Nepalese knives.

Tim Simmons · 18th December 2007, 07:07 PM

These look like Nepalese to me. The blades are said to be approx 18" that is quite big.

spiral · 18th December 2007, 07:14 PM

Yep Tim there Nepelese. If well tempered they cut green vegitation very well.

Spiral

Tim Simmons · 18th December 2007, 07:18 PM

Thats good because they are mine now. Looking at the scabbard mouth they are reasonably heavy. I have handled these in the past, they have all been very good so far. Bit of a gamble this one.

Tim Simmons · 18th December 2007, 07:50 PM

Just thought of this link. I no longer have the knife in the link. The new ones look alright to me.

Tim Simmons · 18th December 2007, 09:14 PM

Forgot the link

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ighlight=bowie

spiral · 18th December 2007, 10:24 PM

Yep same family for sure Tim, Any more photos? as always Id be interested to see the closeup workmanship details.

Evrything from Nepal comes in various qualitys as its all hand made, but if there solid & tempered there well worth having in my opinion, nice shape, good size etc.

Spiral

Tim Simmons · 19th December 2007, 08:46 AM

No thats all there is and it will be a while before I get them now. So it was, is
a gamble. If it works out I will be a real winner. So untill they arrive, fingers crossed.

Tim Simmons · 28th December 2007, 11:19 AM

I have them now. I will show pictures of one as they are pretty much the same. I just need to add some more turquoise next week, the pieces I have to hand are to small. Forged blades, hollow ground on both sides, good temper. Steel guard, brass chape which has been quite well made with faceted thoughtfully. The metal ring under the guard is steel and made in a way I have not seen before on Nepalese weapons even the most crude Kukri.

One assumes these to be Nepalese but they could come from a vast area as discussed before all the way to Bengal? The materials and decoration could be common to many people. The blade is not tanged through the handle. The shape reminds me more of the handles on some Naga Dao. The Himalayan foot hills are home to many tribal groups. They have been well used and judging by the patina I would say turn of the 19th early 20th century. Somebody has taken great care of the blades. When I have sourced more stone I will have one spare if anybody is interested. Pictures-

Very interesting joint to the scabbard on the concave curve. Although these are not made with great finesse they are not crude and very comfortable to use, typical tribal work.

Tim Simmons · 28th December 2007, 11:35 AM

and handle.

Emanuel · 28th December 2007, 03:56 PM

Very cool knives, Tim!
The blade looks a bit like a sossoun-pata. The motif on the scabbard is similar to some I've seen on "box kothimora", but I haven't yet seen rattan bindings on Nepalese weapons.
What is the thickness of the blades, 1/4" or so?

Emanuel

Lew · 28th December 2007, 04:34 PM

Tim

Those two swords are really nice

they seem to have some age to them with good patina on the scabbards.

Congrats.

Lew

Tim Simmons · 28th December 2007, 05:12 PM

Thanks you chaps. The back is 6mm for the most part but hollow ground so the blade is relatively light. The temper is similar to that of most tulwars and other basic cavalry sabres. I think as the blades are 18" long and the relative light blade they are more like short swords than knives. I will get some more stone sent to me on Wednesday.

spiral · 28th December 2007, 06:20 PM

Nice one Tim, The scabbard construction, motives & indeed rattan binding occur on many Nepali weapons including kukri. Nearly evry Nepali wooden scabbard I have ever seen has the rattan binding.

And such knives/swords turn up in Nepal. It looks Nepalese to me, But I cant say whether or not there made in other parts of the Himalayas or not, though.

Anything made in Nepal seems to be common in the areas of Indian that are peopled by Nepalis at the very least.

Spiral

Tim Simmons · 29th December 2007, 09:58 AM

Some might find this photo interesting. My maternal grand father the first European from the left with a pith helmet. This is at the end of his military career in the educational corp. He started in 1914 with the Cold stream guards.

spiral · 29th December 2007, 11:38 AM

Excelent photo Tim, Nice to have the family history with it. It looks like 3 gurkhas in the front row to me.

As we all know Waziristan is still in the news today for its wildness etc. Your Grandfather would have seen many kukri along with the usual NWF weapons I am sure. There was essentialy 2 different wars there I think in early 20th century?

Have you any other photos from him?

Spiral

Tim Simmons · 29th December 2007, 04:35 PM

A cousin has more I will enquire. I have pictures of my paternal grand father in a rather posh artillery regiment which when not war time, is a territorial regiment but they do not relate to ethno-weapons.

18th December 2007, 07:07 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,739	Nepalese knives. These look like Nepalese to me. The blades are said to be approx 18" that is quite big.

28th December 2007, 11:19 AM	#8
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,739	Other than Nepalese? I have them now. I will show pictures of one as they are pretty much the same. I just need to add some more turquoise next week, the pieces I have to hand are to small. Forged blades, hollow ground on both sides, good temper. Steel guard, brass chape which has been quite well made with faceted thoughtfully. The metal ring under the guard is steel and made in a way I have not seen before on Nepalese weapons even the most crude Kukri. One assumes these to be Nepalese but they could come from a vast area as discussed before all the way to Bengal? The materials and decoration could be common to many people. The blade is not tanged through the handle. The shape reminds me more of the handles on some Naga Dao. The Himalayan foot hills are home to many tribal groups. They have been well used and judging by the patina I would say turn of the 19th early 20th century. Somebody has taken great care of the blades. When I have sourced more stone I will have one spare if anybody is interested. Pictures- Very interesting joint to the scabbard on the concave curve. Although these are not made with great finesse they are not crude and very comfortable to use, typical tribal work. Last edited by Tim Simmons; 28th December 2007 at 11:47 AM.

28th December 2007, 11:35 AM	#9
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,739	The blade, and handle.

29th December 2007, 09:58 AM	#14
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,739	Interesting photo Some might find this photo interesting. My maternal grand father the first European from the left with a pith helmet. This is at the end of his military career in the educational corp. He started in 1914 with the Cold stream guards.

18th December 2007, 07:14 PM	#2
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Yep Tim there Nepelese. If well tempered they cut green vegitation very well. Spiral

18th December 2007, 07:18 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,739	Thats good because they are mine now. Looking at the scabbard mouth they are reasonably heavy. I have handled these in the past, they have all been very good so far. Bit of a gamble this one.

18th December 2007, 07:50 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,739	Just thought of this link. I no longer have the knife in the link. The new ones look alright to me.

18th December 2007, 09:14 PM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,739	Forgot the link http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ighlight=bowie

18th December 2007, 10:24 PM	#6
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Yep same family for sure Tim, Any more photos? as always Id be interested to see the closeup workmanship details. Evrything from Nepal comes in various qualitys as its all hand made, but if there solid & tempered there well worth having in my opinion, nice shape, good size etc. Spiral

19th December 2007, 08:46 AM	#7
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,739	No thats all there is and it will be a while before I get them now. So it was, is a gamble. If it works out I will be a real winner. So untill they arrive, fingers crossed.

28th December 2007, 03:56 PM	#10
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Very cool knives, Tim! The blade looks a bit like a sossoun-pata. The motif on the scabbard is similar to some I've seen on "box kothimora", but I haven't yet seen rattan bindings on Nepalese weapons. What is the thickness of the blades, 1/4" or so? Emanuel

28th December 2007, 04:34 PM	#11
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Tim Those two swords are really nice they seem to have some age to them with good patina on the scabbards. Congrats. Lew

28th December 2007, 05:12 PM	#12
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,739	Thanks you chaps. The back is 6mm for the most part but hollow ground so the blade is relatively light. The temper is similar to that of most tulwars and other basic cavalry sabres. I think as the blades are 18" long and the relative light blade they are more like short swords than knives. I will get some more stone sent to me on Wednesday.

28th December 2007, 06:20 PM	#13
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Nice one Tim, The scabbard construction, motives & indeed rattan binding occur on many Nepali weapons including kukri. Nearly evry Nepali wooden scabbard I have ever seen has the rattan binding. And such knives/swords turn up in Nepal. It looks Nepalese to me, But I cant say whether or not there made in other parts of the Himalayas or not, though. Anything made in Nepal seems to be common in the areas of Indian that are peopled by Nepalis at the very least. Spiral

29th December 2007, 11:38 AM	#15
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Excelent photo Tim, Nice to have the family history with it. It looks like 3 gurkhas in the front row to me. As we all know Waziristan is still in the news today for its wildness etc. Your Grandfather would have seen many kukri along with the usual NWF weapons I am sure. There was essentialy 2 different wars there I think in early 20th century? Have you any other photos from him? Spiral

29th December 2007, 04:35 PM	#16
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,739	A cousin has more I will enquire. I have pictures of my paternal grand father in a rather posh artillery regiment which when not war time, is a territorial regiment but they do not relate to ethno-weapons.