D**M!
This is one of those times when I deeply regret living my time zone. Uncle Bill's blems usually post at 2-3:00AM our time. So out here, we don't have much of a chance at the specials.
But last night I was working late. And if I just made a few clicks to the forum, I would have seen Bura's masterpieces just as they went on (and grabbed one). I love Bura's work. I have a Tarwar (I believe it is the last before his stroke) and a Kothimoda. And I would have loved these Dankuta's. At the end of this post, I've put a long winded, unedited post about Bura's Kothimoda. I was saving it to post one day when I get my camera to work.
After seeing this thread I got so worked up, I had to go to my Kothimoda. I had to swing her through the air, hold her and her scabbard up to the mirror, retell her my vow to wear her the next time I wear a tuxedo, tell her again how one day I will open a champagne bottle with her just like the old Russian calvary did with their sabres. She was there . . . felt the touch that melts into my hand as always. It calmed down now enough to write a post. But it's a lot like going back to your lover after seeing a goddess walking by, smile at you, then walk on. But it's only a knife. Or is it?
Here's the long post that never got posted (forgive all the orginal grammar errors):
Kothimoda the scabbard is beautiful, but oh that blade!
I called in my future Xmas presents to order a Kothimoda (Uncle Bill tells me that there only four more in stock done before Bura had his stroke I wonder if he would be willing to make more when he recovers or whether he will choose another kami to follow in his footsteps?). It arrived in Singapore in just two days. No customs hold ups.
The scabbard is truly stunning. Im going to let the silver tarnish (they speed that up with eggs around here) then polish it to bring out the engraving. As suggested in the forum, Im figuring out how to wear it to go to something formal (around here formal means national dress which includes tuxedos, robes, saris, animal skins, military uniform (with swords), batik shirts I tried to pass off surfer shorts, T-shirt, and slippers as my Hawaii national dress . . . didnt work). Ill see how it gets on in a sash on my belly.
But the great wonder is Buras Khukuri. Im a newbie with Khuks (my user is an HI BAS which will only get a good workout after a year end jungle trip). But when I first drew the Khukuri blade, it was magic.
To begin with, I wondered why Bura used bone for the handle. To a layman like me (i.e. somebody who dont know nuttin), horn or a good wood piece would seem much harder to find than bone. And horn/wood actually looks a lot better (more even, finer finish). But once I felt Buras handle, I realized why this man is a treasure. The bone is warm to the touch. It's not polished like horn or wood. Its like a fine textile, smooth but textured and porous. Gives a grip that melts into the hand.
Then there is the blade. Though the bade is longer than my BAS and roughly about the same weight, it feels much lighter. So I assume that it has a much better balance (the dui chiurra?). Most importantly, when I swing the khuk, its as if it wasnt there. The handle and blade now melt together with my arm.
20+ years ago I used to fence (what else does somebody from Hawaii do when freezing indoors on the East Coast?). Eventually after a lot of practice, you get to the point (is that a pun?) where you stop thinking about the sword. You just think about what you are going to do (lots of times, you dont even think, just react), and everything else body, arm, blade just follows. The blade does become part of you. I imagine that a basketball pro gets that way with a ball, or a musician with his horn. In fact, its the feeling an experienced typist gets with a keyboard. You dont think of the keyboard. You just think, and the keyboard does its thing it becomes part of you
The Kothimoda is like that. My BAS (although a wonderful khuk) is not. I have to think before I move it (and I can feel it moving under my power like a tool). Perhaps Im nuts (or stopped fencing for too long). But Buras work is amazing. The Kothimoda is for display, not for use. And I understand that some of the royal knives from the Middle East are true works of art for their handles and scabbards. But the blades are really crummy because no one cares. I really get the impression that for sheer tradition, pride, honor . . whatever, Bura makes Kothimoda blades to the best of his great abilities. To most,
Kothimoda = rich mans khukuri = never going to be used = why bother with the blade.
Perhaps to Bura,
Kothimoda = khukuri that will be kept through the ages = beside my bones and heirs, what else would be left after Im gone?
No wonder hes a royal kami (or perhaps as a royal kami, he was expected to do no less that his best work even though a blade would never be used). All I can say is that I feel that I have something which is close to the finest work which an ancient culture can develop for its aristocracy (which may end soon, if the aristocracy stops its patronage).
It sure beats a salt shaker made by "appointment to her Majesty . . ."
Vade retro satanas!!!!
