My Ninja Gelbu Idea

DannyinJapan

DannyinJapan

Joined
Oct 9, 2003
Messages
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Here is my idea for a 25" gelbu special short sword. A full length choji hamon.
Lengthened tsuka style handle with silk wrap. (no tsuba)
I havent had any inspiration about the sheath yet...
 
Looks interesting, DIJ. If your khukuri wasn't a GS with a relatively neutral balanced blade, I'd be concerned about being able to keep it securely gripped while swinging it.

Bob
 
DannyinJapan said:
Do you think the handle is ok?
Do you think it needs curve in one direction or the other?
Click to expand...

Kinda neat DIJ. Methinks that this is definitely once case where a straight lengthened chiruwa type handle would be ideal.
The extra length would tend to neutralize the blade heavy balance a little one would hope.
What do you think, at least a two handed length, more?
 
I had arbitrarily set the handle length at 8 inches.
I thought that was a good one or two handed size.
 
DannyinJapan said:
Do you think the handle is ok?
Do you think it needs curve in one direction or the other?
Click to expand...

I considered suggesting that the handle should be curved like a khukuri's, but mainly because it might LOOK better that way. Key word is look, as I'm not not sure if a curved handle would make it a better/more versatile fighter in this case.

Danny, is this design inspired by what you've learned from practicing combat with khukuris or is this more of a fantasy brainstorm design? Have you made any models of this design for practice drills (I doubt you'll be able to find any plastic cutting boards big enough for this one)? :)

Now that I think about it, some of the older military styled khukuris had long curved handles. Making the handle curved like a khukuri's would probably be a good idea after all.

Bob
 
The only real concern I have is such a deep hamon in the midpart of the blade. You could also still get the 3 bends of a khukuri by angling the handle to the blade (looks dead straight in the pic). Maybe beef up the handle a bit with some heavy furniture esp. the buttcap (forget the japanese name) to balance out the blade a bit more.

Love the idea of a khukuri with a hamon.
 
I wouldnt mind a little bit of a curve....

This is actually based on other historical pieces I have seen. The Japanese have on many occasions, put their kinds of handles on weapons from other countries. This is in line with that idea. I kinda like the way it all flows together.
 
what, no tsuba?

Try two drawings - one with a straight handle and tsuba, the other with a gently curved handle and traditional bolster.
 
also, a word about curved handles...


If you grab a bowie knife, you are going to grip it differently than a khukuri. We talk about this all the time here, when newbies come back with blisters wondering what went wrong. The ticket always being that when you use a khukuri, you use the pinky finger as a "catch" - against the butt area.

So, perhaps, that is why a straight handle looks foreign to us...because we look at that blade and think about chopping/swinging with it...and using our pinky finger to "catch" and "snap" at the end of the chopping/swinging motion. Can't do that with a straight handle as well.

There is precedent in curved japanese handles. Even ones that "swell" a little...getting larger as it goes back to the butt.
 
Shiva Ki did an interesting morph in his style of knives...

The handle is a somewhat trans between a khuk handle...with a Japanese style wrap....

It's a neat idea Danny...

Why Choji? Just prettier huh?

Maybe a ring pommel...like in the Chinse swords? The kamis have already done a kerambit....that way you get a three way morph and can

I included a 4 minute pencil sketch of my morph idea...the kamis have already done the kerambit so this should be an easy step...the wrap is a piece of pie....

This way Danny you get the Japanes...Nepali...and Chinese flare form your Ninja Blade....historically...not bad if I understan ninja history...

Whatch guys think?

Shane
 
It's definitely an interesting idea. Since plastic cutting boards are most likely not going to be big enough, one could cut blanks out of plywood. This would allow you to get several blanks out of the purchased material. This way, you could try out a variety of different grip styles, and see which one work, feels, best, etc.

As for the shape of the handle, I would imagine that a little curve would be good, but I think it would be easy to put too much curve into the handle.

mike
 
Daniel Koster said:
also, a word about curved handles...


If you grab a bowie knife, you are going to grip it differently than a khukuri. We talk about this all the time here, when newbies come back with blisters wondering what went wrong. The ticket always being that when you use a khukuri, you use the pinky finger as a "catch" - against the butt area.

So, perhaps, that is why a straight handle looks foreign to us...because we look at that blade and think about chopping/swinging with it...and using our pinky finger to "catch" and "snap" at the end of the chopping/swinging motion. Can't do that with a straight handle as well.

There is precedent in curved japanese handles. Even ones that "swell" a little...getting larger as it goes back to the butt.
Click to expand...

A long time ago when I inquired about the best way to grip a kukri handle, I was advised to put my palm around the front swell, with either ring or pinky finger behind the carved ring. On a larger kukri, that would seem to put the pinky finger too far away from the butt to use that area as a "catch." Anyone have comments?
 
Since we're going multinational here, why not a Euro style scent stopper pommel? Useful weight at the rear of the weapon, an efficient impact tool at the butt, and a place to put the weak hand for maximum leverage when required.

It would be interesting, to say the least.

I like it as it is, though. A fully hardened edge may be the better option for a dedicated weapon but I can only imagine what a PITA it would be to heat treat a blade that long properly.
 
Idid think about having a falcata handle put on it, as I think that is the true handle these blades were designed to have, at least in terms of the original military weapon of this design.
My drawing is freehand, so there may be some imbalance here and there. I think I drew the blade too wide for one.
Still, Dan and I are keen to do this inasmuch as I want this weapon made and he wants to see if he can make it.
He is excited about doing something new as a bladesmith, and I would love to have a special khukuri like this for my shortsword.
 
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