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.
http://i346.photobucket.com/albums/p407/amko1967/IMG_20180111_155657_zpsi3byyc7e.jpg
The Photobucket link above connects to a rather amateurish photo of what I used to think of as my Chainpuri and now believe to be a Panchthar Chitlangi. But you be the judge... details below.
On closer inspection my "Chainpuri" does in fact seem like a single fuller Chitlangi. Since it has a buttplate and a keeper, with cross hatching on bolster and horn handle, guess I will have to call it a Chitlangi...and a Panchthar Chitlangi at that. Here's why:
From the forums: In a Chainpuri the bell pommel is mostly wood, with only a small diamond of brass in the center. Mine isn't, it has a brass buttplate and diamond shaped keeper.
With its single narrow deep fuller on either side and wide convex edged bezels, and bell shaped pommel and brass buttplate and keeper I'm convinced mine is actually a Panchthar Chitlangi.
From my research on these forums Chitlangis come in 3 variants: Standard, Dahrain and Panchthar. Panchthar district is one of 14 districts of Province No. 1 of eastern Nepal. It is a Hill district of eastern Nepal.
Chitlangi handle with a Panchthar style blade (single fuller/chirra) = Panchthar Chitlangi.
Thanks Wolf_1989…you're the man! Here's a link to Wolf's Panchthar Chitlangi on this forum (5th photo on the page below):
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/need-help-with-khukuri-decision-18-fighter.709251/
Geometry/features appear identical to mine. At least to me.
And here's what he has to say about the Panchthar, here:
"My impression of the Panchthar Chitlangi is it's much like a Chainpuri, but with a more robust blade. It handles like a Sirupati but it's slightly heavier" (mine is 23.7 oz.) "and the wide edge bevels endow it with wicked cutting ability. "Where it really shines though, over the standard Chitlangi, is in the stab.
"Because of the wider edge bevels, it has a profile similar to the blade of a katana and would be downright evil to use as a self-defense weapon.
"One thing I can say about the 18.5" Panchthar is this:
"In my opinion, this is the katana of khukuris!
"It is incredibly fast and agile as a cat. The cutting power is phenomenal and equal to my larger khukuris in some ways.
VERY sharp point with excellent penetrating power.
"The panchthar chitlangi would be my #1 pick as a pure self-defense fighting khukuri. I bet this thing would be downright vicious in a street fight."
Amen. High praise indeed.
Exactly what I wanted: a lethal weapon that's rare and collectable.
For those interested in the archives here is the original post by Wolf_1989 on the Panchthar Chitlangi:
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/18-panchthar-chitlangi.563099/
Many thanks, Wolf!
