John Powell's kirpan

Not a bad looking little toad sticker.

Uncle Bill

<img src = "http://members.aol.com/yangduspag/pict32.jpg">

[This message has been edited by Bill Martino (edited 01 April 1999).]
 
G

gtkguy

Joined
Mar 10, 1999
Messages
144
Yup! That's a pretty fine looking Kirpan, more elaborate than most I've seen. John, Uncle Bill, what can you tell us about the overall quality of this knife? blade quality? artwork? feel/handling? etc ...

- Sonam
 
Nephew, I can't tell anything more than I see in this pix. We'll have to wait for John to fill us in.

Uncle Bill
 
Sonam, for a symbolic knife it feels very utilitarian. It could do some damage. It has the benefit of two very sharp edges on a crudely fashioned 6.5 inch blade. The handle being all metal isn't made for action and seems small even to my chubby little digits. For a backup weapon it would work just fine. The metal work is nicely done and is pretty high quality. I am still waiting to get the writing on the scabbard translated. I anticipate trading this for another khukuri.

------------------
JP
 
Thanks for sending it to Uncle Bill to post. It's appreciated.
 
Bill, if it is a neck strap the guy had to be a pinhead. It is the skankiest piece of leather, silk, cat gut, whatever, but it came with attached so stays until it totally disintegrates.

------------------
JP
 
I told everybody I was out of my league with the kirpan and I am. What is the traditional method of carry!

And, don't destroy the cat gut. Remember what you did with the tinder in your old khukuris!

Uncle Bill
 
The ones I saw were mostly carried on a sash across a shoulder, with the Kirpan attached to the ends of the sash on the opposite hip by means of a thong/string/leather. In this picture I think you can see the loops on the sheath through which it was attached to the sash (the points with those skanky bits of leather!).

This way, the Kirpan would dangle loosely by your side without the need for any waist-belt attachment. In their traditional clothing, the Sikhs normally carry it outside, but if in normal everyday clothing, they generally carry it underneath their shirts.

- Sonam

[This message has been edited by gtkguy (edited 02 April 1999).]
 
Thanks, nephew. Now I know.

You know, strangely perhaps, I used to see Sikhs in Nepal almost daily and I just can't rememeber how they wore the kirpans. I don't know if it is a sign of my age or whether I was so accustomed to seeing everybody carrying a knife of some sort that I simply didn't pay much attention. But I do remember the Tibetans carrying their thees on that chain around the neck.

Uncle Bill
 
- deleted double post -

[This message has been edited by gtkguy (edited 02 April 1999).]
 
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