Gelbu Vs Chitlangi

B

brantoken

Joined
Feb 6, 2004
Messages
303
Are the blades for the gelbu special and the chitlangi the same?
Any body got both and can you make out the differences? With indiviudal kami style It would seem to be a wash. I having trouble making the distinction between the two blades. Of course,
I realize that the handles are not the same.
 
Nope, not the same at all really.

The Gelbus are characterized with fullers, while only the larger Chitlangis have fullers.

Gelbus tend to have wider blades than Chitlangis.

Gelbus have very little blade decoration while Chitlangis have rather extensive decoration.

Gelbus tend to balance closer to the hand and as a result feel a bit more handy than Chitlangis of similar size, but only by a small amount. Chitlangis are very rapid blades.

Chitlangis tend to have shallower blade angles than Gelbus, but that can vary according to the Kami who crafts it.

The Kami crafting the piece makes a big difference. Kumar and Yadep (!) tend to make lighter pieces. Sher and Amtrak tend to be somewhat more beefy.

I'm very fond of almost all of the HI Khuks. My current all-around favorite is an 18" Gelbu by Kumar, but my favorite "War Sword" Khukuri is a 21" Chitlangi by Amtrak.

My most nicest feeling Khukuri is a 16" WWII by Kumar. My second favorite all-around Khuk is an 18" Sirupati by Kumar.

My most utilitarian Khukuri is a BAS by Yadep (!).

And I have a lot of affection for my 18" WWII by Bura, and I am kicking myself for selling an18" AK by Sher. Seemed like a good idea at the time but I do miss that beastly powerful Khuk (sad smile).

Don
 
I always thought I'd like a Chitalange but after handling both at the KHON, Gelbu is a much more sturdy blade.
 
Yup...GS is sturdy...but the Chit and Chain are *soooo* sexy! ;-)
 
Ah, the variety of kamis...I have a smaller Chitlangi that has a blade fuller and has much more mass than my same sized Gelbu Special--which has much shallower blade angle than the Chit. Variety is one of those things I do so love about khuks. :D
 
I have a 19" chitlangi by Kesar that weighs 24 or 25 oz, and cut down a 8" diameter pine. It is fullered.



Actually, it cut down the Empire State building but no one noticed so I just put it back the way I found it.



munk
 
That was *you* munk? I thought it was a building inspector putting it back together...
 
Here's an old pic of mine, both 21 inch, 28 oz. The chitlangi has two fullers vs one on the GS; otherwise the blades are nearly identical. Between these two, the GS is much more forward-weighted. Chitlangi "feels" lighter due to better balance.
 
Rag, I think the Chilangi's handle changes the balance too, though I couldn't say why.



munk
 
Thanks,

Looking at the two side by side does explain an bit. Just out of curosity, which Kami did the blades? Any body else got any pics?

I am confused by the fullers now, it was my understanding that both blades ( in both sizes) were fully fullered. So I guess , it is Kami dependant?

The older threads stated that the chitlangi was bulker than the gelbu, the new opinion is that the gelbu is bulkier. Does this reflect design change?

Also the the older thread seemed to indicate that the Chitlangi had more of an angle than the gelbu? It seems that the more current comments run just the opposite.

Or are the variations mentioned above , attributed to Kami?

heah munk , how many "chops" ( yeah for both )? :)

I like the expanded "pommel" , I believe that western swords have
a large round pommel added to help balance it, the added weight on the end brings the center of gravity(cg) back a bit. I know it makes swords handle quicker as it is better balanced in the hand ( swished a little air , here and there). For rapidly changing directions I'm thinking that the closer the CG is to the center of the hand the better. Should do the same with the chitlangi. I got to go now the drool is all over the desk( nice pics once again),
Now if I could just convince the wife that I need just one more.....
 
My 21" Chitlangi is now my "war sword" as well.

I think it's about the ideal length, light enough to be super fast, and heavy enough to hit powerfully. I love her. I liked my 18" Chit as well, but it was a much lighter, general purpose kuk.

John

HI Imports Kukri
 
raghorn said:
Here's an old pic of mine, both 21 inch, 28 oz. The chitlangi has two fullers vs one on the GS; otherwise the blades are nearly identical. Between these two, the GS is much more forward-weighted. Chitlangi "feels" lighter due to better balance.
Click to expand...

My 21" Chitlangi has a wider blade profile than yours, and is hugely more tip-heavy than my 18" Gelbu. I recognize that my GS is shorter by 3" with a corresponding amount of metal being absent as well, but I think if my same GS were stretched to 21" that it would be lighter feeling one - maybe - maybe not - I dunno (shrug)...........

It's a testament to the variability of the Kamis and their moods at the time of crafting.

I might have to get an 18" Chitlangi and a 21" Gelbu Special just so I can make a more objective comparison. :D

Don
 
My 18" has no fuller...still quick and businesslike though. I for one sure do appreciate the pics when they come up for adoption!
 
Inadvertently brought the referenced 2 year old thread back to life. Still don't remember what the nepali name of the style was prior to being called the Gelbu Special. Howard, please help!
 
Chops? Lots.

I wouldn't go too far on generalizing Gelbus vs Chits, old or new threads. Individual varience counts for more.



munk
 
I've had several hybrids... a Bura kobra that was probably conceived as a GS for example. It's impossible to generalize these things. <shrug>

Munk, I also think the handle difference affects the balance on these. I suspect if the handles were removed from the two in the picture, they'd balance identically.

Brantoken, both of the blades in my pic have long, deep fullers. They were made by Durba.
 
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