Metalurgical Opinions?

Rusty

Rusty

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Over on The "Firing Line" handgun forum a person getting an unexpected bonus talked about maybe picking up a double action 45 colt revolver.

When I mentioned the stainless steel the guns were now being made of he replied he'd never buy a gun of "SOULESS STEEL".

Somehow, I understand. An unforged blade has no soul to me, no spirit of it's own. Maybe later, a stock removal made knife could acquire a spirit. But HI's already have it forged into them, some more so than others. Even the villagers.

Anyone else have a comment?

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"For it's no no never, never never no more. Never ever again will I buy ... "

Himalayan Imports Website
 
On various weapons that I own, they do posses a spirit. The mass produced blade that I have do not have these qualities. On my guns, I put alot of work in them, and they now have some spirit. My department issues the Glock 17, but my personal Glock has alot of spirit in it. When I use to customize 1911s for a hobby, my pistols had alot of spirit or energy(good).

A couple of months ago, I was looking over my friend's Philippine and Indonesian blade collection. I came across a Barong with a 19.5" blade with a 3" belly. The blade attracted me. I grabbed it and un-sheathe the blade. I could feel the energy! The energy was so strong and I felt I had to cut something! I quickly placed the Barong back into it's sheath. A scary feeling indeed! My friend commented that that particular Barong killed many American soldiers. Nice blade, but I'll pass!
 
A machine-made blade has individuality only by accident. We value them beyond their mere utility only when they deviate from the mechanically determined norm, just as coin and stamp collectors value error struck items...since they then, at least, show that HUMAN error was involved in their making, if nothing else human was.
A forged blade of the HI kind, or like the early Randalls, was 'written upon' by the smith who shaped it. It is as full of individuality and purpose as a fingerprint in a clay sculpture. It captures for all time the intent of the smith, for good or ill. It's like the difference between a poem printed in its thousands of copies on a high-speed press, and the same verse written for you alone in the poet's own hand.
A 'soul-less' piece of truck spring is transformed by the smith's art into a singular and excellent creation. If art has soul, then HI khuks have it.
This is one of the best reasons for Bill to continually impress upon the kamis that only their best work will do, with rewards commensurate with their success in producing a tool that is also an artwork.
I am continually delighted that these knives can be had, thanks to Bill's effort, for the paltry sums they cost. To maintain and further the qualities we all value so highly for such a reasonable price is extraordinary.
My take on it...but then I fondle firearms to make them 'one' with me, too...must be the medication.

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The sword cannot cut itself, the eye cannot see itself.
 
:
Well said Gunhou!!!!

I prefer the handforged blades as well. And also like Rusty I prefer natural handle materials as well.

Even the stock removal custom knife I made for myself back in '74 has little spirit.

I have four items that are really strong in thier energy. One is my old Malayan Keris, a Moro Sword,an African Sword and an old 'hawk that had its handle burnt out.
I truly suspect that the old 'hawk gets its energy from the one who had it before me so long ago. That and the fact that the handle was burnt out before it was eventually covered over with earth before it was eventually "found" again and came to me. I rescued it from a antique store in So.Cal. There were other items there that I would have loved to have rescued and either returned them to thier rightful owners or put them back in the ground.
The old 'hawk feels good to me now, but for many years I kept it wrapped in red cloth and put up.
I put it in the Sweatlodge for a couple of years and since then it doesn't hold the feelings of hopelessnes it once conveyed.
I think that the older an item is the stronger it becomes. These beautiful handmade art pieces usually take on some of the spirit of its owner(s). That may be one reason that Broken Arrow had the feelings he did when he unsheathed that old blade. I can only pray that anyone who picks up anything I have had a hundred years from now only feels good things.

The H.I. Khukuri's speak for themselves. The brass handled Banspati although it is beautiful is like a person who is shallow. The brass handle makes my hands stink when I handle it. I shudder to think what affects that brass may have on food prepration if a person is unable to wash it off thier hands before handling or eating any food that may have been prepared with the brass handled knife.

The little 17" village sirupati I traded off was one of the stronger khukuris I have had or have.
Surprisingly my Super Salyan has a strong spirit as well as the GRS's.


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>>>>---¥vsa---->®

"There's no trick in being a humorist when you have the whole government working for you."

...............Will Rogers......

Khukuri FAQ

[This message has been edited by Yvsa (edited 08-09-2000).]
 
Very well said Yvsa!

'Fraid I'm going to sound like a nutcase here, but...

One of the reasons I enjoy this forum so much is that there seems to be a mutually understood appreciation, or at least an acknowledgement, (sp?) of the spiritual side of things, which is lacking in our everyday culture.

I also prefer natural materials and handforged tools. They have a connection to the universe which is lacking in a stainless/kraton "creation". I have heard incredible stories from martial arts people about the energy contained in some blades, so the energy in the barong doesn't suprise me.

I beleive this is something to be careful and aware of, and the overwhelmingly positive energy from the HI blades is a pleasant counterpoint to it.
 
This is also a reason to feel the blade. I've had an experience with an Indonesian blade where the energy was pure evil, I wouldn't have taken it if the guy gave it to me. My grandfather also tells me to be careful with blades that have handles shaped into human faces, that they are more likely to accept things, and unless you have a strong sense to feeling it, you may not know what you've got.

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Chad
Full Contact Stickfighting Hawaii
http://www.fullcontacthi.com
 
handforged knives have a soul because the artisans who are still able to do such a job are putting a bit of their souls into them. In our times ruled by cold figures as "time" and "money" this is becoming a lost art. I have 3 khukuris, a villager (present from a ghurkha security guard who works with me)and two HI ones. They are all very dear to me because I can see the men who have been working on them.
Finding the HI web site has been quite a discovery, I want to say thanks to zio Bill for having introduced me to the work and the world of these amazing artisans
All the best to zio Bill from the sailing nephew.
Fausto
 
Glad you could join us. Any kindred spirit is very welcome here.
 
Guys,
People lool at me strange when i tell them a blade talks to me.Had Vince & some other MA's stop & think about a question i asked!Ponder this: Does a person choose a blade ,or does a blade choose a person??
jim
 
Yin and Yang.

Just because it is impossible doesn't mean it is not true or fact.
 
(LONG RANT)

A new production knife to me isnt dead,its just a tool.Picking up a cold steel knife is like picking up a hammer or screwdriver.It gets the job done just fine.No soul though.

Just because a knife is old and handmade dosent give it a soul either.Ive handled some very old handmade pieces,some that were still fully functional.They felt dead in my hands,if i had to go into battle with them id be dead.A dead blade draisn your spirit too.

I agree there are good and bad blades too.Some have a good spirit,a spirit of protection.When you hold one you feel invincible,and with one in the house you feel completely safe.Evil blades give a strange feeling,protect yourself with one and you no longer want to protect yourself,your more interested in the fight.

I havent handles too many live blades,but from my own experience this is the impression i get.

The good thing about out HI Khukuris is that they are new,we can put whatever soul we want into them.In 100 years our decendants will feel our souls when they pick up one of our old khuks'.

As for my Khuks,some already have a personality.My WW2,while not evil,has a certain aggresive nature.My sirupatis are more gentle,willing to fight,but would rather be playing and goofing off.My forward curver is umm? well i dont know. he just sits back and watches the fun.Noone messes with him tho,hes the strongest of them all
smile.gif


if the men in the white coats holding a staight jacket show up,you havent seen me
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I'll gladly pay you Tuesday,for a khukuri today.
 
I also there is sometimes a spirit in a good blade. It could be, an evil spirit in an evil blade... darkside of the force! You may call it the carma of the blade.

I hope I will add some good spirit into my khukuri for my decendant.

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Did you enjoy today?
\(^o^)/ Mizutani Satoshi \(^o^)/
 
Hey all,

I'm the person Rusty is talking about from the Firearms Forum...

Nice discussion about the temporal and existential qualities of knives and stainless steel, but I do need to add some clarification about my comments...

Unlike others, I don't generally ascribe a "soul" or "personality" to inanimate objects, including cars, knives, or any of my guns...

My comment "souless steel" was meant to indicate that a stainless steel handgun doesn't have any effect on ME; unlike a beautifully blued revolver, a stainless steel handgun evokes no empathetic response.

Oh well, my two cents anyway...

Oh, and what have I decided to do with my "honking big bonus," as I called it?

I'm getting a computer desk, which I need BADLY.
smile.gif
 
I guess we get some pretty superstitious types around this here e-lecktronic cracker barrel sometimes.

Forget the "Star Wars cantina" stuff--maybe instead we're more like a bunch of hillbillies hiding out in the back woods of the internet, with "Dueling Banjos" substituting for the Mos Eisley Cantina theme song.

Squeal like a fat guy in underwear!

[This message has been edited by Dave K (edited 08-11-2000).]
 
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