Frog Design On 25 Inchers

Big Bob

Big Bob

Joined
Oct 13, 1999
Messages
1,731
I touched on this subject a while back, but I'm interested in the frog fit for the 25" (Sirupati, Kobra) khuks. Those of you who have 25" khuks, how are the frogs fitted? Are they usually attached near the scabbard mouth, or more at the center? If they're fitted near the mouth, are the belt loops very long? Which style of fitting would anyone consider the best? I plan on ordering a 25 incher soon and want the best possible frog design without having to mess with it.

Bob
 
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Wish I could help, but I don't have any that long.

Bob what do have in mind?
Are you gonna carry it on your waist belt?
I remember something about your question before, but mostly just that you had asked.

If I had one that long and tried to wear it on my waist belt it would probably drag the ground.
eek.gif



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>>>>---¥vsa---->®

Each person's work is always a portrait of himself.

---- Samuel Butler.

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:
Well I was thinking Sirupati/Kobra and forgot about the Bura
27" Banspati and the shorter 21" Millinnieum Special until I went looking for something else.

Both of these have the frogs about 1 1/4"-1 1/2" down from the mouth and the loop about the same above the mouth. They both seem to "hang" alright, but I haven't had either one on a belt.
Bob if you think it will help I will put them both on (one at a time of course.
smile.gif
) and let you know what I can.


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>>>>---¥vsa---->®

Each person's work is always a portrait of himself.

---- Samuel Butler.

Khukuri FAQ
Himalayan Imports Website
 
Yvsa, I plan on wearing it on my waist belt. My 18" WWII's frog is fitted only 5/8" from the mouth and the belt loop extends 4 3/8" past the mouth. The frogs on your Banspati and Millienum seem more centered, so please try them on if its not too much trouble.

Bob
 
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Bob I tried them both on and this is what I found.
The MS works nicely on both right & left sides. And if I was going to wear one this size for a period of time it would be on the left for a cross draw to make it easier.
It didn't hit the back of my leg when walking.
However the 27" Banspati is a different story whether due to its weight or length I don't know, but it hits the back of my leg on the left side. The right side was okay if worn about the middle of my hip.

There is a cure for your problem though.
I don't know how many khukuris you have or whether you've noticed but on some of the scabbards there is a thin strip of leather wrapped around the scabbard just above the
frog.
For a time I didn't understand the reasoning, but it's there to keep the frog from going any further towards the mouth of the
scabbard.
These usually have one or two small nails to hold it in place.
You could do the same with a thin piece of leather or perhaps even a string tied tightly above the
frog.
The frog and weight of the rig should keep it from slipping okay without permanently afixing it to the scabbard.
That way you could actually adjust the frog to where ever you want it to ride.
Hope this helps.
smile.gif



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>>>>---¥vsa---->®

Each person's work is always a portrait of himself.

---- Samuel Butler.

Khukuri FAQ
Himalayan Imports Website



[This message has been edited by Yvsa (edited 01-05-2001).]
 
Thanks for your help, Yvsa. None of my khuks have the leather strip, but thanks for the tip anyway.

Bob
 
A military web belt worn higher up might prevent the longer khukuri's from hitting the back of you leg.

I bought the material to make up a cordura belt to take the weight of my heavier khukuri's but have not gotten around to doing it. The buckles and adjustment fittings are easy to work with.

Will
 
I do have a web belt that a cousin of mine gave me. I've worn it with a khukuri before and liked it because I could adjust the khukuri easily. I hadn't given it much thought until now.

Bob
 
I just recently got my 30 inch Kobra, so I can sympathize with carry and blade length.

I'm a pretty short guy (5'2"), and a dashing swordsman besides. I've always run into problems with sword carry and placement. What works for me, since it has so many applications for different swords, is a baldric. You hang it from you opposite shoulder, you can secure it to your waist at the same time, it adjusts for different length blades and styles, and it keeps them from flopping around your legs and hips.

Museum Replicas and other reenactor type companies carry them for about $50.

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Watakushi Wa Shinajin Desu
DeathDancer
 
Hey, DD!!!!! I'm 5'4".

My MRI Ravenna Sword comes in at 60", and my 48" DelTin 2143 hand-and-a-half left marks on the ceiling when I got carried away. But my 30" Sirupati's chape rides maybe 3" off the floor.

Talk about the Gods smiling on you, I had just watched "Braveheart" on VCR for the very first time, and was rewinding it, in a state of awe with the movie's weaponry, when that wonderful brown UPS truck stopped and dropped off the Ravenna, four feet of double-edged blade.

( I like to stand with it unsheathed, resting the tip on the floor, and barely hooking my nose over the pommel with my elbows on the crossguards and my hands clasped beneath the pommel - just being contemplative ).

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Bill, that's quite an interesting idea. I'm not sure if carrying a khuk horizontally would be awkward or not. Maybe our swordsmen could comment on the possibility/feasiblity. You might have something there, Uncle.

Bob

[This message has been edited by Big Bob (edited 01-08-2001).]
 
Two things that bother me about a horizontal carry, especially with Khukuris. Unless you are making up a special harness, horizontal carry very often gets in the way. Just like carrying a 6 inch revolver, you'd be suprised how your body reacts to something slightly out of its "field" of control. Also, the metal ends and the thickness of the scabbard are going to make it difficult to move and sit naturally through areas that require dexterity and balance. Think of that 6 inch revolver when you sit in a car or climb a rock.

The other thing I've noticed is that unleashing my blade quickly requires a little more thinking, because of all that length after the elbow. I actually make a two stage draw, out to the elbow, then let the wrist or hand drop slightly to complete the draw. Unless you plan on grabbing the scabbard with the other hand (not really a bad idea) and raising the mouth to get a better angle on the draw, or hunching over and dropping the shoulder to get a better angle, it slows everything down, might cause you to cut through the sheath, or make you loose control of the blade.

And that's if you can get it to hang properly. Then you gotta put the damn blade back into the scabbard.

Of course, if you're really tall or just use a shorter blade, I just might be full of!@#$%! Which is why "real" rapiers rarely exceded 36 inches in blade lenth.



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Watakushi Wa Shinajin Desu
DeathDancer
 
Rusty,

At one time a law was passed either by the French or Italian court (not sure if Royal Decree or Civil Law) which banned the use of Rapiers over 36 inches in length. It seems that everyone wanted the longer blades, either for prestige or "advantage" in a fight.

However, after much painstaking research, it was found that the longer blades were actually a hazard in daily living, since they tended to get in everyones way, tripped up the user when he was negotiating awkward places, and interferred with a lot of people. And it was also pretty difficult to weild a blade much longer with only one hand.

Of course, I am talking about the later Rapiers of the late 16th and early 17th century. A lot of earlier blades termed Rapiers are more properly "cut and thrust" swords.

IMHO


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Watakushi Wa Shinajin Desu
DeathDancer
 
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