??? by Tirtha

J W Bensinger · Jan 5, 2014

Weekend snag from the Interweb- seller said it's an ang khola but it looks loke a wood handled Brit service. Just had to.

ndoghouse · Jan 5, 2014

Tirtha for sure! Good snag and good price JW! I almost snagged that this morning! I do believe your right BAS! I thought something about it was odd. Ornate fullers and no chirras. Nice wood! Nice C&K too! Congrats!

J W Bensinger said:
View attachment 405324
Weekend snag from the Interweb- seller said it's an ang khola but it looks loke a wood handled Brit service. Just had to.

Bawanna · Jan 5, 2014

Yup Tirtha for sure. Brit service, I couldn't say.

J W Bensinger · Jan 5, 2014

We'll see soon enough if it's an ang khola- with the shadows I can't tell.
Any 15" HI is a score- i wonder if it's a constrained pic and it's a siru. It has the brass inlay...

ndoghouse · Jan 5, 2014

Ha! Whatever you haggled for you got a good deal! I cant see the deep back fullers at all. Kind of hard to hide them even in a bad photo. Im saying you got a BAS:thumbup:

J W Bensinger said:
We'll see soon enough if it's an ang khola- with the shadows I can't tell.
Actually did some haggling...I'm a bad man

Karda · Jan 5, 2014

Picture is hard to tell. Not sure if the Back-Hollow is there or not.
Ang-Khola generally does not have an ornate Aunlo-Bal.
British Army Service has ornate Aunlo-Bal.
WWII model is not supposed to have the ornate Aunlo-Bal.
Although it wouldn't surprise me if the kami put an ornate Aunlo-Bal on a WWII just to keep us on our toes and make things confusing.

My opinion is that you have a BAS.

J W Bensinger · Jan 5, 2014

Thanks Karda! That was my guess but the wood threw me a bit. Looking forward to it getting here.
Already started selling off the FMA research collection to finance my newfound and Gelbu Special induced HI addiction.
And it takes a lot to get me hooked on somebody else's fixed blades. Glad to be a part of this crew and the HI endeavor.

ndoghouse · Jan 5, 2014

Had to look that one up.

Originally Posted by Uncle Bill, Pala and John Powell
Aunlo Bal - the small fuller or groove often found along part of the upper spine. sometimes also known as a 'blood-groove' or 'the Sword of Shiva' (origin uncertain).
Other terms used include: "pwankh (the 'feather'), rato karang ('red rib'...from when they used lac to highlight a design rather than using a real fuller), aunlo bal ('finger of strength/force/energy') and others I couldn't even get them to translate". -John Powell
"If the scrollwork and inlay in the Sword of Shiva had any meaning it has been lost in time. The scrollwork and inlay are the "khukuri system" which has been around forever". -Kami Sherpa
"Years ago the scrollwork was etched in by the kamis before the blade was hardened. Later some smart kami made a die so he could punch in the scrollwork and that's how it is done today. It is usually done after the blade is hardened. The brass inlay would not hold up to the heat". -Bill Martino

philllll · Jan 5, 2014

Nice catch. I was thinking a BAS or an unusually fat Sirupati.

Steve Tall · Jan 5, 2014

J W Bensinger said:
...
Already started selling off the FMA research collection to finance my newfound and Gelbu Special induced HI addiction.
And it takes a lot to get me hooked on somebody else's fixed blades. Glad to be a part of this crew and the HI endeavor.

With the outstanding work that you do, it's great to see you becoming a fan of HI. I've noticed other knifemakers also buying khukuris, etc., from Himalayan Imports, which is quite the testimonial about the value and quality of HI knives.