- Joined
- Oct 2, 1998
- Messages
- 45,043
Reuters:Miami, FL
The Center For Disease Control in Atlanta is urging the public to remain calm in the face of a particularly virulent outbreak of HIKV in South Florida.....Further details follow.
Okay, you get the idea.
So....Anyway, thought I'd share my latest goodie package from Reno with you other poor bast..., I mean forumites.
First is a Tibetan Thee, the desire for which came after seeing a nice pic of an older one in Howard Wallace's FAQ last week.
Here's a picture of the one I got:
According to our good Uncle:
"The one I have is beautiful, silver scabbard and handle, as it should be, adorned with turquoise and coral. This knife was made by a Tibetan kami (they are not called kami in native language but I forget what they are called) in the Boudanath temple complex."
Well, who can resist such a description?
Obviously not I.
The piece arrived today and did not disappoint. It's about 14 inches OAL, with a blade just over 9 inches. The steel is unknown. It feels quite light, but then I've been playing with khukuris. Interesting filigree and images adorn the scabbard. I can make out a serpent, a deer, and some other images I don't know the meaning of.
Only "negative" is that the way the knife is constructed, there is a bit of play in the blade where the tang enters the handle. I've read the same thing about other Tibetan Thees offered for sale online. A small wooden shim can be placed in the opening on either side of the blade stopping the movement completely, and maybe some day I'll fashion one to do so.
The blade came pretty sharp and I think this will be a nice piece to just contemplate and enjoy while sitting around the hacienda. Brings images of far away places and my days (many moons ago) at a NY Zendo.
Item two is the following:
This was supposed to be an 18" WWII blem, but our diabolical Uncle, wanting to make sure that I needed (several) other khuks for my burgeoning collection sent me a 16.5" version "by accident".
Knowing full well that once I held it in my hand it wouldn't be returned (he was right), Uncle Bill sent me a nice piece made by Prakash. I'll say one thing for it, blem or not, it had the sharpest blade out of the box of the three khukuris I now own. (Or own me.
) Also the straightest blade when you sight down the edge or spine.
(A couple of small minor black oxide patches on blade and spine, and a possible future crack in the handle, (it's not there now), are what make this khuk a blem.)
The chakma and karda are poorly matched to one another and the chakma has a large section repaired with some sort of filler, but the karda actually has close to a serviceable edge.
The WWII fits my hand well and feels quite good. I prefer it to the feel of my BAS, both of which come in at a hair under 1/2" across the spine. It doesn't replace the 18.5" Kumar Kobra for that very special feel in the hand though.
I'm glad in a way I got the 16.5" WWII because (correct me if I am wrong) it's closer in size and fashion to the ones actually carried during the war. Holding it in my hand evokes certain images.
That sense of tradition means something to me. Though I am not a military veteran, I am a long time law enforcement officer and former SRT member. I feel a strong kinship with those who served a noble cause with arms.
So, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
I'll try not to cough too much so I don't spread the HIKV further and faster than it's apt to go on its own.
All the best,
Blues
------------------
Live Free or Die
Some Knife Pix
[This message has been edited by Blues (edited 05-19-2000).]
The Center For Disease Control in Atlanta is urging the public to remain calm in the face of a particularly virulent outbreak of HIKV in South Florida.....Further details follow.
Okay, you get the idea.
So....Anyway, thought I'd share my latest goodie package from Reno with you other poor bast..., I mean forumites.
First is a Tibetan Thee, the desire for which came after seeing a nice pic of an older one in Howard Wallace's FAQ last week.
Here's a picture of the one I got:
According to our good Uncle:
"The one I have is beautiful, silver scabbard and handle, as it should be, adorned with turquoise and coral. This knife was made by a Tibetan kami (they are not called kami in native language but I forget what they are called) in the Boudanath temple complex."
Well, who can resist such a description?
Obviously not I.
The piece arrived today and did not disappoint. It's about 14 inches OAL, with a blade just over 9 inches. The steel is unknown. It feels quite light, but then I've been playing with khukuris. Interesting filigree and images adorn the scabbard. I can make out a serpent, a deer, and some other images I don't know the meaning of.
Only "negative" is that the way the knife is constructed, there is a bit of play in the blade where the tang enters the handle. I've read the same thing about other Tibetan Thees offered for sale online. A small wooden shim can be placed in the opening on either side of the blade stopping the movement completely, and maybe some day I'll fashion one to do so.
The blade came pretty sharp and I think this will be a nice piece to just contemplate and enjoy while sitting around the hacienda. Brings images of far away places and my days (many moons ago) at a NY Zendo.
Item two is the following:
This was supposed to be an 18" WWII blem, but our diabolical Uncle, wanting to make sure that I needed (several) other khuks for my burgeoning collection sent me a 16.5" version "by accident".
Knowing full well that once I held it in my hand it wouldn't be returned (he was right), Uncle Bill sent me a nice piece made by Prakash. I'll say one thing for it, blem or not, it had the sharpest blade out of the box of the three khukuris I now own. (Or own me.
(A couple of small minor black oxide patches on blade and spine, and a possible future crack in the handle, (it's not there now), are what make this khuk a blem.)
The chakma and karda are poorly matched to one another and the chakma has a large section repaired with some sort of filler, but the karda actually has close to a serviceable edge.
The WWII fits my hand well and feels quite good. I prefer it to the feel of my BAS, both of which come in at a hair under 1/2" across the spine. It doesn't replace the 18.5" Kumar Kobra for that very special feel in the hand though.
I'm glad in a way I got the 16.5" WWII because (correct me if I am wrong) it's closer in size and fashion to the ones actually carried during the war. Holding it in my hand evokes certain images.
That sense of tradition means something to me. Though I am not a military veteran, I am a long time law enforcement officer and former SRT member. I feel a strong kinship with those who served a noble cause with arms.
So, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
I'll try not to cough too much so I don't spread the HIKV further and faster than it's apt to go on its own.
All the best,
Blues
------------------
Live Free or Die
Some Knife Pix
[This message has been edited by Blues (edited 05-19-2000).]
