Maker's Mark??

Thomas Linton

Thomas Linton

Joined
Jun 16, 2003
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Can anyone out there ID this maker's mark (Sorry no pics) located on the right side of khukuri blade just forward of shoulder?

Chain of three stylized mountain peaks w/ flag pole rising from central peak. On the pole, the flag of Nepal. To the left of this scene, script figures (first like a backwards cursive "f" ; second like an open-topped four w/ undulating line closing the open top; third too hard to describe.) and below those figures "208y" (or 2089).

Preatty neatly made. 13" OA. Wooden handle. Blind tang. Brass bolster. Blade 9.25" v 2" x .11/32"

TAL
 
Is this an HI? New? Old?

Shop 2 khuks were numbered, as was the Millenium Special (?).

Doubt they got up to 2000, but it was a little before my time.
 
Don't know who made it. The script does not look like HI "signature" on four known HI Khuks. Remember, number could be 208 y.

Should add that the shoulder is very slight - almost a continuously curved blade.
 
Originally posted by Thomas Linton
Can anyone out there ID this maker's mark (Sorry no pics) located on the right side of khukuri blade just forward of shoulder?

Chain of three stylized mountain peaks w/ flag pole rising from central peak. On the pole, the flag of Nepal. To the left of this scene, script figures (first like a backwards cursive "f" ; second like an open-topped four w/ undulating line closing the open top; third too hard to describe.) and below those figures "208y" (or 2089).

Preatty neatly made. 13" OA. Wooden handle. Blind tang. Brass bolster. Blade 9.25" v 2" x .11/32"

TAL
Click to expand...

Thomas,

On the script, if you look at this page:

http://www.omniglot.com/writing/devanagari.htm

can you tell me what the figures are?

I'm trying to visual what you're describing, but having trouble. Your 'backwards cursive "f"' is most likely a Nagari vowel sign for 'i' or 'ii'. The 'open-topped 4' may be a Nagari 'bh' or 'm'. Assuming you're looking at them right-side up, which may be difficult to know if you aren't familiar with the script...
 
beoram,

Thanks for the Rosetta Stone.

Remembering what Uncle said about who made the script figures:

First figure looks closest to "Pe" but not complete. At the left end of the horizontal stroke, there is just a small circle.

Second figure, wow. Most like "M." Second choice, "S" (The one w/dot under it). Third choice, a squared off version of symbol for "Pa." Last choice, a "5" without the stroke angling away from the bottom.

Third figure looks close to "R."

I think of how doctors write here in U.S., and understand how kamis might execute script somewhat different than "official" version.

TAL
 
Oh, yes. Orientation. I presume that if the flag pole is pointing to top of blade and top of arabic numbers are toward top of blade, top of script is also towards top of blade. All same.

TAL
 
Well Knob Creek the bourbon is nice stuff, however I've pee'd in Knob Creek the Creek several times and I can't recommend doing anything else than that with the water.

Blantons is really nice stuff too. I think I'll stick with Elijah Craig though.

You know there really is a lot of history in Kentucky tied up with Whiskey making.
 
Originally posted by Thomas Linton
beoram,

Thanks for the Rosetta Stone.

Remembering what Uncle said about who made the script figures:

First figure looks closest to "Pe" but not complete. At the left end of the horizontal stroke, there is just a small circle.

Second figure, wow. Most like "M." Second choice, "S" (The one w/dot under it). Third choice, a squared off version of symbol for "Pa." Last choice, a "5" without the stroke angling away from the bottom.

Third figure looks close to "R."

I think of how doctors write here in U.S., and understand how kamis might execute script somewhat different than "official" version.

TAL
Click to expand...

TAL,

Hmm... I'm not sure. It's very hard without the actual image!

The small circle is the Nagari equivalent of an '.' for abbreviation, e.g., like the .'s in 'H.I.' Is there only one small circle?

So all of this is near the shoulder, and not the grip? It sounds like some special-edition khukuri, but I'm trying to think what. There was the 'millenium special', but it doesn't sound like that one.

I'm assuming the script has to be one of two things: (1) kami initials, (2) initials 'Bii.Go.' (for "BirGorkha"). But it's hard to know.

Yes, the Nagari script can vary quite a bit, especially in handwritten forms, as the forms on the page I linked you to are really the standard printed forms (for books, etc.). Although usually the H.I. 'signatures' seem to be fairly close to what I'd think of as a sort of 'book-hand'.

It's probably something obvious I'm not thinking of. I'll keep it in mind. How many small circles did you say there are?

cheers,
--B.
 
I messed up. The first figure is like a backwards lower case printed (not cursive) "f" with a small circle at the left end (remember it's backwards) of the horizontal stroke of the "f."

Yes, the peaks, flag pole w/ Nepalese flag, arabic "208y" (or 2089), and script figures all all on the right side of the blade, just forward of the slight shoulder.

TAL
 
Mystery of script seems solved. A nepali dealer tells me the script reads "Nepal." Makes sense. Goes with the flag of Nepal shown to right of script.

TAL
 
Originally posted by Thomas Linton
Mystery of script seems solved. A nepali dealer tells me the script reads "Nepal." Makes sense. Goes with the flag of Nepal shown to right of script.

TAL
Click to expand...

Yes, does make sense.

So it should look sort of like one of these (same word, just 2 different founts):

nepaal_in_nagari.jpg


--B.

Edit:
p.s. the number is probably a year, but written in Nagari numerals (look like our 'Arabic' numerals, but not quite), and maybe also in the Bikram Samvat dating system...

numbers maybe look like this?:

2045_in_nagari.jpg
 
Yes!! Script is like your second example, if somewhat rougher. The number is as you illustrate. What date is it?

TAL
 
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