Tell me a little about Purna Kami....

M

mtngunr

Joined
Apr 10, 2005
Messages
1,072
He seems to be highly regarded but also seems to be a later arrival than my time when i bought directly from Bill in the late 90s and still not mentioned in any listing back circa 2008 when the shop's generosity to new kami's in advanced pay was repaid by them stealing and never showing up.

So when did Purna Kami make it on the scene and those who have used his blades hard, or tested them as Bill formerly did, are welcome to chime in with lauds on his workmanship....or anyone who knows of his background, training, what part of Nepal he hails from, which tribe/ethnic group, language he grew up speaking etc?

Tell me about the man....i would like to know him...
 
Last edited:
No "may" about it....i have been absent from this forum for probably 10yrs (to best of recollection) until maybe 6wks ago....a new new guy...sounds like a good catch and would be interesting to me (if not done elsewhere) to hear a list of their current stable of talented makers.

And, of course, reviews by users and abusers welcome...
 
Last edited:
I've got a purna Dui Chirra (nearly the same specs as the one in the thread) that I love to death, but I try to keep the mirror finish as good looking as possible so it's not my primary user. The handle feels perfect and the drop just enforces the chop that much better.
 
Bookie was using such kukri as a throwing knife. I guess he'll chime in a little bit later.
 
I haven't used my Purna Chainpuri for much of anything, but it is beautifully made. Purna was one of the kami who ended up homeless after the earthquake, when it destroyed his apartment.
 
TBH, I'd also like to see more reviews from the new kamis; most seem to be centered on beauty, and not functionality. Not that there's anything wrong to own a knife as an investment, or just for the sake of owning it.
 
All depends on what you want to use em for. They all function extremely well for purpose and some talented folks such as Bookie can even throw em, guess thats an added bonus.
 
I need a wife like that....guess i had better book a flight(s) to Nepal.

Just posted on my new WWII that i just found it made by Ganga Kami. Both he and Purna are from Dharan, and i can tell you my WWII is doing great to date on limbs and small trees...i have zero complaints and only normal raves for everything about the knife....i rate it with my Randalls when taking into account what shop equipment differences exist, and of course i consider it, as i did my old Ang Khola of combat tours and deployments, the toughest and most trustworthy large blade on the planet.....if i thought there was better for the job, i would buy it...no USA ABS MASTER rated smith makes anything like it....because this one already has 100's of years of what works and what doesn't behind it...

I am grieved over kamis and other workers losing their possessions, especially those who are married, and i help in what little way i can, and plan to do more.

Thank you all for the insight...

PS...just wanted to clarify the "what works" comment. As a Randall dealer was talking to me and us discussing them training up some new guys, he put it well with, "they could train you or i to make a knife in three days....of course they would lose their (expletive deleted) if that was all they all could manage, plus, even then, our knives would not be able to do what theirs do due to subtleties to blade and edge geometry and profile.."

To this i would again add these kamis know what makes the knives tick, and nobody over here could duplicate it without totally understanding and using the knives for their intended purpose...and that would take a lifetime in Nepal to understand...
 
Last edited:
Moonw said:
TBH, I'd also like to see more reviews from the new kamis; most seem to be centered on beauty, and not functionality. Not that there's anything wrong to own a knife as an investment, or just for the sake of owning it.
Click to expand...

Hard to take photos while prying, but after whacking posts and old railing of boardwalk in danger of breaking them with flats and spine of blade, i pried between planks shoving one on far side further over, and opened gap on near one which was starting to lift and pull adjacent screws and i stopped before i wrecked the walk...a little tape to protect finish from wood with much dirt embedded.....sorry for blurred shot but was shaking while holding pressure and managing camera....

 
I really like my Dui Chirra from Purna, it's a bit heavier at 34 oz at an 18" length but it's balanced pretty well with the chiruwa handle. Took it out to the creek to clear out some trees the beavers felled directly into my fishing hole. Thing is they weren't kind enough to move them for me.
C43D6783-AE6F-433D-8AF0-8034B091AF0E.jpg
 
mtngunr said:
Hard to take photos while prying, but after whacking posts and old railing of boardwalk in danger of breaking them with flats and spine of blade, i pried between planks shoving one on far side further over, and opened gap on near one which was starting to lift and pull adjacent screws and i stopped before i wrecked the walk...a little tape to protect finish from wood with much dirt embedded.....sorry for blurred shot but was shaking while holding pressure and managing camera....

Click to expand...

That's what I'm talkin' about. Scratches make knives even prettier!
 
Well...i used tape to prevent useless scratches just from testing integrity in a known gritty environment...rather like chopping sandy logs to test cutting...i do not mind use scratches but hate idiot marks...
 
Dang, I couldn't even tell there was a tape; on my tablet, pictures were smaller, and I was about to fall asleep when I was checking the forum for the last time.

Anyway, when it comes to "idiot marks"...again I agree...I don't want my knife to tell such a story about its owner...as being an idiot...you are correct, Sir. :)
 
Well i DID find out more about the kami (or will, when i watch the video).....and the video only found by accident in the linked thread and only via going back a page on the supplied link, again, quite by chance...

VIDEO?!......kindly point me towards link on this forum or main HI site which sends a newcomer or guy absent for 10 yrs to a video or videos site (cannot access at work)? I surely missed it....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top