Newbe wants to know.

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Hobe0062

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Apr 14, 2016
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Do any of you have favorite kami, great, good, ok etc? Is it polite to even discus this. Thanks
 
Yes! and Yes!
Favorite? I got many favorites so I guess that dont answer your question. Thats like whos your favorite grandkid;) Many here do have favorites tho.
 
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Hobe0062 said:
Do any of you have favorite kami, great, good, ok etc? Is it polite to even discus this. Thanks
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They are all great artists and each Kami's work has different properties. It's perfectly fine to discuss which one a person likes more for some reason.

Just like music we all have different tastes and often one likes different songs from different musicians.
While I like Mozart more than Michael Jackson I couldn't listen to everything from Mozart all the time and sometimes a piece from Michael just fits the situation better. For others it might be the other way around.
:-D

For kamis I don't have a preference and buy whatever Kukri seems the best for me. More often than not it seems to be the same Kamis though.
 
If they are'nt artist and very good at what they do, they don't work for Yangdu and HI.

I have several favorites, I like Thamar because of his more traditional looks and smaller proper handles.
RajKumar was a true artist and did beautiful stuff.
Tirtha another good one.
The new up and coming Anil, son of Keshar? is putting out some awesome knives of late. Very good and promising already.
Bhakta excelled in Bowies and still might make a few now and then, although Anil is doing them right now too.

Guess I'm not much help either now that I ponder while I ramble and chew upon the mysteries of life as we know it or wish we knew it if we had a full grasp on reality.
 
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Tanks guys, just curious. Just got my Tamang from last Friday, very very pleased. Would it be concidered a villege knife.
 
To be honest with you, I'm more prone to choosing H.I. knives based on the workmanship itself rather than the names. Besides, some of the best knives are made by now-retired kamis that we will never be able to get again (other than secondary markets). As it is, any of those blades will do me just fine regardless on who made it.
 
If it's one with the black scale left on as most are then it could be considered a villager.
I find the look very appealing myself. Some do the vinegar treatment and easily remove it.
I did that to one of mine and it turned out nice. If I had it to do over I'm not sure I would. I kind of liked the contrast.
 
No help from me, I have my favorites for different reasons, but I have blades, stock and customs, by many kamis, past and present.
 
Many thanks for the responses, I do consider all of the Kamis Artists secondly artisans. I do not think of these knives as reproductions "except the military kukris". They are an ancient art form and craft still practiced in the original way. It's like a fine Hopi pot or a traditional made basket or a Two Grey Hills rug. Again many thanks and blessed be!
 
I've had so many knives crafted by so many great kamis:)

I will say, the kami that who's work has spoken to me the most over the last almost decade and a half is Kumar. I love the balance between the fine edge with a balance of his work.

My falcata is masterful. It dwarfs even my Bura pieces. Extraordinary.
 
We all vary. I'm with SG with Kumar on swords 100%. Currently Lachhu, Anil, Arjune and hopefully Purna returns. Old school Kami's are like Pandora's box. I have a few, Bura, Bhakta, Rajkumar... Again they are all very much talented. They don't run in parallels but, in conjunction.
 
I'll say Sanu. More than any other kami, I was drawn to his work. I think it has to do with the lines and proportions of his knives. They all make good stuff, but Sanu's just looked and felt right.
 
I gotta agree with Steely and LadyEarth. While Kumars work has most consistently spoken to me, some of my favorites in my collection are by Lachhu and Anil, with a couple gems by Purna. And the IBBB I EDC is made by Bhakta, so he's gotta get a shout out. I buy knives based on specs and looks, not who made them. Having said that, I'm more drawn to a Kumar with "ideal specs" than anyone else's work. For example, Lachhu has been turning out some great BDC's lately, but the style of the fullers on the blade aren't the same as my Kumar BDC, and I like the look and feel of that one best.

Also minor correction BB: Anil and Arjune are the same person :)
 
I'm with you fellers:)... I have "working" khuks from Kumar (2), Lachhu (2), Anil (3), and Purna (1) and I love them all... I actually LIKE the fact that they are each subtly, slightly different and reflect (somewhat) the individual Kami's who made them.

Keep in mind, that if you were to set 5 of the same size/weight/model khuks in front of me... say five 16.5 inch WWII's.... I couldn't identify which Kami made each. Some here may have acquired that level of skill, but not I.... I'd have to look at the marks.

Maybe I just need to buy MANY MORE examples so that I can learn to differentiate between the work of each individual Kami (right fella's?? :D).
 
Since we're actually naming kamis, I must say, I like Rajkumar for his balanced blades, they may look, and actually weigh a little on the heavy side, but feel so light in hand. An example, I have a Tibetan Long Sword by him, and is by far, on of my mid heavy swords, but feels the lightest in hand, compared to all others. I like Lok for his light blades, I have several blades from him that are so light, sharp as hell, yet robust enough for tough work. Purna has made some really nice stuff, love Thamar's old school style, Bhakta makes killer fullers that you can swim in. Tirtha makes edges like no other, The Kumar brothers, what can you say, they're just great, I like all of them, especially Kumar, and Yuvraj. I have no expreience with Bura, Sanu, or any of the other greats, but I sure hope I do, in the near future.
 
kamagong said:
I'll say Sanu. More than any other kami, I was drawn to his work. I think it has to do with the lines and proportions of his knives. They all make good stuff, but Sanu's just looked and felt right.
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Uhhh! I have to agree with this wise man! Sanu is outstanding! I have an AK Bowie made by him that has the best looking fullers I have ever layed mine eyes upon! Just fantastical:thumbup:

Second one from the left is Sanu made! Check out the forward weight and smooth recurve shape and well defined palm swell and well...I could go on but see for yourself. This knife is balanced and made to perform!

9f96e62956c9effb5b04e790ae5a32b2

You aint making this any easier. Rajkumar and Kumar and Bura and....hmmm? are probably my favorites for swords but I still think that was a loaded question;)
 
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