Gurkha Steel

Jaeger

Jaeger

Joined
Feb 27, 1999
Messages
543

Craig, let me be the first to congratulate you on a job well done! The video is fantastic! I've watched it twice since the UPS truck dropped it off yesterday and it is facinating!
Anyone who is even remotely interested in khukuris (or any knives for that matter) owes it to themselves to watch it. It gives me a whole new appreciation for the khuks that I own.
I was especially impressed with the construction of the polishing wheel. Truely amazing.
What exactly is the gentleman who is pictured during the ending credits doing? I know he's lighting a cigarette but it's hard to see exactly how. What type of khuk does he have stuck in his sash?
 
Jaeger,
Maybe my copy will get here today-can't stand the waiting. When Craig came back from Nepal he wrote:
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">There's also footage on the video of Ram Bahadur using the chakmak to light a cigarette! (Ram is one of the older bishwakarmas).</font>
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Is that the part you're asking about?
Berk
 
Yes, Jaeger and Berk, he is lighting his cigarette in the ancient Nepali way
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That khukuri is a gangawal - the ones we offer don't have the colored decorations, but . . . they could!
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Berk: Yours went out the same day as everybody's did, so you should have it by today.

Thanks for the feedback on the video - it took us six months of heavy editing sessions, so we're pretty proud of it. And Marya did the "power intro" and the credits by herself - and her talent really shows.

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Craig Gottlieb
Gurkha House
Blade Forums Sponsor
 
You guys really outdid youselves. You'll have the Discovery Channel knocking on your door soon!

I could see that he is striking a spark with the back of a karda and (I presume) a piece of flint but what is the white powdery stuff and how is he catching and holding the ember?
I thought that was a gangawal!
 
VERY WELL DONE, Craig! The movie answers a thousand questions. Like you said, I see something new every time. You've given me volumes of understanding and new insight and outlook that has changed the way I look at and feel about the khukuri. This is such a HUGE contribution to the knife community, and I offer my humble thanks to you and Marya.
 
Lt Dan: Thanks for the "thanks" - we are really happy you all are enjoying the video. As for the cigarette scenario, he's using a bit of cotton and a piece of flint. The cotton catches the spark, he blows on it, and then lights his cigarette! Amazing!

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Craig Gottlieb
Gurkha House
Blade Forums Sponsor
 
Craig,
Let me join with the others in adding my thanks for such a truly outstanding work of documentary filmmaking. I am absolutely blown away by my first viewing, and am going back to watch it again as soon as I type this. Any khukuri nut who doesn't get this video is missing an incredibly informative and enjoyable experience. Two thumbs up, four stars!
Seasons Greetings to you and Marya and all the forumites.
Berk
 
Excellent Craig and Marya! Definately my pick for best movie of 2000. I second everything everyone above said. Only thing I missed was the part about using the chakmak. Could this mean a sequel? At the risk of being redundant I have a whole new appreciation for my khuks and admiration for what the Bishwakarmas do. Congrats Craig and Marya on a job well done.
 
Yes, there'll be a sequel. In order to keep the tape under an hour (relevant for production of the tapes), we had to leave out about an hour worth of stuff. Included in the next volume will be all sorts of handle-making techinques (Especially the metal handles), chakmak and karda making, kothimora making, blade engraving, more interviews, and the puja. Release time is about 6 or 7 months.

Take care!

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Craig Gottlieb
Gurkha House
Blade Forums Sponsor
 
I don`t quite understand you CPT. You can get 6 hrs., now 8 on a tape. Why leave anything out?
 
First, it's CAPT, not CPT, you army puke!
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(just kidding, I know FNG has squashed smaller bugs than me for fun).

Second, you should know I'm a money loving greedy ba--tard (read the forums!). Why would I pass up an opportunity to make double the money!!!! Just kidding. We did the two volume thing because there wasn't time to release the whole thing and have it ready for Christmas. I didn't want the project to linger. That's why we cut off at one hour.

There'll likely be a discount for ordering the set in the future, as well as a coupon for previous customers. That being said, do you want one?
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Craig Gottlieb
Gurkha House
Blade Forums Sponsor
 
The last I heard,Marines used Cpt.O3 to distinguish from Naval CAPT.`s, or holders of ship or airplane titles.

You notice that CAPT. Kirk had a Naval rank. That frosted the AF.

I am a life member of the USNI and Tailhook.
I think the AF uses Col., usually. I read AFA.

I read this all of the time. I have the regs, but people use what they want. there are Grandfather rights too. XXX,COL.,USA,(RET.) seems most common. but COL. XXX,USA is common. I guess that I should read them again, but who cares?.

I used to sign what the clerk typed: (ABN), INF.CMDG.
,or was it INF. (ABN) CMDG.? I forget. It won`t help me kill people and break their stuff.

I`m sure that some bright boy will get his "Officer`s Guide" down.

Who reads most of it anyway?
I guess that I just don`t care, so long as they send my O6 check on the 1st.

Calling you an O3 just does not have the ring to it CAPT., if you like; no panache.

I`m kidding too, Craig. We are all in the same club.

What good is fun if you can`t have it others expense?

[This message has been edited by FNG (edited 01-12-2001).]
 
Craig,

I watched Gurkha Steel this evening.

Well done! This tape will be a permanent addition to my library.

 
I expect a free copy for my perspacac ity.

Otherwise; I`ll tell your Mom Craig.
 
Craig,
I just watched the video that I recieved with my new lovely Khukuri. Incredible!!
This video is the perfect complement to any knife lovers collection. It gives a deeper respect for the men tnat can make such a blade, with the most meager supply of tooling and equipment at hand. It reminds me how easy a life that I have had. I am humbled when I see what wonders these men can create. It is now easy to understand why my two true khukuris that I have gotten, both GH, feel so special. There has always seemed an aura or inner power in them. Now I know why. It is all the spirit and soul that go into the making of one.
I have made knives and swords in the past and thought I did pretty good for what I had to work with. Boy did I have it easy!! These makers are artisans, one and all.
You and your wife have done a super job of putting across, just how much goes into the making of one of these fine knives. For this I Thank you Both very much. I will treasure the tape, as it adds value to my whole love of Khukuris. Job WELL DONE!!!
 
Craig, will you please put every possible inch of video tape into the next video?! There is just no substitute for just watching these guys practice their craft so masterfully.

The first GS is truly excellent, but I want to see more. Even tho a given task is shown, there is so much more learned in in watching them do it for as long as possible. You have an opportunity here to go way beyond the slick, superficial PBS-style documentary and put us right there (and I would like a longer visit). So PLEASE put in every second you've got. Do us forumites proud here, because we're all really into it and CAN'T GET ENOUGH! I suspect that I'm not the only one who would be happy with the whole 8 hour original version, bloopers and all.

I appreciate what you're doing for us and want you to put in all you possibly can (Did I mention that I want all you can give us?). The first one is so excellent, but it leaves me wanting even more.

AA and all you other guys: I couldn't agree with you more.
 
LT DAN and everybody else: Rest assured, every bit of usable videotape will be in volume II. Really, the only stuff that got edited out of Vol I was stuff where I was carrying the camera on the tripod around TB's place - I mean it'd make you seasick to watch. There's NOTHING good left on the cutting room floor - I promise!
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Marya and I start on the class again next Wednesday, and we'll be doing Vol II for the next few months.

In actuality, I'm surprised that more Vol I's aren't selling as quickly as I had hoped. We've sold plenty of copies, but there is a certain contingent that I fear is missing out on something truly unique - I think that if there's a time to "cross party lines" that this is the time. Don't get me wrong - I'm not begging for sales - we sell one or two a day - but I think EVERYBODY will benefit from this video.
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Craig Gottlieb
Gurkha House
Blade Forums Sponsor
 
Craig, thanks for the assurance. I feel lots better now. Before GS came out I used to search the old posts for ?'s and A's about the making of khukuris. I could ask ?'s for the rest of my life and still never have the understanding your video gives. If one pic is worth a thousand words, who can figure the value of Gurkha Steel?

The word will just HAVE to get out sooner or later. Now, don't let me distract you from working on the sequel. Have at it!
 
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