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- Mar 9, 1999
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Seems I have a penchant for leaving out days in these calendars. Here is the corrected version and when I post May would someone please proof-read it? I seem to be incapable of counting anymore.
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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
oops redux
- Thread starter John Powell
- Start date
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- Jun 16, 2003
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- 20,207
The khukuri looks as lovely as ever.
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2002
- Messages
- 3,229
Thanks for sharing.
That ones got some nice extras.
Spiral
That ones got some nice extras.
Spiral
- Joined
- Mar 9, 1999
- Messages
- 1,440
Thanks for the nice words and overlooking my mistakes on these calendars. I also produce a non-kukri version for the Ethnographic Edged Weapons Forum.
Probably too long a post, but here is the latest version of the chapter about the trousse. I hope you find it interesting.
The Trousse and Other Unique Kukris
The kukri that comes with multiple tools in the scabbard is one of interest because its origins are easily discerned while its use is not. The kukris themselves are standard blade design from western Nepal, but the variety of tools are what lift these from the ordinary. For lack of a better term I have classified this type by taking the name of trousse from the ancient hunting knives once found in Germany and Silesia. (fig. 8-1)
Quality on all seem to be of high calibre indicating that the owners were of some importnace beyond the norm although their caste would keep them at the lower scale as tinkers or shamans. The scabbards especially had to be a bit better enginered since in addition to holding the kalti
There were separate sheaths for up to 14 smaller items.(fig. 8-2) The carrying device was always the strap and button method found on all traditional kukris and some went as far as to be in kothimora livery. Grips on the kukri itself can be found in walnut, polished horn and bone to the rare giraffe horn and even ivory. (fig. 8-3) It appears the best pieces had matching handle material for the kukri and the arsenal of small tools.
The earlier models carried more items than the 20thc offspring perhaps because less application was needed as Nepal entered more and more into modern times. The closest thing to a standard example would find 8 tools that would include the regular karda and chakmak. The number and variety go up from there and include the same tool in 2 or 3 sizes. Miniature saws, files, scissors and pliers appear along with piercing tools and scalpel like blades. (fig. 8-4)
No written descriptions of the trousse or who carried them exist, but off-hand mention comes from stories about day by day life in the hills. One story from a 19th botanist refers to the tinkers knife having as many uses as there were small metal imlplements is intriguing but sadly doesnt go into those uses. The tinker would have had many odd jobs to attend to as he went from village to village and his role as a type of shaman could also have been included. Whether he acted as a spiritual man is pure speculation, but he probably could repair everything from worn out clothing and shoes to minor metal or wood work. He also could sell whatever type goods he accumulated in his travels and barter services for food and lodging. And if he could sew up a coat he could probably sew up a wound. Various sized needles appear in the pouch itself although I have yet to see any type string or thread. His chisel would work equally well on fixing a bobbin as chipping at a piece of bone. Medical personnel have compared many of the items found with the trousse to surgical tools still used today adding to the possiblity of surgical and tonsorial abilities. What appear to be buttonhooks are similar to clamps and todays tool that holds open a wound during an operation. The short and long corkscrews were used for boring an opening while the specialised hooks and flattened blades resemble scalpels and are just as sharp.
The earliest example shown comes from the mid 19thc
And contains 13 tools (fig. 8-5). The style of the tools is also a clue to the age of the trousse. The small saws are a great indicator of age as is the addition of scissors or any obvious 20thc item. These multiple miniature scabbards appear to have been a catch-all with disparate pieces showing up, but the reverse also applies in that many of the items have disappeared leaving the new owner wondering what could have been in there.
Probably too long a post, but here is the latest version of the chapter about the trousse. I hope you find it interesting.
The Trousse and Other Unique Kukris
The kukri that comes with multiple tools in the scabbard is one of interest because its origins are easily discerned while its use is not. The kukris themselves are standard blade design from western Nepal, but the variety of tools are what lift these from the ordinary. For lack of a better term I have classified this type by taking the name of trousse from the ancient hunting knives once found in Germany and Silesia. (fig. 8-1)
Quality on all seem to be of high calibre indicating that the owners were of some importnace beyond the norm although their caste would keep them at the lower scale as tinkers or shamans. The scabbards especially had to be a bit better enginered since in addition to holding the kalti
There were separate sheaths for up to 14 smaller items.(fig. 8-2) The carrying device was always the strap and button method found on all traditional kukris and some went as far as to be in kothimora livery. Grips on the kukri itself can be found in walnut, polished horn and bone to the rare giraffe horn and even ivory. (fig. 8-3) It appears the best pieces had matching handle material for the kukri and the arsenal of small tools.
The earlier models carried more items than the 20thc offspring perhaps because less application was needed as Nepal entered more and more into modern times. The closest thing to a standard example would find 8 tools that would include the regular karda and chakmak. The number and variety go up from there and include the same tool in 2 or 3 sizes. Miniature saws, files, scissors and pliers appear along with piercing tools and scalpel like blades. (fig. 8-4)
No written descriptions of the trousse or who carried them exist, but off-hand mention comes from stories about day by day life in the hills. One story from a 19th botanist refers to the tinkers knife having as many uses as there were small metal imlplements is intriguing but sadly doesnt go into those uses. The tinker would have had many odd jobs to attend to as he went from village to village and his role as a type of shaman could also have been included. Whether he acted as a spiritual man is pure speculation, but he probably could repair everything from worn out clothing and shoes to minor metal or wood work. He also could sell whatever type goods he accumulated in his travels and barter services for food and lodging. And if he could sew up a coat he could probably sew up a wound. Various sized needles appear in the pouch itself although I have yet to see any type string or thread. His chisel would work equally well on fixing a bobbin as chipping at a piece of bone. Medical personnel have compared many of the items found with the trousse to surgical tools still used today adding to the possiblity of surgical and tonsorial abilities. What appear to be buttonhooks are similar to clamps and todays tool that holds open a wound during an operation. The short and long corkscrews were used for boring an opening while the specialised hooks and flattened blades resemble scalpels and are just as sharp.
The earliest example shown comes from the mid 19thc
And contains 13 tools (fig. 8-5). The style of the tools is also a clue to the age of the trousse. The small saws are a great indicator of age as is the addition of scissors or any obvious 20thc item. These multiple miniature scabbards appear to have been a catch-all with disparate pieces showing up, but the reverse also applies in that many of the items have disappeared leaving the new owner wondering what could have been in there.
- Joined
- May 5, 1999
- Messages
- 3,065
John,
Many thanks for the trousse info. The idea of using the tools for surgery makes a great deal of sense - I have always been bothered by the apparent foppishness of buttonhooks, but a surgical retractor would be a useful tool. Might also come in handy for some rough-and-ready dental use, i.e. extractions. Will run that one by my brother the dentist and see what he thinks.
Berk
Many thanks for the trousse info. The idea of using the tools for surgery makes a great deal of sense - I have always been bothered by the apparent foppishness of buttonhooks, but a surgical retractor would be a useful tool. Might also come in handy for some rough-and-ready dental use, i.e. extractions. Will run that one by my brother the dentist and see what he thinks.
Berk
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2002
- Messages
- 3,229
Interesting stuff, JP. Thanks.
Spiral
Spiral