"Simi" or "seme" but not semi

[Thomas Linton]

New toy to test at next MWKK.

Stopped at a house sale and they were selling a 20" OA knife that I recognized as being Masai. Turns out its called a "simi" or "seme" -- supposedly "lion" in Masai. Machete analog, wider towards the blunt point and bilaterally symmetrical. Convex edge. Stamped with brand "Brades" and picture of a giraffe. The scabbard is split on one side in recognition of traditional inside conditions in Ohio's winters. Sharp lil' bugger. 3mm thick x 42 cm long blade. 14 cm leather-wrapped handle. Traditionally forged from truck springs.

 

[Bri in Chi]

New toy to test at next MWKK.
Traditionally forged from truck springs.

Or oil drums, as is my experience with African bush cutlery. We'll just have to see how it holds up to Hollow's timber next year
Post a pic, please.

 

[Yvsa]

Me gots one of dem.

Now anyone want to talk about dinky handles.

 

[Thomas Linton]

I can't imagine that the < 1" wide, round handle would be comfortable in extended use.

No pics. I'm technically-challenged and not a "real" member.

(Brian, if you do a Google for "seme" or "simi" plus "knife." You'll see wood-handled and leather-handled models.)

 

[Nasty]

Cool...more choppin' tools!

I just got a BRKT Golok...tried it on some typical Ohio heavy weed growth, huge shrub like things with stems up to 1" across yesterday and slipped through them like paper. It's a different sort of tool...not like a khukuri, but *so* much easier to use when a quick slice is needed. I plan to do some pool noodling and rope trimming just to see it work.

I used it right after a session with my 22" GRS chopping up some tree limbs that had fallen in a friends yard...talk about apples and oranges!

We can have fun next year with that too...

.

 

[not2sharp]

Here is an older one (note the well defined center ridge)

...and, here is a modern rendering made by Blackjack during the 1990s (Simba)

n2s

 

[clearblue]

Here is an older one (note the well defined center ridge)

...and, here is a modern rendering made by Blackjack during the 1990s (Simba)

n2s

Since I can't do pictures, I'm hoping you'll forgive me for using your post to say I picked up 10 of these BlackJack sheaths and would be glad to pass on several of them. They don't work very well for Kukris but are pretty high quality as far as leather sheaths go. If I overstepped the forum rules I trust this post will be deleted.

 

[Yvsa]

Here is an older one (note the well defined center ridge)

n2s

Yup, just like mine right down to the thin wood, leather covered sheath. Looks like it was sewn with some kind of braided grass instead of a bought thread.
Mine appears to be in just a tad better shape, but hard to tell with a pic.

 

[Thomas Linton]

Mine is less elongated.

The lady runnig the sale gave me a copy of East Africa Annual from 1960. One article has a picture of the Queen Mother meeting Masai chiefs. Every chief has a seme on his RIGHT hip. I reminded me that Ghorkas carry their khukuri in the right hip. Seems counterintuitional.

 

[Bri in Chi]

Mine is less elongated.

The lady runnig the sale gave me a copy of East Africa Annual from 1960. One article has a picture of the Queen Mother meeting Masai chiefs. Every chief has a seme on his RIGHT hip. I reminded me that Ghorkas carry their khukuri in the right hip. Seems counterintuitional.

Perhaps not if you're a cross draw type person, Tom. And you have your main weapon a fire-arm on the left hip, for right hand use. Someone should interview and find out. This always flummoxed me too.

But then, in which hand was the Queen Mother carrying her hand bag? Pictures do sometimes get reversed in the printing process...

 

[Thomas Linton]

She was extending what appeared to be her right hand.

Their main weapon is a spear carried in the right hand -- left holds shield.

 

[Dave Rishar]

Left side? Right side? Interesting.

I like to have my khuk hanging on the left side. I prefer a cross draw (with the left hand orienting/steadying the scabbard for a good draw); same hand seems a bit tricky. Additionally, I may have a pistol holster hanging on the right side and there's no sense in cluttering things up. On top of that, I'm not in a combat zone and there's no rush to draw either. I'd like to think that my draw speed on both is fair to good but the only place that I'm held to time on my pistol draw is during qualifications. I'm never held to time with my khukuri draw.

But then I thought about it. What if I had been issued a firearm and a khuk, and I had a burning desire to use both? Simple answer: I'd have my khuk hanging on the right side instead and I'd draw (and use) it with my left hand, while my right hand retained the long gun, as the long gun is what's going to be making the money more often than not.

Just my guess. It would be interesting to hear the thinking behind this.

 

[Thomas Linton]

As you doubtless know, in WWII, the rifle would have been a Short, Magazine Lee Enfield -- held with left, action worked with right. The khuk came out when it was past rifle and bayonet time time (or when quieter deanimation was called for ).

 

[Kismet]

Contemporary pictures of Gurkhas show the khuks carried on right hip, if I recall correctly. The blades are not a quick-draw weapon/tool.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

Their main weapon is a spear carried in the right hand -- left holds shield.

A couple of thousand years ago, when I was in the Roman Army, we carried our shields on the left and wore our swords on the right.

Typical opening move in battle was throwing a few javelins to discombobulate the other side, then follow up with the sword -- no rush drawing it at that distance.

I vaguely remember an anthropology text describing the simi as a Masai sword, and claiming one man killed a lion with it. I would hate to be reduced to that. How rigid is the shaft?

 

[Yvsa]

I vaguely remember an anthropology text describing the simi as a Masai sword, and claiming one man killed a lion with it. I would hate to be reduced to that. How rigid is the shaft?

I would most certainly hate to try and kill a lion with a Simi, even when I was at my peak! Not because it's not ample to do so but because of the tiny grip mine has.
I would think it would turn even in my hand let alone a Masai's hand.

The shaft leading up to the hammered leaf blade is quite rigid.
Maybe I'll take mine off the wall and get some measurements sometime today if anyone would like that.
I do have to say that mine at least is a wonderful example of a primitive smith's work made on a rock and hammered with another in the midst of the bush.