What are we trying to accomplish?

Joined
Oct 16, 2000
Messages
118
Ok-I'm gonna try my best to convey my ideas....

I've been thinking lately...
The heart of a sword is it's blade. This is reflected in all culture's weaponry. In India it was whether the blade was plain, folded, or wootz, and what pattern is had (such as the coveted Mohammed's ladder) Japan had *relatively* plain and practical fittings and was mostly concerned with the intrinsic degree of beauty/perfection. Indonesia was all about the pamor of the blade and the "spirit" that it brought.

However, at HI, whether it be a Kagas Katne or the most elaborate piece a forumite could ever dream up, the blade appearance, quality, and overall performance will be the same.

Sure,fancy fittings are nice, but they have nothing to do with the ability of the piece as a worthy weapon. Ancient Smiths did not say "I will make the greatest sword by using the most expensive and rare fittings I can possibly imagine" they said "I will make the greatest sword by using the best material and devoting all the time and care I can"

Even with modern smiths, there are various perfomance levels of homogenous,L6, Cable welded steel, and so on. With American and Japanese custom smiths, the final price has FAR more to do with the blade than with the fittings. As well as the individual skill of the smith making a powerful sword.

However, at HI, I will venture to say that all blades no matter how mounted, are about equal. And I will say (theoretically) that getting the best that HI has to offer for practical intents and purposes would be getting something from Bura or Durba that they did when they were really concentrating and were in no rush , but no one seems to be stopping at that.

Does anyone else think that we're beginning to ask the Kamis things that are really unecessary? Nepali smithing and weapons are more about functionality than ANYTHING else. And the Kamis know that it's all well tempered 5160-a simple Sirupati will perform the same as some fully carved, gem inlayed, kothimoda scabbarded, bone inlayed, silver mounted, engraved blade with gold inlays that some customers insist on having...such custom orders really stray from the basic tenets of making a khukuri.

In any case, I too am guilty to some degree of erroneously believing that for me to get the most blade I can from the Kamis I have to have the fancy stuff. However, I am coming to a belief that getting the best out of Birghorka is just about luck....a fancy order may guarantee lots of embellishments, but only luck can bring you the occasional "superlative" piece such as the first YCS, some of Durbas first works, etc

Quality control is good...but sometimes something that really stands out gets made, and getting one of those is lucky indeed.

regards
Matt
 
I can only agree. In an environment that has no CNC machines, nor the availability of a Nepali Paul Bos, the end product is the culmination of years of apprenticeship, and knowledge and skills passed down from man to man. The resulting blades will vary, as men vary. The one thing common to all will be that they are superior "using" blades, in the context in which they were conceived - A rough-country working man's knife, designed over the centurys to meet the hard needs of a given area and its terrain, and still have general utility for day-to-day needs.

If that covered all the criteria, there would only be villagers. Over time, the skills have advanced to the realm of artistry. The regard for the quality of the blade has led to the need to emphasize them with decoration. In this effort, other trades have joined the kamis - gold and silversmiths, talented sarkis, and the Newari woodcarvers.

My own particular interests are steel and wood. They have already been joined over the years, and I have wanted an example, still useable, of the best steel-and-wood artistry that I could afford. To this end, I made a special order, specifying only blade style. I left the choice of kami and carver, wood and style of carving, up to whatever process/procedure is in effect at BirGhorka. I hope to receive a combination which has been made as these men themselves wish to do them - not "something fancy" to satisfy a silly old American who has too much time and money.

We talk about the "spirit of the blade" as though there is something mystical afloat. Mostly, it is the care and pride put into an object by another man, who seeks acceptance, approval, recognition, and, above all, enough to eat and shelter for his own. Just like all the rest of us. If you are fortunate enough to receive a blade that one of these men really _wanted_ to make, without constraints, handled and sheathed in wood the carver did _on his own_ and as he wished to do it, you will get the best they are capable of. This should be enough for any "collector", and although "pretty", it will handle the dirtiest task faced by any blade, and come through it as these blades have come through nearly everything over the years.

I'm all tired, now. Nap time :D
 
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