Lion Head Knife With Leather Sheath

Conogre · 16th April 2005, 09:45 PM

Here in Florida they commonly take small dried seahorses, starfish and sand dollars, dip them in a grey substance of some sort and then gold plate them for use as charms, ear-rings and pendants......having known a lady that worked in one of these small factories for a while was what initially familiarized me with the basic process (and appalled me as a use for wildlife)
In India, as I understand it, jobbers often go from village to village collecting locally made knives and then plate the blades en masse for the tourist market as they are all cheap by US standards, and have been doing so for well over 100 years.
I wouldn't be surprised if there weren't some very well made blades underneath many of those shiny eye catchers, particularly those of unusual styles, but it's a LOT of work, any way you look at it.
Mike

Federico · 17th April 2005, 02:12 AM

Gotta echo the sentiment that these things can be sharpened, but if the blade isnt hardened they dull fast as butter. It can be a real pain though to get through the plating, though plating itself isnt a sign of poor quality. Aside from original plating on construction, some collectors would also plate their blades when they brought em home. Mike had a kris that was plated, and it was a real pain to remove the plating, and then etch.

tom hyle · 17th April 2005, 06:01 AM

When they rechrome something at the chrome shop, do they strip the old chrome? How? Anyone know?

Conogre · 17th April 2005, 06:25 AM

According to the Discovery Channel's "Monster Garage", with acid, Tom.

Mike

tom hyle · 17th April 2005, 06:34 AM

mmmmm....that's what I was thinking, but do they have one that attacks chrome much more than steel? We would be up at the same time, wouln't we

?

spiral · 17th April 2005, 10:48 AM

drzzzz Most of these lion head kukri are untempered steel tourist pieces, but maybe one in 30 or 40 is tempered carbon steel & works well.

The brass handle is one of the rarer variations.

The scabbard looks oversize & is possibly a later replacment? unless it is the photo angle or somesuch?

Spiral

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16th April 2005, 09:45 PM	#1
Conogre Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Clearwater, Florida Posts: 371	Here in Florida they commonly take small dried seahorses, starfish and sand dollars, dip them in a grey substance of some sort and then gold plate them for use as charms, ear-rings and pendants......having known a lady that worked in one of these small factories for a while was what initially familiarized me with the basic process (and appalled me as a use for wildlife) In India, as I understand it, jobbers often go from village to village collecting locally made knives and then plate the blades en masse for the tourist market as they are all cheap by US standards, and have been doing so for well over 100 years. I wouldn't be surprised if there weren't some very well made blades underneath many of those shiny eye catchers, particularly those of unusual styles, but it's a LOT of work, any way you look at it. Mike

17th April 2005, 02:12 AM	#2
Federico Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Minneapolis, MN, USA Posts: 312	Gotta echo the sentiment that these things can be sharpened, but if the blade isnt hardened they dull fast as butter. It can be a real pain though to get through the plating, though plating itself isnt a sign of poor quality. Aside from original plating on construction, some collectors would also plate their blades when they brought em home. Mike had a kris that was plated, and it was a real pain to remove the plating, and then etch.

17th April 2005, 06:01 AM	#3
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	When they rechrome something at the chrome shop, do they strip the old chrome? How? Anyone know?

17th April 2005, 06:25 AM	#4
Conogre Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Clearwater, Florida Posts: 371	According to the Discovery Channel's "Monster Garage", with acid, Tom. Mike

17th April 2005, 06:34 AM	#5
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	mmmmm....that's what I was thinking, but do they have one that attacks chrome much more than steel? We would be up at the same time, wouln't we ?

17th April 2005, 10:48 AM	#6
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	drzzzz Most of these lion head kukri are untempered steel tourist pieces, but maybe one in 30 or 40 is tempered carbon steel & works well. The brass handle is one of the rarer variations. The scabbard looks oversize & is possibly a later replacment? unless it is the photo angle or somesuch? Spiral