Habaki on Khukuri?

B

Brian C

Joined
Jan 22, 1999
Messages
2,414
My new Gelbu Special has a unique feature -- the bolster forms something like an integral habaki. Here's a close-up of the bolster area that I hope illustrates what I mean. (The apparent unevenness of the bolster to blade fit is just a shadow. Actual fit is crisp & clean.)
View

As I mentioned yesterday in my first impressions of the GS, in addition to looking good, this unique bolster functions as a traditional habaki would & holds the blade firmly in place in the scabbard. IMO, the habaki allows the scabbard to have a perfect fit -- the blade moves in & out effortlessly, yet seats tightly & securely.

I think it is a great feature & one that could solve many of the scabbard fit problems that can be experienced. I'd like to see this style bolster offered as standard in the future. What do you think, uncle? forumites? TIA for your thoughts.




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Cheers,
Brian

He who finishes with the most toys wins.
 
You're right, Bill, and you know your kamis. Sanu did make my GS.

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Cheers,
Brian

He who finishes with the most toys wins.
 
Please convey my appreciation for his innovation to Sanu. Traditional or not, I wish all my khuks had this feature.

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Cheers,
Brian

He who finishes with the most toys wins.
 
Sanu just collected some "exceptional work" bonuses so he knows he is appreciated but we will send the message anyway.

If you can send me 2 or 3 good pix of that bolster I'll send them over and ask that more khukuris be made with this type bolster. I like it myself and it is traditional enough although many of the old ones made like that were made of solid steel.

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Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ
Himalayan Imports Archives (18,000+ posts)



[This message has been edited by Bill Martino (edited 08-17-2000).]
 
:
Bro could that style bolster be done on the Yvsa Cherokee Special with the hammer dingy finish? Since it is gonna have a steel butt cap and bolster anyway I think this would be really a nice addition!
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I am really getting excited about this khukuri and I thought I was gettin over that!!!
I just hope it performs to my expectations when all is said and done.

Those old kamis had some exceptional skills, but I think they would fit right in with the bunch at Birghorka!!
And that brings a question that has been on my mind for a while.

What is the finish like on the very old, 200-300 year khukuris that you have in your pix file of 10,000 photos?
They look well finished in the pix you have posted and I am wondering if the kamis had the magic stone finish way back then?!?!?!?

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>>>>---¥vsa---->®

"There's no trick in being a humorist when you have the whole government working for you."

...............Will Rogers......

Khukuri FAQ
 
If you can send me 2 or 3 good pix of that bolster I'll send them over and ask that more khukuris be made with this type bolster.
Click to expand...

Great! Thank you, Bill. The above pic was simply a digital enlargement of your original pic. I'll pack my digital camera along this weekend & see what I can get its macro setting to do.

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Cheers,
Brian

He who finishes with the most toys wins.
 
Cultural Fusion!
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The Cherokee-Japanese-Finnish-Nepali school of bladesmithing!
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And the National Sword of Nepal is proudly used to do heavy farm work.

The habaki is a way to get a tight fit to the scabbard without having the scabbard rub against the sides of a dedicated weapon (never to be used for farm work!) which had had many hours of expensive labor go into the polishing of the surface just-so.

The black hammer-dingy finish on a finished knife is a Finnish woodcrafty knife style from a school that says "Polishing doesn't make it cut any better, and this proves it's forged carbon steel and not mystery stainless."

And where else would these tradtions meet, but on the Net?


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- JKM
www.chaicutlery.com
AKTI Member # SA00001
 
Yvsa, they have been using the magic stone for centuries -- that and ashes was all they had for polishing. Some of the old blades had a very good finish on them -- very good!

James, interesting observation. I just got the package you sent and I think we can do a couple of them. You have email regarding this.

------------------
Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ
Himalayan Imports Archives (18,000+ posts)
 
:
James I have the utmost respect for the Saami people who live in the north country of several nations.
The sad part is they are faceing many of the same problems that us American NDN's have had for years.
I doubt that they will get even a smidgen of what we have managed to fight for over the years and won.

Oklahoma is at least one state that is getting rid of the awful word "squaw" from its place names on maps. I believe as many do that the influence of the African Americans getting derogatory terms deleted from the maps is what led to the state doing the same for the ndn's.
Perhaps with enough pressure Arizona will follow suit and get rid of the name on some of its major places like S**** Peak. Which was originally called S**** Tit Peak.
The influx of the women settlers got that changed in a hurry!!

Sorry for any offence to the ladies who frequent this forum!!
It has been many of the ladies in Oklahoma that has managed to get this name erased from all place names in Oklahoma. When the ladies found out just how derogatory this name is they were very, very angry as any lady should be!!!

You're right about only the net getting cultural influences intergrated. It's nice to be able to be a very small part of this.

And that Uncle Bill permits such wonderful cultural exchanges with the Nepal Finnish Puukko and the Yvsa Cherokee Special.
Perhaps someone will suggest a Hunga Munga one of these days.
biggrin.gif


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>>>>---¥vsa---->®

"There's no trick in being a humorist when you have the whole government working for you."

...............Will Rogers......

Khukuri FAQ

[This message has been edited by Yvsa (edited 08-17-2000).]
 
Maybe we let the folks at Kershaw know how much of an insult that term for native American woman is. I decided I didn't want the "S-word" on my web page, so here's the link to my listing for one of their lockbacks. The owners of the company are Japanese, but there are plenty of Yanks on the staff who should understand.

I think I heard somewhere that the term "Lapp" for the Saami may be be derogatory in Scandinavia or Finland, but in English it's the only word that tells people, without a paragraph of explanation, whom I'm talking about. Actually, I think the term for Lapp in Norwegian is "Fin," and what they call somebody from Helsinki - in Finnish the Finns are Suomi. And nobody in Hellas calls themselves "Greek." And Indians ... Columbus didn't know where he was.



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- JKM
www.chaicutlery.com
AKTI Member # SA00001
 
Here's a better picture of the bolster for everyone's reference.
View

Bill, I'll be sending you a copy along with a few others as you requested.

------------------
Cheers,
Brian

He who finishes with the most toys wins.
 
Great! It was one of the things that impressed me about my new Gelbu Special & it's a feature that I'm certain everyone will appreciate.

------------------
Cheers,
Brian

He who finishes with the most toys wins.

[This message has been edited by bcaffrey (edited 08-21-2000).]
 
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