Khuks with soul.....

[Bill Marsh]

I have mentioned that the only modern knives I collect (and I have a lot of these) are Himalayan Imports.

Other than these I have very few knives made later than the 1900's, One goes back to 475BC.

Other than some super handmade pieces, I find modern knives to be soul-less. As we say in the South, "They have no SMELL!" Not to knock any of the fine made production pieces. Some of these have superb craftsmanship. I won't mention brands.

BUT HI pieces have a soul. I am sure that about everybody who has one, or has even handled one knows EXACTLY what I am saying.

So what makes these knives so special? The craftsmanship is very good, but look at "Brand X" next to an HI piece and, God, I hope I don't get flamed for saying this, but I have seen crafstmanship that is as good --- let me say NEARLY as good, but the piece still does not have the draw for me that an HI piece has.

What makes these HI khuks so different than others? Really they are just wood or horn and metal. Old car springs at that.

I think that the answer lies in several things. Yeah, we have a brotherhood here, on this Forum and part of the reason we are here is because of the HI khuk fellowship, but it goes deeper than that.

HI Khuks are incredibly durable, beautiful and effective, but it goes deeper than that, also. I don't know about you, but I get a tingle when handling an HI Khuk.

Could it be still deeper? I see the pictures and I imagine the kamis, our kamis, making these khuks. It is NOT just a job for them. It goes deeper than making money for them.

There is something here that borders on art. Something that viscerally stirs me. That reaches inside and says that an HI Khuk is truly something very special.

Do I dare say that this is a religious calling for the kamis? Do their rituals they do before and while making khuks put something into them? Something that reaches out and grabs me?

Could that be? Do you feel that also?

 

[tsf]

I always think of the description "live blade". You hear among the martial arts community, and I think that is what I feel. There is a part of the maker that comes with that blade. It was also made for use and not just to turn a dollar, so I know I can depend on it. But I also agree that there is something special about the HI kuks and I think it is who makes them and partly they know who is buying most of them and I think there is a kinship.
Terry

 

[DannyinJapan]

Hey now, there are not many people in the world who can hammer blades with such fullers.
Most pro knife makers couldnt do that.
am I right Dan?
Somebody told me that, a knifemaker.
99% are flat forged and then stock removed.

Not many people can forge a blade the way the kamis do.
It is an incredibly rare and dying art.....

 

[Ad Astra]

I know exactly what you are talking about, Bill. There is a wonderful intangible element about these khukuris.... like the Tao, something you turn to perceive and it isn't there. It's impossible to describe, but there's something there that makes them more than knives. More than art, though they are both. Maybe they have a soul. Maybe they are alive. All I can say for sure: they are more than what they are.

Ad Astra

 

[Daniel Koster]

Hey now, there are not many people in the world who can hammer blades with such fullers. Most pro knife makers couldnt do that.
am I right Dan?.......99% are flat forged and then stock removed.

Yes, you are correct.

Not many people can forge a blade the way the kamis do. It is an incredibly rare and dying art.....

I am working on becoming such a knifemaker - I have three projects in the works now that will feature fullered blades. The first will be a knock-out and has been kicking around here for a good time. I think by next week I will have it finished up and with the owner's consent, I'll post pics and a description of the process here.

A while back, Keith Montgomery was on the lookout for somebody that forged fullers into their blades. IIRC, only one knifemaker was found - and his fullers are straight..."blood grooves" actually. With a little luck (and a lot of hard work), I might be able to add myself to that list.

One thing is for sure - it has not been an easy process.........I have learned a new appreciation for the kamis' art.


And Yes, Bill, I agree with your soul assessment. The more the smith works the steel, the more creative the project, the more care given.......the more soul "inserted". That's how I see it anyway.

I think also that there is an air of mystery surrounding how these are made. The toolery used is really quite crude compared to everyday bladesmiths here in the USA. If the kamis ever mechanized their process, then that soul would start to fade.



[edited to add]

I don't want to give the wrong impression - fullering is something that regular blacksmiths do all the time. It's just that knifemakers haven't really picked up on it yet.

 

[Azis]

I have a few other brands of Khuks...they sit in a box I have a lot of HI they each have a display. Thinking about it that in itself says a lot.

I would say the forum adds a lot but I started buying HI before I found the forum. So maybe for me it was the HI that sold me on the forum not the other way.

My collection of blades is from a martial artist point of view, that is more of the ability of its use than the craft, though the more I learn the more I value what it takes to create such a thing and that I do admire greatly. Maybe thats part of the connection with these blades.

 

[Nasty]

HI Fullers rule...

.

 

[Yvsa]

Yup.

HI Khukuris do have a, soul, spirit, feeling, mystery, or whatever you want to call it about them.
Some of y'all may have wondered why I haven't jumped in on the sale of Rusty's collection since we were so close?

Well Gang, it's like this. Because Rusty and I were so close I knew what Rusty's favorite khukuri was. The One Rusty felt the most Presence in. And in knowing Just What That Khuk Was and having access to Mary's phone number I called her and asked if she could find it specifically. Mary said she would look for it. When we talked later the next day Mary said, "It must have been meant to come to you because it was the very first khukuri I picked up. It was right on top!"
Omen or not I offered her a very fair price for it and she accepted my offer, so I got the first one and it was Rusty's very favorite!!!!

I am Truly Honored and I think the little shitepolk meant for me to have it!!!!
It doesn't matter that the handle has a slight, well a little more than slight but not severe crack in it or that the chape is missing, it is still a beautiful khukuri and it belonged to my little brother.
The crack will be repaired and the leather will probably be replaced. I will make Rusty proud you can bet on that!!!!

In the thread here you can read all about it.



Here’s one of Rusty’s posts on the “Surya, Chandra, Tara" Khukuri and how he felt about it.

Mike, apparently the same guy made at least 3 khuks the same except for the forged in patterns. Ghost got one, shown in another thread and called "tic-tac-toe" by Yvsa. Jay H also got one in a different pattern. I got a third the same in dimensions to the others, but with a third completely different pattern of hot forged in designs. Mine depicted, and was called by those in the shop "Surya, Chandra, Tara" or "Sun, Moon, and Stars" in English. Ghost's one caused me to lust when I saw it. Jay's I've no idea what it's like. But when mine showed up...

There being one like mine, one like Jay's and one like Ghost's is like having a series of Holland and Holland 577 Nitro Doubles made, one depicting the Elephant, one depicting the Cape buffalo, and one depicting the Rhino. If one is later added depicting the Leopard, and another the Lion, that can still never take the slightest bit away from the the others.

I still have the feeling it should be hidden away only to be brought out only for a cusp worthy of it.

One of these days when I'm up to it I need to take some pix anyway. I'll add Rusty's "Surya, Chandra, Tara" in with them so you all can get a look at it.

 

[Daniel Koster]

that would be very nice and much appreciated, Yvsa.


Is the khyber in Rusty's listing the one Sarge gave him?
(from Afghanistan)

 

[Yvsa]

that would be very nice and much appreciated, Yvsa.


Is the khyber in Rusty's listing the one Sarge gave him?
(from Afghanistan)

You know Dan I could be mistaken. It could've been a Khyber that Sarge gave Rusty but for some reason I was thinking it was a Yataghan. Maybe a search would solve the mystery?
I did well trying to find the thread about the Surya, Chandra, and Tara. I finally entered 18th Century under the subject and luck brought it up. I tried the Sun, Moon, and Stars but it came up with no hits, figure that. :grumpy:

 

[Dave Rishar]

HI Khukuris do have a, soul, spirit, feeling, mystery, or whatever you want to call it about them.

Moreso than any other tool that I've ever seen.

I own some firearms; I've shot plenty of others. There are ones I like and ones that I don't. I've never had one talk to me before.

There's a 30" siru in my collection that is so unbelievably malevolant that I don't like to even take it out of its scabbard. I don't let others handle it anymore. It will cut anything placed in front of it (including, but not limited to, a truck's fender) but it has a preference for blood. It stays on the wall most times. The landlord complained about the brush today. The siru's hungry and I'm frustrated. We may have to take a trip out back sometime this week.

Hanging near it is a 20" siru that wants to cut. Tree, brush, or vine, it wants to be swung. It doesn't seem to tire me out and when it's in my hand, I don't like to put it down. This one won't cut me - never came close, never will. It only wants vegetation, and it has a "magic edge"...I could swear that that siru "!" made for me comes out of the scabbard sharper than it was when it went in.

At the end of the sword rack is that Cherokee Rose that got me so many times before it finally gave up; it's safe enough now but that one's a weapon, not a tool, and I can't usually find work for it. The empty peg next to it used to belong to the AK bowie, which usually got along with me just fine but got me good when it had the mind to. (I hope the person it's with now hasn't had any problems with it and I hope that it remains friendly when it comes back.)

Today was a maintenance day at work. My BGRS villager from the MWKK came with me for a workout, complete with the factory edge. I can't read the script on it but I'd recognize that crescent moon anywhere. I had a fire road to clear and a buddy with a machete to help me. He didn't have much to do...this BGRS even cut the tall grass, let alone the trees and scotch broom.

And it got me. Just once, just lightly, halfway through - we had to get aquainted. No blisters from this one, just one minor nick. I'd ground its bell for a more comfortable grip before I'd even swung it; I suppose that it had to alter me a bit as well. It has yet to see stone or sandpaper but I'll be damned if it didn't slice paper at the end of the day. It didn't do that at the beginning. I tried. Does it like blood? Probably not. It left me alone after that. Maybe I'm unpalatable. Just getting to know me, I suppose.

Soul? Yes. But more than that, personality. I think that's why I like them so much.

 

[munk]

Yvsa,
I read the link you posted and was happy to see Bill echoeing your ownership when he said, "Yvsa would probably like this one."

I'm glad it came to you.

>>>>>

All my khuks have Soul. They are the ones I've kept- they have meaning for me.


munk

 

[Nasty]

Just a kiss Dave...marking *her* territory.

.

 

[Dave Rishar]

I stand corrected.