Single fuller Chitlangi vs "Gelbu Special"?

ndoghouse

ndoghouse

Joined
Aug 26, 2010
Messages
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OK I cant take it anymore! Can someone tell me the difference between a single fuller Chitlangi and a Gelbu Special? When I got my GS on a past DOTD I noticed something very different about the fuller position unlike any other GS. The fuller is entirely on the spine side from the center-line where as the ones in the catalog and all the others I've seen are much wider and cross the center-line. Regardless I love this knife and would not trade it for anything but my curiosity has got the best of me now.
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This is a recent (and beautiful i might add) DOTD Chitlangi with single fuller. Note the wide convex edge bevel.


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This is my "Gelbu Special". Note the wide convex edge bevel just like the one above.


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Here is the Gelbu Special from HI website. Notice how wide and deep the spine fuller is.


Im really wondering if maybe ive got Chitlangi and not GS. I also have a shorter 17,5" Chit and its spine is wider than my 21"GS. Pardon my ignorance but this is one of my favorites and would just like to know for future reference. I have read that GS has similar edge profile as AK but deeper fuller at spine. Maybe I have a Gelbu Special Special?:D

Here's a few pommel shots. They look the same shape to me. The above wood handle is my dui fuller chit..er regular one.
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There are no hatch marks on bolster of the horn handle "GS" or the but-cap.
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They are both Tirthas fine work. Subtle differences are interesting.
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Spine on the shorter one is slightly thicker but not much. I guess all these subtle differences are what makes each piece unique even by the same Kami.
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I'm pretty sure that second photo is of a single-fuller chitlangi, as you suspect. The cross-hatching on the handle, the elaborate sword of shiva on the blade, and most important the high, narrow fuller, all spell chitlangi rather than gelbu. I can't tell from the photo if it has a bell-shaped butt, but I've noticed that the rounded butt on recent chitlangis is often less prominent than in the past.

Whatever you call it, this is a very beautiful blade and no doubt up to any reasonable practical use.
 
Your second knife does look more single fuller than gelbu. It is missing the bell shaped pommel but all the other markers are there. I have a chainpuri that has the same blade shape.

My two older gelbu specials look just like the photo on the HI website.
 
I added a few photos of the pommel to the original post. From what you all are telling me it looks like I have a Single Fuller Chitlangi! Wow! Thanks for the help Dbr and d99. That just reinforces everything I liked about my first Chit but there's a problem...Now I need to buy a Gelbu Special!!!:D
Feel free to post a few GS pics if anyone has them. Thx in advance.
 
Yep! Doesnt have the inlays and cross hatches and looks like all the other GS's ive seen. Im convinced mine is sf Chit. Thanks man! I do like the big hollow fuller. Really cool. Now I want one!
 
I think what you have there, sir, is a very rare hybrid blade, the Chelbugi Special.
 
philllll said:
I think what you have there, sir, is a very rare hybrid blade, the Chelbugi Special.
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Ha! I like it! Tirtha must have gone for a beer and came back to finish the blade and forgot which one he was doing!
Chelbugi!:thumbup:
 
Don't remember where I saw that but i thought it was interesting to be peened in two spots. It may be on some of the ww2 or older ones but dont know. I was thinking it would keep the but-plate more secure and it could not spin that way. I'm just speculating tho. I bet someone here could enlighten us but I dont recall any HI stuff that is double peened...er whatever you call it?
 
falar said:
A Chitlangi is supposed to have the double humps on the buttcap though.
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You are thinking of the Kumar Kobra.
The Chitlangi has a single "hump" because of the keeper.

The triple "humps" on the Kobra do symbolize the three sister mountains of the Himalayas.
Only the center "hump" holds the tang peened thru it.
 
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