Does anyone know how HI khukuris' buttcaps and pommels are made?

Drdan

Drdan

Joined
Dec 24, 2003
Messages
1,390
Many U.S. knifemakers can simply go to a knifemaking supply company, and order brass pommels and buttcaps. These parts are then adapted to their knives, using power and hand tools to finish them. I would imagine that some bladesmiths also custom make their own furniture...

In Nepal, do the kamis themselves make the pommel and buttcap for each khukuri, or are there small batches made up of the furniture, which is used as needed? Are there specialized kamis or apprentices who just make the khukuri's furniture, or would Bura, Sher, et al., fashion the furniture as well as forge the blade?

The question intrigues me immensely, and I was unable to get any answers on the search engine of the forum's archives. Have any of the forumites ever been invited to BirGhorkha to observe the complete creation of an H.I. khukuri?

Thanks for the input, guys. :)
 
Did you read the data on the import home site?


I thought they hammered out the brass from supply. Maybe they get brass squares or sheets.





munk
 
Originally posted by munk
Did you read the data on the import home site?
I thought they hammered out the brass from supply. Maybe they get brass squares or sheets.
munk
Click to expand...

I was wondering if the furniture was made for each knife, custom made if you will... While the kami forging the blade is hammering away, is his assistant working on the formation of the furniture, or will the kami working on the blade get to that step in due time?

Thanks. :)
 
The Kamis make the handles.


How else can they know for sure the blade will stay put?

Y0u should read the import site. It's filled with data. I was reading there the other day learning things I never knew, remembering others.



munk
 
I did read the information on the HI website, but I can't find any specifics relating to the buttcap and pommel (other than the raw materials used), photos of same, or information as to the shaping of these items, and just who performs the work (apprentices or kami himself). I also read the information about Nara forging the blade, affixing the handle, etc. Is the harware cold hardened; are some special pieces, like those for the Chitlangi cast?
 
There are guys here who know. They'll come by and lay it on us.



Firkin, Ddean, Walosi, Yvsa, Bill, ...come to think of it, where is Firkin?



munk
 
I've seen the chit, and it is not cast. that is a hammerworked domed cap over an equally bulbous wood pommel. They true up the fit with Laha as needed.

Most thick looking buttcaps they do are made of sheet, with a thin sheet strip soldered around the oval one to give the illusion of thickness. On the HI falcatta, the bolster is made of sheets soldered and shaped to look like the originals. Keeps the weight don, thankfully (or on the flcatta there'd be like 2 pounds of brass!)

Keith
 
From the HI website:

"Since we make everything from a 9 inch to a 38 inch it's tough to generalize or average. Further, we have forgers who forge the blade and other people who make handles, still others who make bolsters and buttcaps and still more who make scabbards. Plus, we have to make the karda and chakma for each khukuri."
--Uncle Bill

Drdan-- don't know if you've seen it or not, but the HI website has some great info in the Kami Section.
--Josh
 
I've listened to Bill for a couple years now, and he also says things like: (paraphrased) "Kumar makes the best horn handles of all the kamis."

I've a Bura Chir AK and the karda and chakma match the mother blade so closely and finely I must believe it is by Bura. Another Billism: Bura makes some of the best Karda's and Chakmas." Maybe an apprentice does some of the work under watchful eye.

munk
 
Blame it all on Johan Van Zyl and John Powell. :rolleyes: Several posts have brought possibilites into light... That quality lion's head buttcap that John Powell showed us can potentially be a very nice feature, and with HI's signature on the blade, you know you're definitely not getting a tourist item... If it were made, even John Powell might be tempted to purchase one, and hide it somewhere among his collection. :D

If a thick buttcap with a an accurately rendered lion's head (not a pig's head; thank you, Uncle Bill) could be made, I would be VERY interested. I'm talking about something that could be used as a hammer if the proverbial chips were down. Not too heavy, but sustantial enough... I would be willing to finance the prototype, whether it be made by the lost wax process, or whatever, and let the fruits of the kamis' labors be shared by all of the purchasers of HI khukuris. A standard option if you will.

It would look formidible, be functional if called upon to be so, and indubitably, be a rare art form, which would only highten another beautiful artform; the khukuri itself. A super qualified Nepali metal craftsman or jeweler could fashion the prototype out of wood or metal, or even wax...

I know, I know, and I will not listen to reason... I am smitten by HIKV, and there is no way out! :)

Please be gentle with your criticisms, and enthusiastic with your support.:D Yvsa--you had a few really nice custom modifications that were spectacular, and readily accepted by forumites, thus adding to the artform, and HI's magic. I very much support the artform and HI, and wish both the utmost in this very luring hobby.

Thanks!
 
Originally posted by Josh Feltman
From the HI website: still others who make bolsters and buttcaps
Click to expand...


So there are specialists! That opens so many wonderful potential possibilities for the hobby. Think about it. :)
 
DrDan

So there are specialists!
Click to expand...

Not really.:p

Dan the bolsters and buttcaps are made by the kami making the khukuri the way I have always understood things to be. Each one does have to be somewhat custom fitted to the knife it goes on.
Steel, brass, silver or whatever the kami makes it for his khuk or perhaps gets someone else to make it to custom fit.
Bura is the master of the brass handle and cuts his parts out "by eye" and fits them so damned beautifully that you cannot see the seams!!!!:p :D

We have all expressed interest in the Sherpa Khukuri with the heavy pommel. Actually the -Only- khuk I think that does come with a pommel. The rest are too thin to be considered pommels, even the ones that appear to be thicker, as has been mentioned they are pieces soldered together.
The sides of the old ones from Shop-1 were scrolled on the side.
We Do Not want that style back. Yeah, they're pretty but a real pain in the hand and can't be modified.:(
 
Each one does have to be somewhat custom fitted to the knife it goes on. Steel, brass, silver or whatever the kami makes it for his khuk or perhaps gets someone else to make it to custom fit. Bura is the master of the brass handle and cuts his parts out "by eye" and fits them so damned beautifully that you cannot see the seams!!!! We have all expressed interest in the Sherpa Khukuri with the heavy pommel. Actually the -Only- khuk I think that does come with a pommel. The sides of the old ones from Shop-1 were scrolled on the side. We Do Not want that style back. Yeah, they're pretty but a real pain in the hand and can't be modified.
Click to expand...


Thanks, Yvsa; this answered many of my questions. Now you've got me thinking about asking for a "Sherpa Khukuri type pommel" on another model khukuri's handle. It would give any khukuri another dimension in its effectiveness and functionality. The only problem would be twisting a certain individual's arm until he says, "Uncle." :D

I need to consult more with HI's veteran forumites; you seem to be very effective in getting some really nice stuff custom made, and some real classics are out there now, being pampered by the fortunate owners. By the way, Yvsa... Do you like the look of a lion's head on the buttcap, provising it is REALLY artistically executed?

Thanks again for the great input; it's very much appreciated. :)
 
Originally posted by Drdan
Thanks, Yvsa; this answered many of my questions.

:D

1- Now you've got me thinking about asking for a "Sherpa Khukuri type pommel" on another model khukuri's handle.

2- By the way, Yvsa... Do you like the look of a lion's head on the buttcap, provising it is REALLY artistically executed?
Click to expand...

1- Dan the Sherpa khuk has been a pain in the arse for many of us for a very long time. IIRC the kami that made it has walked West, passed one to you non-ndns, and there's none available to use as a model so no one knows for sure what it is exactly like.:(

2- I suppose it would be alright, but I like the idea of an engraved butcap such as what you were thinking about on the Chitlangi.
The Newari carvers have talent beyond belief!!!!:D

Also if you want to embelish a khukuri is the option of having the handles inlaid with many different materials in beautiful patterns.
There's no telling what is available for this until you ask and this info you would have to get directly from Bill himself.
IIRC John Powell has had handles made from drawings, but I believe these were just plain handles with no embellishments.
 
--"munk, you stay out of this; I see you're quite prolific this evening (afternoon)-- drdan

Not sure how to take this, drdan. You asked a question and I told you what Yvsa later confirmed. If it conflicted with your presumptions it may have been inconvenient, but I can't see how my posting on a public forum is any of your business or interfered with any other forumites rights.

You posted a happy face at the end of this remarkable request and I tried to see it as a friendly gesture. Until I asked myself if I ever had the need to tell another poster to be quiet.

Now, I may have this all wrong, but I figured if I didn't call you on it now there's no telling what future requests you might bring.








munk
 
There's little information concerning just what is possible, and I want to have some real shocker stuff made. I definitely like the Chitlangi (read, BIG TIME), and a carved buttcap, which would compliment the Sword of Shiva engraving on the blade, and crosshatch pattern on the handle and pommel would be very desireable. I realise that custom orders are not Uncle Bill's favorite type of requests, but if possible, I'd like to explore what is possible. It would be great to have a special order area on the HI website, to deal with perfectionists and those seriously affected by HIKV. How about 18 kt. gold buttcaps with a pave of fancy vivid pink Argyle mine diamonds? Talk about a Kothimoda. :D
 
You got me thinking of many possibilities, and I tried to accumulate as much information as possible based on one of your posts. It would hardly be my modus operandi to be anything less than polite, and I'm sorry if you "read" my post as being rude. :eek: Definitely was not intended.
 
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