H. I. Sword?

J

Julian

Joined
Sep 27, 1999
Messages
21
The first khukuri I bought was a H.I. 18th Centry. I remember how shocked and intimidated I was when I saw the length and size of it. I thought 18" is too long, and the BAS/15" AK would be the ideal size. Since then I've changed my mind and come to appreciate the "longer" khukuris. Yesterday, after handling my new 27" Banspati and loving it, I want something even longer but lighter. I want a sword. I don't think I am ready for the 38" Janawar Katne (yet). What I have in mind is a 30" Sirupati under three pound. I know there was a previous thread about a 25" Sirupati. But I want something longer than that. Uncle Bill and forumites, what do you think?

Julian
 
Well, Julian, if a 38" "animal cutter" can be made, I'm sure that the kamis could make a 30" Sirupati. You may have to buy a kora. Bill, are you still offering koras?

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Demonstrating Absurdity by being absurd.
 
Julian, take a look at the Kumar Kobra. I think Kumar can make that khukuri in 30 inch length. Shall we give it a try?

Bob, I have a couple of koras left but I don't think I will mess with them in the future. Manufacture is difficult and due to the weight shipping costs are very high.

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Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
http://members.aol.com/himimp/index.html
 
How about 1/4" thick, 2" wide blade, 22" blade length, 8" wood handle (30" total length), no more than 2 pounds. And call it KING Kobra!

Julian
 
With some variation in design elements, it sounds like we are once again discussing something similar to a large HI Chainpuri. Uncle, if you and Pala come up w/some workable standard specs, I'd bet that there would be a bunch of takers.

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Cheers,

--+Brian+--

I may be goin' to hell in a bucket, Babe, but at least I'm enjoyin' the ride.


 
I agree with Brian. let's kick around some workable standard specs. Now, how about a 1.75" wide blade?
 
Kumar is our man. Tell him what you want and he will come close. He is making his Kobra at less than an ounce per inch. I am hoping he'll make us a 30 incher that weighs somewhat less than 2 pounds.

Let's have some engineering by committee and see what we come up with.

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Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
http://members.aol.com/himimp/index.html
 
Uncle Bill,
You know I will be looking over your shoulder on this 30" Kobra project, even though KK's and a 25" Siru. are in the pipeline. Anyway, here is my contribution...about 1&1/8" near the hilt widening to 1&5/8" at the widest part of the blade. More on my mind...some years ago we conversed regarding stag handled sirupatis, and how near impossible it is for the Kamis to get Sambar stag. Any change with that situation? Any ideas? Even though I am easily distracted by the morsels you serve up these days I still think about how slick a big Scagel handled sirupati would look.
A pleasure as always.
 
LOL - Talk your way out of this one, Uncle!

Actually, maybe I'm the one needing to be enlightened. It was my understanding the antler they've used heretofore is off the little spotted Nepali deer.

I've also made a similar point by pointing out to Uncle some other handle materials that aren't necessarily available in Nepal Australian Hardwoods. I've seen swords handled in bloodwood that are gorgeous. Sambar stag from India is an excellent idea. All these handle materials would need to be imported into Nepal. Now I think that a piece of stag, even costing $10, could add $30 or $40 to the value of the finished khuk. But how much would it cost to get it past customs on the way in? Shipping shouldn't be outrageous even at $10 a kilo. Figure minimum of six handle blanks per kilo, that's less than $2 apiece, plus the $10 to buy the blank, and we're still talking $12 outlay to improve value an extra $30 t0 $40.

Don't hold your breath. But Pala may have something up his sleeve.

[This message has been edited by Rusty (edited 07 November 1999).]
 
Thanks to our good pal, Rusty, who supplied us with some well aged elk antler we may just have a few khukuris coming with this type handle. Pala cut the antler into handle size lengths and we shipped it last week along with some other goodies express mail. We'll see.

I think we may need a couple of 30 inch King Kobras to wee how Kumar does with them.

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Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
http://members.aol.com/himimp/index.html
 
Rusty, I thank you and I truly mean it. Uncle is in a corner on this one. Bill, if it is an 18 or 20" chainpuri(?) blade attached to that stag handle then we are in the ballpark (you weren't going to put stag on the 30" Kobra, were you?). If there is room to play with specs let me know. combining with some of Rusty's hardwoods would be a good place to start.Consider me logged-in here, anyway. I have waited a good long time for this one. Rusty, my first latte' of the week is in your name.

[This message has been edited by leo2 (edited 08 November 1999).]
 
The stag pieces I saw at Bill's place had a problem in that the porous center "marrow" area was fairly wide, as in mebbe 1.25" or so. Upshot is, if you try and run the thinnish tang in through that stuff you can but it won't be stable at all...it can collapse under fingernail pressure, never mind chopping impacts.

Now, since the "marrow core" is delicate, given a thin wood chisel you could gouge it out real easy, you could then polish the inside bore of the bone with a dremel and a sanding drum bit. Then what you have to do is put a "hard core" inside there. Maybe fit and glue a wood core in, or maybe duct-tape one end and fill the whole thing with something like fiberglas resin and hardener, let it dry, you could then drill the center in a fashion similar to how you drill the wood handles now. That would be strong, stable and all you'd see is the outer stag cylinder.

Jim
 
I'm not sure what the kamis will do with the elk antler. They may elect to split the larger pieces and make Chirwa slabs out of them. Or, they may burn out the porous part or drill it out and fill with Himalayan epoxy. I'll wait until it arrives and then give Gelbu a call and kick the options around.

When polished the elk horn is near white and takes a keen finish. Pala experimented with one and had good luck with it.



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Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
http://members.aol.com/himimp/index.html
 
What I did was to clean most of the soft center out and on areas that were cracked on the outside, go on the inside and use regular superglue - let it flow down and fiil the crack, if any penetrated that far, from the inside.

It may be that I wasn't allergic to elk antler, but all the superglue I used that gave me breathing problems.

It is a moot point anyway, since Pala cut up some of the elk with power tools, and the resultant stink of burned hair caused Yangdu to tell Uncle Bill to pass on her request to me not to send any more of it. Oh well.
 
Rusty, it might be of some interest to you to learn that the dust from the elk antler caused Pala some breathing problems, too. He took to wearing a gauze mask before he finished the job. I hated the smell and so did Yangdu. And, of course, the dust flew everywhere -- hair, eyes, clothes, into the computer! We asked Pala to abandon the project but he is a die hard and a hard head and refused to listen. Project completed!

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Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
http://members.aol.com/himimp/index.html
 
Aw Gee, what are friends for but to get you into situations...
 
Rusty, we all appreciate the gift immensely -- but the dust and smell I could do without. It is Pala who is at fault here. He does not like to abandon a project once started. I can see both good and bad in this philosophy.

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Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
http://members.aol.com/himimp/index.html
 
The 3M HEPA paper mask are cheap and offer decent protection.

As pointed out before many handle materials such as rosewood are toxic.

Will
 
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