Kopi

J

Johan van Zyl

Joined
Oct 11, 2000
Messages
372
It was mentioned before that the khukuri originated from the short sword called the kopi. In Khukuri FAQ pics are shown of the kora. Now either I haven't been tuning in where and when I should have, or I'm just missing something obvious. Are the koras and the kopis two different swords? What does the kopi look like? Maybe someone would be so kind as to post a pic of a kopi, please. I feel that we as khukuri enthusiasts would like to know more about the short sword reputed to be the ancestor of the khuk.
 
Gentlemen,

Here are 2 links that will shed some light on the subject. From what I've been able to read, the Kopis was developed from the Egyptian Kopesh. The Kopis, in turn, was then modified somewhat to become the Falcatta.

Go to This Link and you'll start to see familiar shapes as you scroll down. This One will give you a pretty good pic of the Falcatta/Kopis.

I shudder to think of what it must have been like to face a determined Greek soldier who was armed with one of these "matter seperators"
eek.gif
.
 
Blackdog, I want to echo Lt. Dan's exhaustive reply to your most welcome contribution of the links to the kopi! I looked carefully at them both and found most, if not all of, the answers to my questions. Something which is tickling me at the moment, is the "extras" one would like to have in a collection, eg. if you collect khukuris, you would want to have other things also besides khuks but closely related to khuks. JP has shown us that he also goes in for the extras like Gurkha hats etc etc. He's got a number of koras, but at the moment I fail to see a direct association between khuks and koras. Me, I would like to have a kopi in my collection as an "extra" (just a pipe dream, though). Two extras which I HAVE managed to acquire in the short space of time I have been collecting khuks, is an illustration (not photo) of a khuk-wielding Gurkha (taken from Purnell's History of WW II) which I have enlarged greatly and laminated, and hung on the wall of my study. Another is an ivory khukuri about 6 inches long, made for use as a paper cutter. I'm thinking along the lines of getting two similar tourist khuks dirt-cheap, shining them and mounting them on a varnished wooden shield to hang on the wall. But the KPF does not even allow that at the moment, although even if it WERE adequate, I haven't got the foggiest idea where such cheap khuks are to be had outside of Johannesburg. I somehow get the idea where you guys are at, you can buy tourist khuks by the armful if you wanted them. More ideas about extras?
 
Johan,

Please send me your e-mail address. Contact me at blackdog@ghostmail.de

Don't use the e-mail address shown in my profile as it seems to be out of service most of the time lately.

Blackdog
 
Johan,
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">at the moment I fail to see a direct association between khuks and koras</font>
Click to expand...
An interesting site with more on the history of koras and their relation to other Asian weapons, as well as some nice illustrations, can be found here.
Berk
 
Berk, if ever there was a link which was able to answer a given question fully, but at the same time concisely and with just the necessary graphics, this one was IT! How fortunate I am for Internet and assistence from guys like you. Thanks, pal.
 
The kora is considered by many historians and ethnologists to be the only weapon originating in Nepal (and Tibet).

The khukuri probably came up from India after being introduced by Muslims who would have gotten the design from the Greek kopis.

There are some decent reproductions of these being made especially by JT Palikko of Finland.

Collecting and studying koras is as much a passion and mystification for me as are khukuris and the rare ram daos.

View


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JP
 
Mr. Powell, how is the kora used? Is the cutting edge on the inside of the curve or outside? I mean- does it curve forward like a khukuri or back like a katana?
 
Otto,
The inner edge is sharpened, and the forward curve is much more abrupt and farther toward the end than a khukuri. In test cutting with water-filled plastic jugs, I was surprised at first that, while a kora did tremendous damage, I could never get a clean, straight cut. After a number of attempts I believe that when you make initial contact with the front of the target on the sweet spot in the innermost curve, the outer recurved end of the blade actually makes a second entry wound on the backside of the target as you follow through. Brutally effective.
Berk

[This message has been edited by Berkley (edited 05-16-2001).]
 
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