"Snow Leopard" question

[Bruce E]

Way back, when the first posting of the Snow Leopard khuk was posted, the original photo showed the handle carved to look like a leopard. I received mine a month or so ago, and it has the standard flaring wood handle. Was the carved handle just on the first one? I sorta thought it would be standard, ala Hanuman.

Also, I read in the FAQ a description of the marks now being used by the various kamis. Where is the mark located? I can't seem to find them on either the Snow Leopard or Friendship Special.

 

[Steven F]

Bruce, I believe there must have been a mistake regarding your "Snow Leopard." You definitely need to email Uncle Bill about it, because all the "Snow Leopards" are supposed to have the same distinctive handle.

As far as the marks of the kamis are concerned, they're supposed to be readily visible on one side or the other of the blades, near the bolsters. My recently acquired khukuris also lacked kami markings.

 

[Bill Martino]

Bruce if you got a Snow Leopard with a standard handle you didn't get a Snow Leopard. Let me know. A Snow Leopard should have a likeness of something that at least resembles a cat carved on the handle.

However, the Friendship Special was dreamed up by Bura and made only by him, mark or no.

The kamis got to marking their blades when I was in Nepal and barking about it every day and they kept it up a month or two. Then they drifted back to their old ways. They just can't get it that we think the marking is important. If the knife works and looks okay, isn't that the main thing? Why bother to mark it? What good does a mark do for the knife anyway?

See what I'm up against. I sent email just today threatening to return knives that are not marked. Everybody knows I won't really do it because the freight would run the knife price up so high I'd never be able to sell it -- but I can make the theat anyway and hope they get the idea.

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Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ