Kami Signature Series Khukuris

  • Thread starter Thread starter -
  • Start date Start date

Namaste All,

I couldn't help but notice that with the GRB khukuri and others that are in the works, it looks like a Kami Signature Series of khukuris is coming out. I like the idea of the kami involved with the particular khukuri having his initials on the blade he has fashioned. It helps me remember the human being who has crafted such a beautiful, yet very practical work of art.

Harry

[This message has been edited by Kozak (edited 28 September 1999).]
 
:
I believe that's what the original idea was Harry.
It seems that the only Kami that could write was K.G.R. and he liked to "play" with the electric
pencil.
smile.gif
I do have to say that if it is K.G.R. that stamped my GS then he is doing one nice job.If it had to be stamped at least it was done neatly and much better than I could have done.Those kinds of stamps are really rough to get that even.


There are others with much better memories than mine that will correct me if I am wrong.

------------------


>>>>---¥vsa---->®
Cornbread ain't s'possed ta be sweet!....Dagnabit gurl,whut did they teach you way up north in ....;) hehehe.


 
You are right, Yvsa. I have been trying for years to get the kami who made the khukuri to initial it. Ganga Ram is my first success!

However, now we are at least able to tell you which kami made which khukuri in shop 2 -- that is of our regulars who work there. The visiting village kamis seldom mark their blades -- probably because they can't read or write.

But we are making progress in all ways and I think the day is on the near horizon when we see each blade marked by the kami who made it -- well, maybe not marked by the kami but by someone who can read and write who will mark the correct initials on the blade.



------------------
Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
http://members.aol.com/himimp/index.html
 
Hmm ... any chance of making up a stamp for each kami to use to sign his work? Not necessarily with initials, could be a different symbol for each one -- a lotus form one, Ganesha for another.... Not for the visiting kamis, obviously, but for the regulars. Who knows, the illiterate ones might like that idea better and be more willing to do it.

I wonder if somebody could explain to them what signing your work means to artists and craftsmen in this culture, too....

-Cougar Allen :{)
 
Cougar makes a good point that I agree with. Thank you! The illiterate kamis would relate better to a symbol unique to them than 3 initials in English. Strangely and yet not so strangely, it seems more appropriate as I would feel that the spirit of the kami would be even more closely tied to the khukuri he has made.

Harry
 
:
Great idea Cougar!!
I was thinking perhaps a mark each Kami could come up with himself.
Your idea is even better.
And like Harry suggested it would perhaps impart the Kamis pride even moreso into the Khukuri.


------------------


>>>>---¥vsa---->®
Cornbread ain't s'possed ta be sweet!....Dagnabit gurl,whut did they teach you way up north in ....;) hehehe.


 
I am not sure we could get the stamps made in Nepal but each kami could sign with a symbol of his own design, I'd guess. It's a definite possibility.

I think Gelbu writes the initials for some of the kamis and they copy this on to the blade.

------------------
Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
http://members.aol.com/himimp/index.html
 
Can't whoever engraves some of the blades make stamps?

I'm also thinking customers would rather have a symbol stamped into the blade than the maker's initials.

There's a tradition in some cultures of making a kind of pictograph signature that's a pun on the owner's name -- actually that's done here in our culture, too, sometimes -- the first example I thought of was Armand Hammer's trademark of an arm holding a hammer (look at a box of Arm & Hammmer baking soda). For another example, I could use a white cougar (Allen is Late Latin for white, cognate with albino etc.) Bill Martino could use a martin with an oversize duckbill on it. See what I mean? I wonder if the kamis would like that idea.... Sometimes with some names they have to be a little stretched and need some explanation to understand, but you can invent a pictograph for any name if you think hard enough. It's kind of a fun game ... in cultures that do that, people work hard at coming up with something clever, and at trying to guess what other people's signs mean. It's an old tradition in European culture, mostly seen in heraldry (coats of arms) these days, but it originated in times when many people couldn't read.

-Cougar Allen :{)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top