Forging Khukuri (Кукри), Лумбак, Lumbaq

Всем добрый день.

Hello, everyone.

Продолжаю учиться делать непальский Кукури, в этот раз под руководством мастера из деревни Лумбак, что на крайнем востоке Непала, 25 км. от границы с Индией.

My previous trip to Nepal was not enough to get the clear understanding of the process of forging Nepali Khukuri, so I decided to go for a second time.

This time I went to far east of Nepal, near the border with India. The village Lumbaq which is not more than 25 km from India was chosen purposefully. 

Коротко о маршруте: самолет, самолет, маленький самолет, автомобиль, пешком, автомобиль.
Коротенькое видео о пути на авто.

Shortly about the way to Lumbaq: plane, plane, small plane, on foot,  jeep.

The video on the way in jeep.

Все в принципе  нормально, но сезон дождей еще не закончен. Поэтому бывают вот такие моменты.

Earth slide

Despite all the careful calculations made before the trip I get into the end of rainy season. So, there are always some earth slides on roads.

Приходится идти пешком.

We go on foot, but not more than 20 km, which is bearable.

День первый.

The first day.

Полнолуние. Окончание праздника Дасай, посвящённого богине Дурга.

First day in the blacksmith village. 
It is the last day of the great festival devoted to the Goddess Durga (Durga Puja).

Знакомство с кузнецом, инструментом и рабочим местом.

When I came, the blacksmith first gave me the big hammer and let me hit some red hot iron to check my skills. 

Первая проба.

After, there was a piece of iron given to me, to get me used of working place.

Some pictures, showing main activities of the first day.

Shaping the knife point.

Forming bevels by hammer.

Forming diamond-shaped spine.

The smithy, overall view.

Bellows.

The Master set my hand in the right position. He has been doing it continuously.

Проба 1

Результат получился несколько нетрадиционный. Но меня не смущает. Буду продолжать.

First result is not that I expected, but anyway I will continue.

Видео первого дня.

In the middle of the first day I asked the Master about one particular technology, which I was  sure they still use, bus he said that he doesn’t know it. I was a bit disappointed, as it was my fist purpose to come so far (not just for Khukuri only).

День второй.

The second day.

Ковка клинка из рессоры.

Forging khukuri from the spring steel.

 The spring steel

I started with the knife point (toppa).

Forming Bhundi

Making tang

Forming tang

Forming diamond-shaped spine.

Forming bevels

Making kaudi

Filing

Этот клиночек в результате будет одет

The video of the second day.

День третий.

The third day.

When I came in the morning as usual at 8 a.m. I was told that today I will pass the exam. I will forge the khukuri without any prompts from the blacksmith. So, I went on. The material – is broken sickle. 

Shaping the knife point.

Making tang

Shaping tang

Forming bevels

Forming diamond-shaped spine.

Forming diamond-shaped spine.

The result

After some corrections from the master (it took two hours to correct them), hi said that after fife more khukuris I can get into the right form.

I was really happy, and did not hold myself from showing him my woodwork. He seemed to liked it, and asked me to make sheath myself.

So I did.

Cutting the Sal three.

Shaping

The shape is ready

To correct a bit.

Cutting in two parts.

The Master shows hot to fit the khukuri to a sheath.

Chiseling the cradle for a blade.

Maiking shape

The Master said: «Sheath is good, no need correction».

Fitting the endcap.

The result of the third day

At that day I also cut the khol on the spring steel khukuri, and started shaping the handle. The Master was showing I just copied.

Cutting khol with a chiesel

The Master corrects my mistakes.

Today is also the handle day.

Видео третьего дня.

Хочу отметить, что замечание товарища под ником "Кий" с Остметалла по поводу формирования ромбовидного обуха в середине процесса изучено. Действительно, ромб на обухе Кукури необходимо формировать сразу после изгибания клинка. В процессе этот ромб постоянно подправляется.

День четвертый.

The fourth day.

Fitting the handle to a blade.

The fourth khukuri from the iron rod.

Forming bevels.

Making tang.

Tea with salt and pepper. He, who travels will get quickly for what it is.

I was sure the shape is right but it was not.

Correcting bhundi.

Cutting too long knife point.

The 3-rd and the 4-th khukuri.

На видео:

Выколотка латунного больстера и подгонка к клинку.

Начало третьей минуты - вставка клинка в рукоять.

Начало четвертой минуты - работа над четвертым клинком.

Параллельно идет процесс обработки рукояти.а

Середина десятой минуты - обработка ножен.

Четырнадцатая минута -  подгонка тупья.

На пятнадцатой минуте - привет Ганзе, Самопалу и Остметаллу. 
Камера Ганзу обрезала. Исправляюсь.

День четвертый, после обеда.

Вот такой клиночек получился в результате четвертого дня.

The result of the fourth day.

День пятый.

The fifth day.

Making halls for pins.

Mosaic pins (brass).

Mosaic pins (aluminium).

The village Lumbaq, last glans before leaving.

Финишная отделка.

Пины (латунь и алюминий).

Результат.

Мозаичные пины на тыльнике.

В руке

At the end of the fifth day, the Master said to my guide: «Tell him, that I will show him what he has come here for».

A was happy, but I asked why he changed his mind. The Master answered: «There were several men, who came here to learn from me, but you are alone, who stood for more than one day». And, by the heaven, I am proud of it.

Немного расскажу о Мастере.

Его зовут Bir Bahadur Bishowkarma. Последнее имя показывает прямое отношение к касте кузнецов. Его отец специализировался на изготовлении медной посуды. Ему около 60-ти лет. Последние тридцать лет он специализируетя на кукури. На его ножнах не двух малых ножиков, поскольку в этом районе никто сам кукури не затачивает, а идет к нему.

Не могу не поделиться видом на Храм Лорда Кришны в Патане. Он прекрасен даже в дождь, не так ли?

Всем спасибо.

ГринТеррум.