Not for the Squeemish - (have beef gurkha ceremony)

not2sharp

not2sharp

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What a way to make fresh hamburgers. Do not try this at home! :eek:

The photo is from Robin Adshead's Gurkha (Asia Pacific Press, 1970)

n2s

edited to add some info on the photos.

Photo (top): The bloodied khukuri is held upright while a rifle salute is fired in the background. Notice the extrodinary size of the knife.

Photo (bottom): The bull is tied to a Maula (post) and beheaded with a single clean strike. It is interesting that there appears to be a 6x6 inch beam on the ground to help stop the strike safely. These little details can make all the difference between a good show and a disaster.
 

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I couldn't turn it, but there is an MPEG in the archives somewhere, from which those stills were taken. If you aren't squeamish, you still need to get a grip before you watch it. If you are squeamish, well....have a bucket handy.
 
Bill has refused to post picture of similar ceremonial sacrifices in the past. I'm not sure I understand or agree with his reasons. I'm just noting that in the past he did not feel comfortable with pictures of this sort on the forum.

I have seen a number of such pictures, many of much better quality, and gorier, than these.

Perhaps if the image of the khukuri weilder is of a tree chopper the wrath of the PETA hordes can be kept off the forum. My dad always said "if you kill it you have to eat it," and some of those PETA members are pretty scrawny looking.

I think these pictures illustrate the main practical use of the larger khukuris like the GRS. For tree chopping I usually prefer an axe.
 
the same size as my HI Falcata--big. I recently used the falcata to cut some really serious rawhide rolls, and it was scarily effective. Just had to guide the blade, the vorpal edge and viciously placed mass did the rest. Sanu's got da skylz.

Keith
 
I didn't know Bill objected to these kinds of pictures or I wouldn't have posted it. These knives are tools and they are being used in these pictures to slaughter cattle in much the same way as the First World does. Given a choice I would bet the animal would rather face a guy with a khukuri in the sun then some massive mechanized gizmo in a dank slaugterhouse.

The knife in the picture looks to be about 22-24 inches long. About the size of one of the larger khukuries. We have talk about these knives often. These pictures help to provide some perspective and show clearly some of the concerns raised by this type of blade strike. Clearly if these guys, who have a lifetime of khukuri handling experience, are concerned enough about blade travel to position a safe stop on the ground then all of us should be extra cautious when playing with these big choppers.

n2s
 
Don't these PETA guys and their ilk say we should respect people's cultures? They also say the US is imposing theirs on other countries. If the Nepalese are sacrificing bulls and goats it's part of their culture. Saying that it is bad is imposing their own morality on them. :o

blah blah blah...
 
Don't these PETA guys and their ilk say we should respect people's cultures? They also say the US is imposing theirs on other countries. If the Nepalese are sacrificing bulls and goats it's part of their culture. Saying that it is bad is imposing their own morality on them.
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I guess it's that they go on the what ever feels good at the moment mindset. They don't really care about anybodys culture or rights. It is a sickness we see everywhere. Too bad.
 
N2S - correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the wood board is there to "catch" the blade, not as a safeguard.

This enables the cutter to "push" through the cut, and do so in confidence. Such a feat requires the full strength of the person, and you wouldn't want to be worried about how much you needed to hold back.
 
For the cow it looks like a pretty quick way to go. I would think the block would be for both follow thru and safety. Wouldn't be too sporty to do a perfect cut thru the cow and then notice you lopped off a portion of yourself as well.

Question? Anyone know what the ghurkas are doing with their rifles in the first picture?
 
I've generally stayed away from posting pix of the marhani Kali puja because it does offend some folks. But I didn't post it so if PETA comes down on us I guess n2s will have to take the heat. I've got some color photos of Kali puja done in Indian Army -- Sonam's Dad's old regiment -- that are considerably "gorier."

A kora is sometimes used -- best to play it safe because if the buff's head doesn't come cleanly off with one blow it spells a year's bad luck for the regiment.
 
Anyone know what the ghurkas are doing with their rifles in the first picture?
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Perhaps, they had been holding their guns on the khukuri guy to encourage him to avoid a year of bad luck. Those Gurkhas a really tough. :D

The official word is that they are loading to fire a salute.

n2s
 
Also, if you eat it, you have to kill it.
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Excellent point! To live we must kill.period. Hell, to walk or drive we must kill (insects, and bigger things depending on how you drive;)) Things that look like us get more sympathy than things that don't. Cows vs. Chimpanzies. I know the thought of eating a monkey makes me queasy:barf: "Speciesism"(sp?) is the term IIRC. Of course in the case of plants vs. animals it would be "Kingdomism"

IMHO, a thread like this that contains a warning in its title is sufficient. If we can discuss khuks for self defense and hacking up a human burglar then this seems fair game to me.
 
There are parts of Nepal where monkeys are real pests and steal so much of the crops they put subsistence farmers at real risk of starving -- so the farmers kill them. And eat them. I've never knowingly eaten monkey meat but who knows? At some bazaars charbroiled monkey meat is standard fare.
 
At the risk of scaring everyone...what is the big deal about cannabalism? I mean, shouldn't the KILLING be the most objectionable part?!? So what if you get hungry after all the work of dispatching your enemy;) :rolleyes:

At some bazaars charbroiled monkey meat is standard fare.
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Thanks for the warning:D
This is going into my notebook for future phototrips--just in case I go to Nepal;) :D
 
From a practical viewpoint we should eat anything that is nourishing but we don't and in my case which I believe is rather typical what I will and won't eat is based largely on psychological considerations.
 
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