thin 'mallas' and who crafts the blades

John Powell

John Powell

Joined
Mar 9, 1999
Messages
1,440
Bill,
In keeping with the style of the ancient "dug up" knife why don't the boys at BG produce a thin 'malla'?

Query: My Gurkha friends are refering to the makers of their khukuris as "lohars" vs "kamis". When I ask which is right they just shrug "whatever". What's your take on this?

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JP
 
John
How thin?I do like the shape of that blade.
To me 5/16 is thin for speed/thick for chop.
BUT when it come to khukuris I easy.

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Ray
 
Ray,
5/16" is a good width and I would even go to a 1/4". When I hold my favorite blades (that's a tough choice) I think that particular width is ideal for weight, feel, workmanship, etc.

For my personal taste the new thick monster blades just don't do it. Comparisons here are apples and oranges because I just collect, I don't chop.

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JP
 
John, RayC - I just bought 2 pistols in one day today!

Stop tempting me!!!! ( sound of La Maz type breathing ).

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John Moses designed it, I trust it, and that settles it.


Himalayan Imports Website
 
John,
As best I can tell, "whatever" is a good answer. The terms kami and lohar both mean "blacksmith" or "ironworker" and refer to the trade or profession practiced by members of the jati (hereditary occupational subcaste) of Bishwakarmas, who are members of the Varna (major social/religious caste) of Shudras. I think the term lohar may be more common in India, but both are used in Nepal.
Berk

[This message has been edited by Berkley (edited 07-01-2000).]
 
Thanks Berk,
One of these days I'll figure it out but I thought it was JAT v JATI.
Whatever

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JP
 
After reading that answer, maybe I ought to bring the safety thread back to the top and go to bed.

Bill's off to Kansas ( or maybe the land of Oz ) and John, Ray, and Berkeley continue with the postdoctoral fellowship exchange of ideas.

This is way over my head now, but I'm slowly learning how infinitessimal my knowlege is. And here I spurned Mensa because they were letting the riff-raff (less than 180 S-B) in.

Sigh, back to reread James Beard. He's just gotta have a recipe for crow in there somewhere.

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John Moses designed it, I trust it, and that settles it.


Himalayan Imports Website
 
Lohar is a more commonly used term in India and I'd guess that Gorkhas who served in the Indian Army would be more inclined to use it.

We stick with kami and I call the untouchables "Sudras" which may not be entirely correct. As your answer indicates, Berk, a Bishwakarma is not necessarily a kami. One of my old Bishwakarma pals when I lived in Nepal was "Bish" Bishwakarma, a Phd and full professor of physics at Tribuvan U.

When Sonam wanders in he can help us more with the answer than anybody, I think, since he grew up with it all.

Your kothimoda, John, is headed your way today and in 1/4 inch thick. The Malla that was dug up was reasonably thick bladed so they tell me so a natural for BirGorkha kamis.

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Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ
 
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