Khukuries (check), and what else?

not2sharp

not2sharp

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we all know that Nepal has an excellent tradition in making and using khukuries. But, it would be a pretty sad state of affairs if that were all that they used. What other types of knives do they have? How do they core an apple, or butter thier bread? What do they shave with and how do they cut their hair? Perhaps our view of the culture is a little too one dimensional.

Is there a whole slew of other knives that are seldom mentioned, or is the khukuri pressed into service for everything?

n2s
 
Sanu's Dad made his fortune making scissors for the carpet industry. And, there's all sorts of knives and other cutlery. Most shaving that I witnessesd was done by the cheap plastic safely razors. However barber shops still offered shaves with straight razors and did a very good job with them.
 
When BirGhorka is back on an even keel, any chance of getting something like a pair of hand-forged scissors with engraving and a tooled leather sheath?

I can think of a couple instances where they would make a great gift to those who just wouldn't appreciate a khuk.
 
Engraved scissors?

Fir, for you they'll make anything -- even some door hinges.
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I'll keep that in mind for later, though I might pass on the door hinges.:)

Seriously, if a pair of hand-forged scissors has the same feel to it that a hand-forged khuk has, (and suspect it will!) any other tools like that that the kamis could make might be worth looking into. I suspect that someone really into sewing would get the same charge out of a pair of BirGhorka scissors as I do out of a khuk. I think such people would really enjoy a pair of "scissors fit for a queen" of the same grade as the Banspati you had up recently.

You always talk about the kamis needing to inject variety into their work. Maybe a well-considered product expansion that incorporates scissors and other Nepali tools of use in our culture could help keep them enthused and stir their creative juices in the better times that must surely come. And such things would be a great way to get Nepal and the kamis into the perception of a larger group of people.

n2s deserves full credit for this idea.
 
Originally posted by Bill Martino
When and if we ever get back to even semi-normal we'll give this idea serious consideration.
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Bill,

Are you projecting an end to the turmoil? Is an end in sight?

Just a couple of honest questions (trying not to read between the lines)

Dan
 
Do they use something like this in Nepal:

China, Tibet, Nepal, other? I am not sure where this little utility knife is from.

n2s
 
It looks a little like rayskin near the top of the sheath. Japanese?

Just speculating about things I know nothing about. :D
 
That is ray skin at the top. It is an odd little knife about 7" AOL. The scabbard is actually angled away from the body (as in "C" shaped) although the blade is completely straight. My first guess was that this might be something you clip onto your belt and ware under a sash.

Here is another view of the sheath:
 
You'll see a large variety of little knives similar to this in Nepal. They are generally called "chupis" -- knives.
 
Hi uncle,

Is there any particular purpose for the chupis. Perhaps a gender, religious, or caste association?

n2s
 
You see a variety of these, too. Made to do various jobs. Almost always they are called simply "bancharos."
 
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