. They are truly Nepal's national treasure and there are damned few of them left. That khukuri has great sentimental value to me -- worth much more than what the knife would bring on the open market.

Uncle Bill

JAY H · Jul 27, 1999

Great pictures uncle! --- I like the looks of that khukuri too. Wonder what the handle is made of.

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Bill Martino · Jul 27, 1999

It's a black horn handle, Jay. Great knife by a great old kami.

Uncle Bill

Will Kwan · Jul 27, 1999

These guys are well preserved. Its amazing that the hard life of a kami would not show more.

Will

Yvsa · Jul 27, 1999

:
I would keep the Kuhkuri too. Some people will sell anything,most times for too little.
You truly have a discerning eye for worth in more ways than one.

I hope that you can get his name and put it wth his pic and Kuhkuri.
Better than that I hope the next person who comes in possesion of it appreciates it in the same way you do. It is kind of like the pic I have of the worlds most beautiful woman.

------------------

>>>>---¥vsa---->®
The civilized man sleeps behind locked doors in the city while the naked savage sleeps (with a knife) in a open hut in the jungle.

Howard Wallace · Jul 28, 1999

Chandan handled khukuris, ivory handled khukuris, large magical blades from ancient masters...

Bill, you're going to need to get a bigger bed soon!

Bill Martino · Jul 29, 1999

Howard, I know now with absolute certainty that you have been to Nepal and some of that land and its mystique is still with you.

Many may have a hard time believing this but I called Gelbu last night for more info about this old kami and I will be posting a story about that "large magical blade" that he made for me and is sending. It is a great and wonderful story -- and funny -- and I'm sure everybody will get a huge kick out of it. I know I did!

Uncle Bill

gtkguy · Jul 28, 1999

Uncle Bill,

These are really nice pictures - they tell quite a story, don't they? Was this taken inside shop 2? That big khukuri in the picture is really neat. Now, am I mistaken, or does this khukuri have a uniformly-curved spine rather than the usual sharp-curved shoulder spine (am I making sense here???)

Looking forward to learning their names and some more pictures

- Sonam

Bill Martino · Jul 28, 1999

Sonam this picture is the shop of the old kami. It is near the village of Udaipur down in SE Nepal. The village cannot be reached by road and travellers must ford a stream of fair size to reach it. Gelbu sent a pix of himself wading waist deep across the stream.

The khukuri in the pix does have a curved rather than angled spine and it is not the one I got. I was wrong and Gelbu corrected me.

Uncle Bill

gtkguy · Jul 28, 1999

Aaaah! Curved spine, you say! Now, a good, traditional curved-spine khukuri (not to be mistaken for an AK) like the one in the picture is something you hardly ever see nowadays - isn't that so, John Powell? (I'm not counting the ones by CS, they're a bit too modernistic-lookin' for my taste). Judging by the old pictures in my books, I'd venture a guess (correct me if I'm wrong, John) that this style of khukuri was quite frequently carried by Gurkha soldiers during WW1 and before - Frontier Campaigns in NW India, Afghanistan, the Indian Mutiny, etc.

Guys, I think we need to convince Uncle Bill that he needs to add this model to his line too!

Or, if that's not possible, maybe grab a few good ones for the "discerning connoisseur" among us, eh!

- Sonam

[This message has been edited by gtkguy (edited 28 July 1999).]