Kuhkuri Differences.

[Yvsa]

:
I _think_ I am beginning to see some of the differences in the Kuhkuris. It looks like the handles on the Chainpuri is kind of rounded on top. Is that right?
Is there anything else about it that I can't see because it isn't closeup?

I have seen where some of y'all have talked about the scroll work and inlay in some of the blades.
There is two or three types that this is done on isn't there?

I can't make that out clearly in any pix I have seen. I have a couple of long slender curved single edged daggers from Morroco that have the brass inlay and one has some nice file work on the back and I really like the way it is done!
I was wondering why this kind of work on the Kuhkuri? Is this possibly something to do with the caste of the different ones that was talked about a while ago perhaps?

Also Uncle Bill since the villager models seem to be normally so rough in appearence was/is it customary to polish or at least put a smooth satin finish on the blades with the inlay and scroll work?
It seems kinda strange to me that a blade would be embellished and then not smoothed up or polished a little to show that off.

One more?

( in this post)
Is there a notable difference in the style and finish of the Kuhkuri that is in common use today and the ones used a couple a hundred years ago or so? .... and... is/was there a difference in style and finish of those used by people of (stature?) then and now? ( generally speaking the"nobles" become politicians?)

Also would someone post a pic of the inlay and scroll work close up where it could be seen nicely. Please. and a Chainpuri handle.

Thanks!!


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>>>>---¥vsa---->®

[This message has been edited by Yvsa (edited 04 July 1999).]

 

[Bill Martino]

That's right about Chainpuri handle, Yvsa. Also right about scrollwork and inlay -- usually on Sirupati, BAS, Gangaola, our deerhorn handled models and maybe one or two more -- usually. Somewhere in the forums we had a pix of this scroolwork but I can't remember where.

About the polish on the villagers -- some of them will be nicely polished, not mirror, but maybe 150 grit. Some, like one I sent Cliff are very, very rough showing heavy grind marks full length of the blade. I had one come in a month back maybe that had brass inlay along the entire sword of shiva, filling in the sword top and bottom -- and the blade was poorly finished but tougher than nails (I know! I try nails from time to time.)and generally pretty nice looking.

I also got in a khukuri maybe six months ago that had extensive file work on it. The kami had filed in a very even crisscross pattern the entire length of the spine. Width and depth of file marks looked almost like a machine had done it but I know this is impossible. I've seen file work on some khukuris but don't know why it's done or if it's supposed to mean anything.

The khukuris made for tourists and export, and the HI khukuris except the first few that came from shop 1 are much better finished than the old timers in the National Museum. But some of the old timers in the museum had a pretty decent finish.

King Birendra Bikram Shah Dev, the present king of Nepal, has a kothimora khukuri worth maybe a quarter of a million dollars because of gold and precious stones hanging on it. Nice finish, too -- so I hear. I've never seen it in person.

Uncle Bill

[This message has been edited by Bill Martino (edited 04 July 1999).]

[This message has been edited by Bill Martino (edited 06 July 1999).]

 

[ghostsix]

I do not know what the big deal is on filework recently.Call Brownell`s and get a file.As for ysva`s comments on caste,the U.S. has a caste system as well.My folks were upper middle;by choice,I was lower middle,then middle,and now upper middle.Breeding,occupation and wealth determine this here.No matter how much money a Kennedy has,he will never be upper class,in part, because of the way that they got their money.I earned mine,which is a disclaimer for society but ,I am more welcome than nasty little thugs.

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[Bill Martino]

One of the things I greatly enjoy about the ghost's posting is he really tells it as he sees it.

Uncle Bill