Lexicon of Kamis signature symbols

P

Pragitam

Joined
May 22, 2002
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Has anyone put together a pictorial lexicon of the various symbols used as "signatures" for the numerous kamis who make the HI khuks?

I read that some kamis are now switching there trademarks, making the task that much more challenging.
:rolleyes:

Thanks
 
They now use a "Mark" and their initials.
Problem is that they swap marks back and forth. So without initals Bill and others can usually tell from the overall looks of the knife + the mark.

So if your looking at a knife with initals, there is probably no doubt who made it. But marks are up in the air.

Kyle
 
And since they are all named Bishwakarma the initials are a bit unusual -- KM (Kumar), SN (Sanu), LB (Bura) etc.
 
Perhaps they switch symbols because they do not necessarily understand or share our comprehension of the "Signature" concept. Maybe they just slap the symbols on there because we asked for them.

I'm glad I got my Khuks before they started slapping their initials in there in english, I think the HI logo and the maker's mark only looks better. That, and I need as much unmarked territory as possible on my blades for etching...

Keith, but not that forumsmasher guy.
 
First name in Devanagari is what I asked for and got initials in English so you can see what we're up against.
 
Seems like the more instruction you try to give them on this issue, the further from the objective they get. I'm beginning to think we're confusing them, or something.

Regardless, they still can do the primary objective just right -- Make Khuks.

Keith
 
Hello,

I'm agree with Ferrous Wheel : in my opinion, the HI logo and the maker's mark only looks better. Initials in english doesn't look very "traditional".
Initials in Devanagari would looking better, but a mark for each kamis and the nice HI logo are in fact sufficient.

In the same idea, and always in my opinion, scabbards with old leather had a better look than in new leather.

Stéphensee.
 
...and rightly so! Would they mark a set of hinges? no! Would they mark a custom set of tools? No! would they fix or replace the item in question if it failed? Yes! Steel is their job and art, not letters.

I think it may be a hi-production thing to put makers marks or brand names on things. If you worked at a weapon smithy under a smith in europe, asia, anywhere, the smithy itself may have a mark. Many apprentices to the great European, Indian and Asian swordsmiths working at such a place would use the master smith's mark, because the master smith had the final say for quality control purposes. This meant that only the weapons good enough to pass the master's inspection/testing would get the mark and be sold. anything that was sub-par would be thrown back for rework or scrapped.

So, in HI terms, Pala (or whomever does inspections of pieces, seems to be him in the pics) is the "master smith"*, all kamis are production smiths, and Uncle is the farthest extension of the quality control, and sales and distribution fall to him. Uncle is the weapons broker who would have journeyed to the courts of kings and pitched them a sales line about why your army should be equipped with our product over all others (medieval defense contractor).

*I use the terms "master smith" and "apprentice" VERY loosely and only for comparison purposes. I think most kamis if not all, are master smiths in their own right. Pala is more like an elected head of his peers, highest among equals, the pointman of the smiths.

Anyhow, under this comparison, all that need be applied to the blade in my opinion (including cho and sword of Shiva) would be the HI logo. the rest is window dressing.

my .02

Keith
 
English to French translation

B=Bull, male cow, like your avatar there.
S=english slang for dung, feces, excrement, offal. = Mierd, in French.

Keith
 
Thanks for a couple of good chuckles.

Here's the philosophy of the kamis which sort of goes along with Fer's observation. If the knife carries the HI mark it means it is good. If it is good and does the job what difference does it matter who made it? They have a valid point.
 
Yes, Kamis have a valid point : the great thing is that the khukuries do the job. Anything else is of minor importance.

Keith, thanks for french translation of "BS". This morning, during my breakfast, I was a little, how to say that..., "surprised" by this translation! So now, I will never say "caca de vache" but "BS"!:D
(However, I think that I'm going to change my avatar now...);)

Stéphensee
 
Hi, Stephensee:

The expression "BullSh**" can be used when someone says something that you do not believe to be true; a person who often talks overmuch or falsely is a "bullsh**ter"

in the above sentence, **=it.

Thanks for the insight into French in return!

Keith
 
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