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- Mar 5, 1999
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Called Kami this weekend and here's some news on shop 2. It is up and running with three master kamis. First run is six 20 inch Sirupatis. As expected, it is slow getting started and slow going.
One master kami attracted by the better pay came over from a production shop. He pounded on a spring all day long and at quitting time looked at his progress, shook his head and said, "I have been making "maasu katnes" (meat cutters -- what the kamis call the less than best khukuris made in a production shop) for so long I have forgotten how to make a decent khukuri." He really hasn't forgotten how he has just forgotten how long it takes, especially when the boss is looking over your shoulder.
Kami has instituted a couple of changes in shop 2. One is the buttcap. The traditional buttcap is the biggest source of complaint and of failure. It is too sharp because of the eye shape, it likes to come loose because it is hard to fit with the boiling Himalayan epoxy, and it is basically just too flimsy to be of much use. Even the scrolled two piece HI buttcap made at shop 1 although not flimsy is subject to digging into the hand and loosening. So shop 2 khukuris will have a buttcap like the Gangaola khukuri. A somewhat thick brass plate with a sort of Z shaped keeper. This cap is anchored in two places to the handle and is held in place by the mushroomed tang. It will not dig into the hand and will not loosen -- a major improvement. And, it is traditional but harks back to an older tradition.
The second change will be the use of a few power tools. Bench grinder, a couple of hand drills and grinders, and maybe a drill press a little later.
It will be interesting to see just how long it takes three master kamis to produce six 20 inch Sirupatis at shop 2. My guess is at least two weeks.
Do you want us to number these runs? Blades will, of course, have the HI logo but it will probably look a little different than shop 1 logo.
Uncle Bill
One master kami attracted by the better pay came over from a production shop. He pounded on a spring all day long and at quitting time looked at his progress, shook his head and said, "I have been making "maasu katnes" (meat cutters -- what the kamis call the less than best khukuris made in a production shop) for so long I have forgotten how to make a decent khukuri." He really hasn't forgotten how he has just forgotten how long it takes, especially when the boss is looking over your shoulder.
Kami has instituted a couple of changes in shop 2. One is the buttcap. The traditional buttcap is the biggest source of complaint and of failure. It is too sharp because of the eye shape, it likes to come loose because it is hard to fit with the boiling Himalayan epoxy, and it is basically just too flimsy to be of much use. Even the scrolled two piece HI buttcap made at shop 1 although not flimsy is subject to digging into the hand and loosening. So shop 2 khukuris will have a buttcap like the Gangaola khukuri. A somewhat thick brass plate with a sort of Z shaped keeper. This cap is anchored in two places to the handle and is held in place by the mushroomed tang. It will not dig into the hand and will not loosen -- a major improvement. And, it is traditional but harks back to an older tradition.
The second change will be the use of a few power tools. Bench grinder, a couple of hand drills and grinders, and maybe a drill press a little later.
It will be interesting to see just how long it takes three master kamis to produce six 20 inch Sirupatis at shop 2. My guess is at least two weeks.
Do you want us to number these runs? Blades will, of course, have the HI logo but it will probably look a little different than shop 1 logo.
Uncle Bill
