- Joined
- May 5, 1999
- Messages
- 3,065
Uncle,
The big dui chirra by Bura arrived today, and it is an impressive piece. I think it proves that the kamis can closely duplicate any old design using an accurate mold of the original. There are a few minor differences, but most are attributable to failure on this end to communicate all the design parameters of the original. The new one is heavier, though not unpleasantly so, and looking at the two side by side I realize why, as you said, half a mold doesn't give the kami enough info. The difference is in distal taper. The new one follows standard BirGorkha practice: spine of uniform thickness from bolster to a point above the sweet spot, slight taper to a point .5" from the tip, then a sharp taper for the last .5". The original is uniform from the bolster to the point where the blade begins to curve downward, then tapers uniformly to the tip. There is no way Bura could have discerned this from the model, and it wasn't until I held the two side by side that I realized how much distal taper the original has. Also, as I noted, the cho on the new version is about .25" farther toward the tip than the original. I suspect the kamis have moved the cho forward for reasons of greater strength, and are not inclined to revert to ancient practices they consider inferior. In fact the entire area from cho to bolster is beefier on the new one, which doesn't detract from the aesthetics.
Other than that, seeing the two together is an eerie experience, like looking at 2 knives from the same production run, one of which got rode hard and put away wet, and one of which is still as new. The old one fits in the new scabbard, though about an eighth of an inch of blade shows. With the weathered leather and the beautiful karda and chakma, it looks like a perfect original rig, complete with tinder pouch. I am sure you are right about the age of the horn handles; they have a wonderful age patina, although the blades are new and terrific.
The matching frog makes the sash-type scabbard extremely versatile. I envision displaying it with the old khukuri and the horn handled knives, then putting the new one in it, adding the frog, and substituting a newer pair of knives for field use.
The wood certainly could be chandan, but needs an application of Murphy soap and some Tru Oil before I can make a comparison. Whatever, it's going to be wonderful for practicing advanced woodchuckery.
I could go on and on in great detail, and would cheerfully do so but for fear of using more bandwidth and patience than I'm entitled to. Will gladly answer any questions by email.
Taken all together, I think it's an eleven out of ten production. My sincerest thanks to all whose efforts have contributed to bringing it about.
Berk
The big dui chirra by Bura arrived today, and it is an impressive piece. I think it proves that the kamis can closely duplicate any old design using an accurate mold of the original. There are a few minor differences, but most are attributable to failure on this end to communicate all the design parameters of the original. The new one is heavier, though not unpleasantly so, and looking at the two side by side I realize why, as you said, half a mold doesn't give the kami enough info. The difference is in distal taper. The new one follows standard BirGorkha practice: spine of uniform thickness from bolster to a point above the sweet spot, slight taper to a point .5" from the tip, then a sharp taper for the last .5". The original is uniform from the bolster to the point where the blade begins to curve downward, then tapers uniformly to the tip. There is no way Bura could have discerned this from the model, and it wasn't until I held the two side by side that I realized how much distal taper the original has. Also, as I noted, the cho on the new version is about .25" farther toward the tip than the original. I suspect the kamis have moved the cho forward for reasons of greater strength, and are not inclined to revert to ancient practices they consider inferior. In fact the entire area from cho to bolster is beefier on the new one, which doesn't detract from the aesthetics.
Other than that, seeing the two together is an eerie experience, like looking at 2 knives from the same production run, one of which got rode hard and put away wet, and one of which is still as new. The old one fits in the new scabbard, though about an eighth of an inch of blade shows. With the weathered leather and the beautiful karda and chakma, it looks like a perfect original rig, complete with tinder pouch. I am sure you are right about the age of the horn handles; they have a wonderful age patina, although the blades are new and terrific.
The matching frog makes the sash-type scabbard extremely versatile. I envision displaying it with the old khukuri and the horn handled knives, then putting the new one in it, adding the frog, and substituting a newer pair of knives for field use.
The wood certainly could be chandan, but needs an application of Murphy soap and some Tru Oil before I can make a comparison. Whatever, it's going to be wonderful for practicing advanced woodchuckery.
I could go on and on in great detail, and would cheerfully do so but for fear of using more bandwidth and patience than I'm entitled to. Will gladly answer any questions by email.
Taken all together, I think it's an eleven out of ten production. My sincerest thanks to all whose efforts have contributed to bringing it about.
Berk
I would be ordering one now if I had the money.