Pretty, lethal: Panchthar Chitlangi

A

Amko

Joined
Jun 15, 2017
Messages
485
So the 18.5" Purna Chainpuri (edit: sorry its actually a Panchthar Chitlangi, details later on in this thread) is finally in my hands (and head, and heart) and boy was it worth the long (12 days to India : Reno-Clearwater-Memphis-Paris-New Delhi-Pune) wait. The reason for that is that HI do not ship to India, I use a US mail forwarder.

As soon as it was in my hands I knew straight off it would be a serious contender for my affection, and in real danger of dislodging my CAK and M-43 from their exalted pedestal.

Thanks to Auntie first and foremost, she is the best. Kudos to Purna for a beautifully crafted piece of art...this is the lightest (23.7 oz.), fastest and most graceful khukuri in my admittedly modest collection. More later in a separate thread with an objective review.

Thanks again to everyone who weighed in on the fighter thread, elsewhere here!

Given its gorgeous aesthetics, its distinctive slim horn handle, slender blade and perfect single fuller on either side (nice checkerwork on handle/ring and Sword of Shiva/scrollwork and inlay, closed Cho - pariwa ka aka) I've had no choice but to decide this Chainpuri is show quality and will probably never be used to chop, unless it's called upon to defend the owner, which I'm confident it's highly capable of (lightning quick and looks more like a Kobra). I have no qualms about relegating it to "museum queen" status. This one is destined to be regarded with envious eyes. Heirloom material for sure.

Needless to add, I highly recommend getting one, if you're interested in a light fighter that also gives you great pleasure just holding it in your hands. It is unfortunately not featured on the HI website and may be under-rated (Edit: Scara disagrees - apparently Chainpuris are as highly regarded and sharked, so I stand corrected) but perhaps this only adds to its undeniable charm.

From reading the archives the Chainpuri is used for domestic chores, household decoration and tourist sales and as a ceremonial knife. Be that as it may, this Purna with its stabby point (the pointiest among my HIs) and shaving sharp edge is as lethal a weapon as the best of them, and deceptively so. It may possess amazing grace - but it's a man-stopper.
 
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Ahhhhh....yet another forumite hath become mesmerized by the hypnotic spell cast by one of HI's exotic Nepali iron goddesses from Kathmandu. It's siren's song was irresistibly inescapable and hath consumed his heart and soul. His joy and sheer satisfaction may be felt from the rapture that exudes from his missive of love above....ahhhhh, sweet mystery of life.
 
Amko said:
So the 18.5" Purna Chainpuri is finally in my hands (and head, and heart) and boy was it worth the (12 day to India - Reno-Clearwater-Memphis-Paris-New Delhi-Pune) wait. As soon as it was in my hands I knew straight off it would be a serious contender for my affection, and in real danger of dislodging my CAK and M-43 from their exalted pedestal.

Thanks to Auntie first and foremost, she is the best. Kudos to Purna for a beautifully crafted piece of art...this is the prettiest, lightest (23 oz.), fastest and most graceful khukuri in my admittedly modest collection. More later in a separate thread with an objective review.

Thanks again to everyone who weighed in on the fighter thread, elsewhere here!

Given its gorgeous aesthetics, its distinctive slim horn handle, slender blade and perfect single fuller on either side (plus checkerwork on handle/ring, embellishments on blade) I've had no choice but to decide this Chainpuri is show quality and will probably never be used, unless it's called upon to defend the owner, which I'm confident it's highly capable of (lightning quick and looks more like a Kobra). I have no qualms about relegating it to "museum queen" status. This one is destined to be regarded with envious eyes.

Needless to add, I highly recommend getting one, if you're interested in a light fighter that also gives you great pleasure just holding it in your hands. It is unfortunately not featured on the HI website and may be under-rated, but perhaps this only adds to its undeniable charm.

Some say the Chainpuri is a ceremonial knife at best. Perish the thought, this Purna with its stabby point (the pointest among my HIs) and shaving sharp edge is potentially lethal, and deceptively so. It may possess amazing grace - but it's a man-stopper.
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I’m with you on museum quality work for sure. I know for a certain that I’ve got 2, 21” Purna Chainpuris but I need to dig them out and get a “total” count of my Chainpuris!
 
Amko, this is off the record but there's a guy selling a 21” chitlangi. At least that’s what he advertised it to be. He first said it was made by Kumar. I corrected him because it’s the “bull headed” Kami mark on it. Upon observation, it looks a lot like my 21” Chainpuris! Thought you might like to check it out and tell me if it favors the Chainpuri.
Just do your search typing in
Himalayan imports.
 
Yours is shaving sharp? How is it that I have bought so many knives reputed to be that sharp, but mine never are? I should probably invest in the equipment for sharpening a convex edge. But I'm glad to hear you like your Chainpuri. I quite like mine. I don't think anyone underrates them though, because whenever one comes up for sale it gets sharked quickly. They are just such good blades, and Purna is just that talented.
 
Mr A: In the seller's description he says: "Downsizing my blade collection. This is the 21 inch Chitlangi with wood handle and has not been cut with ever since purchasing from Himalayan Imports. The Kami who made this is Purna."
In a thread I created elsewhere on the forum ("The next one!") I asked if the Chainpuri was in fact a single fuller Chitlangi. Comparing the 21" Chitlangi in the eBay listing to my Chainpuri, they seem virtually identical but perhaps mine has a narrower blade, like a Kobra (even accounting for the size difference between a 21" and 18"). And yes that is a Purna: his mark and the Devnagari characters, Pu Ra, appear authentic. The price, for a Purna in mint condition, appears fair. I also notice the seller has a Purna Kobra in mint condition on auction.
Edit: I may be going out on a limb here but perhaps this is Purna's earlier work. The Cho is not well formed in both the Chitlangi and Kobra or maybe he just got better over time.
 
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Amko said:
Mr A: In the eBay seller's description he says: "Downsizing my blade collection. This is the 21 inch Chitlangi with wood handle and has not been cut with ever since purchasing from Himalayan Imports. The Kami who made this is Purna."
In a thread I created elsewhere on the forum ("The next one!") I asked if the Chainpuri was in fact a single fuller Chitlangi. Comparing the 21" Chitlangi in the eBay listing to my Chainpuri, they seem virtually identical but perhaps mine has a narrower blade (even accounting for the size difference between a 21" and 18"). And yes that is a Purna: his mark and the Devnagari characters, Pu Ra, appear authentic. The price, for a Purna in mint condition, appears fair. I also notice the seller has a Purna Kobra in mint condition on auction.
Edit: I may be going out on a limb here but perhaps this is Purna's earlier work. The Cho is not well formed in both the Chitlangi and Kobra or maybe he just got better over time.
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When the knife was first listed, they said it was made by Kami Kumar. I sent a message correcting that and they changed it to Purna. Just thought you might like to watch those.
I REALLY like the 21” Ang Khola Bowie by Vim!! Such a dream knife!
 
Amko said:
https://bladeforums.com/threads/ang-khola-bowie.1505015/

Just read good things about it. Admittedly not turned on to this type of knife yet but always willing to learn. How do you like your AKB?
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It took me at least 6 months before I gave in to it! Ndog kept telling me I’ve got to get one!
........it just didn’t look like a kuk!! I watched his YouTube video and other photos he sent me convinced me to try it. My first was a Kumar! Fell in love with it! Like ndog said, “ it’s an excellent camp knife”!
My second and third were Ram Kumar! Love love love them!!! All are 15”! If you can get past the look......which should have never bothered me....I’ve been use to the American camp knife look since the 1980’s! Still have one that looks similar!
 
George Azar said:
It took me at least 6 months before I gave in to it! Ndog kept telling me I’ve got to get one!
........it just didn’t look like a kuk!! I watched his YouTube video and other photos he sent me convinced me to try it. My first was a Kumar! Fell in love with it! Like ndog said, “ it’s an excellent camp knife”!
My second and third were Ram Kumar! Love love love them!!! All are 15”! If you can get past the look......which should have never bothered me....I’ve been use to the American camp knife look since the 1980’s! Still have one that looks similar!
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Ndog!!!
 
George Azar said:
... Ndog kept telling me I’ve got to get one!
.......
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Ya See! I went an tole ya George! Thats all I can do next to makin ya eat one;) I need to do a video of the folder AKB now that its done! I forgot about that one. The AKB's are surprisingly Khukri! I especially like the ones with more pronounced recurve. Some are almost flat and they are awesome as well especially for those liking to sharpen on flat stones but I like the recurve and pronounced fullers myself. Its really interesting to see the variations on each Kami's interpretation. All in all I have to thank and blame Steely probably mostly for convincing me to get my first.

Mr. A: I think I saw that 21" and if its the same one That was a beauty for sure! It was a Single fuller Chitlangi. If I already didnt have one id have bid on it but that was one really sweet blade! Grats to the new owner of that one! Fast and magical!
 
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I got the 21" Purna Chitlangi, and the 18" Purna Kobra as well. The 21" blade is indeed a single fuller Chitlangi. I have a Chainpuri of the same size. The most obvious difference in the two models is that the Chainpuris have a keeper at the end of the butt, but no buttplate. Also, in my observation the Chainpuri blades are a little pointier than the Chitlangis, for a given length.

Here are two pictures for comparison. The first is a single fuller 20.5" Chitlangi; the second is a 21" Chainpuri with a beautifully carved handle. Both were made by former HI kami, Lokendra. Both weigh 26 oz.

Chitlangi20.5-Lokendra-for-Dave-01cr-26ozHorn.jpg Chainpuri21-Limbuwan-Lokendra26oz-for-Dave-01.jpg
 
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davidf99 said:
I got the 21" Purna Chitlangi, and the 18" Purna Kobra as well. The 21" blade is indeed a single fuller Chitlangi. I have a Chainpuri of the same size. The most obvious difference in the two models is that the Chainpuris have a keeper at the end of the butt, but no buttplate. Also, in my observation the Chainpuri blades are a little pointier than the Chitlangis, for a given length.

Here are two pictures for comparison. The first is a single fuller 20.5" Chitlangi; the second is a 21" Chainpuri with a beautifully carved handle. Both were made by former HI kami, Lokendra. Both weigh 26 oz.

View attachment 829588 View attachment 829587
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David, did you win both of these on the other bidding place where you won the ultimate fighter?
 
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