recently I read a thread that explained the differences and strengths that each of the blades made by the different Kamis had. I cant find it again! Has anyone seen this thread, that they can point me in the right direction?
That's a good thread. :thumbup: But it seems there are a lot of new kamis since that thread was started. I have three blades by Bura. I think he has the cleanest most even fullers I've seen.
Newbie question: do the kamis mark their blades, and if so, is there a thread that records the marks of the different kamis?
Here is an example of the markings on my HI CAK. I am not sure what they all mean.. but based on the Crescent Moon. Any help with the others?
#1 stands for Uncle Bill. #2 is Devengari for Himalayan Imports. #3 is Buras mark of the crescent moon.
The script is Buras initials in Devengari. The sun is for HI IIRC. I'll defer to the experts but I'm pretty sure that's what it all means. This thread might help. It's a pretty interesting one. http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=393183&highlight=kami+marks
It really woul dbe nice if someone <hint><hint><cough><cough>Yangdu could give a rundown of current and past kami markings in a sticky thread. . .
I don't know much about the new kamis. I have a couple of their blades but I don't feel I've really given them the test yet.:thumbup:
the lady is farrrrrr too busy sending us knuts our knives. It would be <hint><cough> a better thing for us forumites to compile for her.
OK, like a lot of you, I have fallen behind on what kamis are still with HI, what the new kamis marks look like, etc. I have sent an email to Yangdu asking for a little info on what the marks look like and who they belong to. I figure that if she can get us the names and marks, then we as a collective whole can take pictures of the marks and put them with the names. Then we can sticky it at the top for all posterity Sounds like a fun little group project, eh? I told Yangdu not to break her neck getting the info. She has a lot on her plate, but if and when i get the info, I'll be getting it back to y'all
Yeah, that's fine. Problem is, she still needs to tell us which are which. I'm not pressurring her to be sure, it's stuff that's NICE to know, not CRITICAL to know. It's just for collector's sake, like recording and deciphering marks on surplus historical guns and such. Plus hey, the guys can claim they're world-famous. "Yep got them yankees requesting my blades by name." For use, as long as it's made right, it doesn't matter who made it.
There are four Devngari and one English marks on all of HI Khukuris and Swords. I Knife maker's intinital. 2 Knife maker's personal sign. Each Knife maker has different sign. 3 Star is a mark designating Himalayan Imports Knife makers. 4 UB designates Uncle Bill. When Uncle Bill last visited with the Kami's he asked them to mark all the Knives with UB after he passed on. 5 HI logo is for Himalayan imports company. KAMI SIGN AND MARKS Bura - Crecent Moon He is still working for us Dil - Lotus flower He is still wrking for us Yuvraj - Light ( Deo batti in Nepali) He is still working for us Vim - Nepal flag He works part time for us Rajendra - OM in devengari He is new kami in the shop he will continue to work for us Kesar - Rising Sun ( pre 2002), Flag (Post) He does not work for us Kumar - Star of David He does not work for us Sanu - Cross He does not work for us Sher - Sun (pre 2002), Rising sun (Post 2002) He went to India he does not work for us Kami with No Name (KNN) - Butterlamp wiht or without flame He does not work for us Durba -Flag (pre 2002) He does not work for us Prakash - Small Khukuri He does not work for us Khadka - Fish He does not work for us Murali - Trisul (may have occasionally used a flag also) He does not work for us Shankar - KS He does not work for us RR (aka Amtrack) - Flyflot He does not work for us YB - Exclamation point! (Bang) He does not work for us Santosh does not work for us All other new Kamis hired by my father took some advance money from father and left the shop and never return to work. Now we have Bura, Dil, Yuvraj, Vim, Rajendra ,scabbard maker Sarki, Narayan and Arjun working in the shop. They are all great Kamis who does quality work for HI. For now we will continue to work with our old and few new Kamis. I sincerley hope this answers all your questions regarding Kami marks and sign.
THANK YOU (Could we make this a sticky, so guys can add pictures ahowing each one and we'll have a quick reference?)
Just added to say, this sucks, sorry that they ended up taking your father like that. They don't know what they missed out on.
Especially when there are new kami. A simple announce "We have a new kami, his name is XXX and his mark is XX"