Picture of Howards Tibeten Knive.

Bill Martino

Bill Martino

Joined
Mar 5, 1999
Messages
34,096
tibetanknife.jpg


This is it.
 
Thanks for posting the picture, Bill. This illustrates the story in the "Tibetan Knives" thread at http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=309680 .

This style of handle, like the traditional khukuri handle, has stood the test of time for centuries. This type of knife is meant for everyday carry and utility use. Carving a chunk of meat off a roast leg of yak, stabbing someone, sharpening pencils, cutting a walking staff, etc. The handle is quite comfortable and secure for this type of use. The narrow section enables a good grip with resistance against slipping forward or backward. Only the first 3 of my fingers grip the knife, with the little finger folding under the butt. Similar to the grip on a S&W J frame. Someone who uses a knife all day, like a butcher, would choose a different style of handle. For its intended occasional use and everyday carry the short handle is excellent. Shorter handle also makes for easier carry and less poking and discomfort from the knife/sheath combo.

This was made by a family shop that had been in business for generations. I saw a lot of this style of knife around but most were of lower quality. I even picked up one of those and spent some time putting a decent edge on it. Even the cheap one will serve the purpose for which it was intended. The pictured one is of substantially higher quality though. I suspect the mark is the family’s symbol.

Sorry, Bruise, it’s not a Hattori Hanzo. I’m not sure just what the mark says but I do know it’s not that. Kind of funny how I know. There was this blonde babe in the shop in front of me. She was complaining bitterly about her “Hanzo,” how it had become dull after only a few weeks use. The shopkeeper said he had something to show her, and brought out a blade similar to mine. She looked it over carefully and seemed pleased. She asked if she could try it out and when the shopkeeper agreed she pulled a leg of mutton from her daypack and began hacking at it. When she had shredded it and chopped the bone into little pieces she declared the blade superior to her Hattori Hanzo and said she would take it. She appeared to be entranced by the blade, standing with her back to me and the shopkeeper while he figured the total. When he was done, I, in an attempt to move things along and get to my business with him, innocently said, "Miss, the shopkeeper has your BILL." She instantly whirled around and with a deft motion cut the piece of paper the shopkeeper was holding into several pieces. She seemed embarrassed and apologized profusely as she paid, saying she was a little jumpy.

After she left the shopkeeper looked at me and said, “Now I can bring out the top quality blades.” That’s when he showed me the knife in the picture above.

Honest!
 
Thanks for the explanation about the handle, Howard. Now you just have to explain how we can get one of them (the whole knife, not just the handle). Good story about the girl, too.
 
Similar knives turn up on e-bay from time to time but you take your chance as to quality. I would guess you would get low quality by gambling on E-bay much more frequently than high quality.

The shop I bought from wasn't permitted to sell outside the local area. They expressed some interest in internet sales but did not know how to go about getting something like that set up. No one there spoke English, and my Chinese is terrible enough that all communication was through a translator.

I think the best way to get a high quality knife of this type would be to convince HI to do a run. This style is known just about anywhere there are Tibetans, and Kathmandu certainly qualifies. I remember seeing some when I was in Nepal in the late 70's in the Tibetan shops. The kamis should be familiar with the style and should be able to easily obtain models. If it was communicated that we wanted the finest knife of this type ever forged, differentially hardened, with only the finest horn and silver work I think an excellent product would emerge from Bir Gorkha. I would bet that the quality would surpass most of the knives of this type that are in actual use, and I'm confident a Bir Gorkha product would be true to the tradition and history of these knives.

Besides, it might give Bill something to sell while he figures out what to do with his 200 standard models.
 
Very cool design, I like it. Tibetan kabar :)
The handle doesn't look so bad; I can imagine atwo finger grip around the horn part, and palming the huge pommel.
 
The blade design looks great.

Though I might still have some reservations about the handle, I can certainly see that it could be a nice 2 1/2 or 3 finger grip. Certainly the grip might be as good or better than on many folding knives, and it sounds like the application for this type of knife is similar to what people here use folding knives for.

And it looks very pretty. No doubt about that.

Nice one.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top