The Royal Kami sends me a Banspati khukuri.

Bill Martino

Bill Martino

Joined
Mar 5, 1999
Messages
34,096
<img src = "http://members.aol.com/yangduspag/pict16.jpg">

<img src = "http://members.aol.com/yangduspag/pict67.jpg">

<img src = "http://members.aol.com/yangduspag/pict68.jpg">

The Royal Kami, the old master kami who makes khukuris for the king of Nepal and a few higher ups, dropped by shop 2 to make me a "Banspati" khukuri and here it is.

WARNING!! THIS KHUKURI IS NOT FOR SALE!!!!

I have seen perhaps two or three hundred commercial copies of this knife over the years and did not see one I cared to purchase, let alone put it into my collection, but this one is headed under the bed right now. I am taking no chances with it. It is not getting away from me at any price. This is one of the finest examples of both metal craftmanship and engraving I have ever seen. And, the kicker is, the Royal Kami did the engraving himself -- three to four day effort.

The blade is recycled spring and excellently done, handle is brass sheet ("thick") imported from Japan. Handle is engraved with symbols similar to those seen on karda and chakma, including "Sri Pance" the symbol of royalty. Notice Nepal motif of tiger, yak, elephant and owls. The Royal Kami saw a Hanuman khukuri specially engraved for ghost and said I can make a better owl than those -- and did! 27 inches and four pounds of excellence.

The Royal Kami said he was not so busy these days so if any HI customers wanted a similar effort he would be pleased to make them in shop 2. Believe it or not, I even have a picture of the Royal kami which I will post later. And you will not believe this -- when I asked Kami his name Kami said, "I don't know. His nickname is just "Bura (old man)" and that's what we all call him." I will get his name or know the reason why! The price for this Banspati will be $295. For whatever it is worth I would not sell mine for twice that.

Call or email. The Royal Kami is ready to go to work.

Uncle Bill

[This message has been edited by Bill Martino (edited 10 September 1999).]

[This message has been edited by Bill Martino (edited 12 September 1999).]
 
Good Lord!

That is some knife! Are you sure I can't "borrow" it Uncle Bill?

heh heh heh

-Dave

------------------
"Smooth Bastard..."
 
Twenty. Seven. Inches. Engraved. Is it engraved both sides Uncle Bill?

Shop 2 must be a wonderous place indeed if Bura prefers to work there.

I see a theme here - first the Gelbu special kamis say they can make a magic Khukuri if Ganga Ram can, now Bura says he can make better owls than the regular engraving staff. Competitive bunch, it sounds like, and I'm not complaining. Proud people, and rightly so.
 
I've come back to this page maybe 10 times in the last 1/2 hr. It's not that I would want to have such a khukuri myself, but it's very very nice to look at.

I hope you get a lot of enjoyment out of this one Uncle and thanks for sharing.

------------------
Namaste,
Jeff Paulsen

"Oh, a magic khukuri. Why didn't you say so?"
 
Holy Steel!!!!!
smile.gif
That's ALOT of engraving by hand!

And again, WOW!
John Johnson
 
This sounds like too good a deal to pass up, even with the horrendous Canadian exchange rate.

What kind of turn-around time would we be looking at on one of these?

I can't pass up a chance to own a khukuri crafted by the Royal Kami himself! Wow!

D.
 
:
Well.
I could say I am speechless,but y'all know me better than that.
smile.gif

I can't say anything that hasn't already been said except.....

"That is truly a Kuhkuri fit for a king."

Could the scabbard be fitted with a military frog?
That's what I would want on one like this for sure if possible.
Thanks Uncle.
You are more honored than you let on and I wonder why that doesn't surprise me?
smile.gif


------------------


&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;---¥vsa----&gt;®
The civilized man sleeps behind locked doors in the city while the naked savage sleeps (with a knife) in a open hut in the jungle.

Himalayan Imports Website http://members.aol.com/himimp/index.html

 
I remember reading, long ago, the Arabian Nights. As I recall, after Ali Baba finally got into the thieves' cave he found a wondrous treasure trove. I'm thinking that's probably what it looks like under Bill's bed. Soon it will be a giant bed with a little house on top for Bill and Yangdu.
 
I've been running all day but will get up some decent specs tomorrow -- I hope. I know it is mine but I didn't make it so I'm not bragging. The fact is this is an elegant and great khukuri. This is another that belongs in a museum.

Yes, other side is engraved with standard dragons which we could change at the drop of a hammer and opt for a Tashi Dili motif.


Uncle Bill
 
Now that`s an owl,put me down for one,details to follow.The frog has the BAS lace and a regular loop.I might like that,as if he`d change it.

------------------
 
Some added specs. The blade is 1/2 inch thick and about 2.25 inches wide.

Of some little interest, this khukuri arrived here in a hand sewn cloth sack. I kept the sack, too, and that's how this one will be stored. But I am not yet ready to stick it under the bed. I keep getting it out and looking at it, running my file along the blade. I can understand why Bura is the Royal Kami. He is very, very good.

Uncle Bill
 
Rusty, I don't know what Banspati means. I asked Kami and he didn't know, either. He said this is what the Royal Kami calls this khukuri so that is what we will all call it.

Tashi Dili refers to Tibetan-Buddhist symbols of various meanings, some of which are found on the handle of the Banspati.

More news on this khukuri later.



------------------
Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports
http://members.aol.com/himimp/index.html
 
Thank you Uncle!

I actually just signed up for a seminar on Tibetan Buddhism during my final semester of school. So far I have only read HHDL's _World of Tibetan Buddhism_ which was a somewhat difficult book for a newbie to understand, though certainly very educational.

There was a section in the middle of the book where he discussed altruism and the ability to love and forgive one's enemy which was particularly impressive to me.

HHDL is certainly a noble and holy man far above my meager ability to praise.

-Dave
 
Keep searching, Dave. You may find it a long and difficult journey but the destination is worth the struggle.

And, don't feel badly about the books. I have been reading the Tibetan Book of the Dead for ten years and am half way through it. And understand perhaps 10% of what I have read.



------------------
Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports
http://members.aol.com/himimp/index.html
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top