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- Mar 5, 1999
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This story was passed on to me by the manager of Stoddards.
Stoddards is the name of a couple of retail knife stores in Boston and I hear they are the oldest continuously operating knife stores in the US. Been in business since 1800 or something like that and highly respected. They have handled a few khukuris over the years and had one 38 inch Janawar Katne hanging on the wall as decoration and coversation piece -- a not for sale item but just part of the decor and ambiance.
A Saudi Prince walks in the store one day, examines some knives, buys 15 or 20 and then asks about the Janawar Katne.
"This is a khukuri from Nepal," the manager says. "It is called a Janawar Katne -- an animal cutter -- and is 38 inches about about 7 or 8 pounds. Made by a company called Himalayan Imports. We keep the knife to generate interest and conversation and it is not for sale."
"Oh, yes it is," replied the prince.
And so it was. The prince walked out with the Janawar Katne along with his other purchases.
Money talks.
The manager declined to tell me what price was charged to get a man on the ladder and haul down the Janawar Katne but he did say there was a "very handsome profit" involved.
Sounds like a John Powell story.
Stoddards is the name of a couple of retail knife stores in Boston and I hear they are the oldest continuously operating knife stores in the US. Been in business since 1800 or something like that and highly respected. They have handled a few khukuris over the years and had one 38 inch Janawar Katne hanging on the wall as decoration and coversation piece -- a not for sale item but just part of the decor and ambiance.
A Saudi Prince walks in the store one day, examines some knives, buys 15 or 20 and then asks about the Janawar Katne.
"This is a khukuri from Nepal," the manager says. "It is called a Janawar Katne -- an animal cutter -- and is 38 inches about about 7 or 8 pounds. Made by a company called Himalayan Imports. We keep the knife to generate interest and conversation and it is not for sale."
"Oh, yes it is," replied the prince.
And so it was. The prince walked out with the Janawar Katne along with his other purchases.
Money talks.
The manager declined to tell me what price was charged to get a man on the ladder and haul down the Janawar Katne but he did say there was a "very handsome profit" involved.
Sounds like a John Powell story.
That is a good one!
