BICHWA (THE SCORPIONS STING)

[VANDOO]

ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL AND ORNATE EXAMPLE.

I WILL ADD THREE MORE EXAMPLES FOR REFRENCE TWO ORNATE AND ONE IN A SIMPLE MORE WORKMAN TYPE FORM. I WOULD SUSPECT THE ORNATE ONES WERE WORN WHERE THEY COULD BE SEEN WHILE THE MORE SIMPLE ONES MAY HAVE BEEN CARRIED OPENLY OR CONCEALED FOR SUPRIZE PROTECTION OR TREACHERY. SOME OF THESE PICTURES CAME FROM FORUM MEMBERS POSTS I HOPE I RUFFLE NO FEATHERS BY USING THEM HERE. THANKS :
I HAVE ALSO ADDED A KERIS WITH A SCORPION CUT INTO THE BLADE (OLD OR NEW ) BUT INTERESTING

[CourseEight]

I guess I've developped a bit of a penchant for bichwa. Here are mine, some posted here before by me or previous owners.

[VANDOO]

A VERY NICE COLLECTION PERHAPS WITH A FEW MORE PICTURES AND ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ANYONE MIGHT HAVE ON THEM IT COULD MAKE THIS THE CLASSIC THREAD ON BICHWA ONE INTERESTING FEATURE IS THE HANDLE ON SOME REMIND ME A BIT OF A SPUR TO FIT ON A HORSEMANS BOOT.

ITS KIND OF IRONIC AS I HAVE NEVER OWNED ONE.

[Marcus]

I searched out this thread for some background reading while I am waiting for two Bichwa daggers to arrive from Oriental Arms. One thing I noticed, looking at the examples posted, is that on some pieces the grip (loop) is oriented parallel to the blade while on others it is at 90 degrees. Does this suggest different styles of use?

[KuKulzA28]

Originally Posted by Marcus

I searched out this thread for some background reading while I am waiting for two Bichwa daggers to arrive from Oriental Arms. One thing I noticed, looking at the examples posted, is that on some pieces the grip (loop) is oriented parallel to the blade while on others it is at 90 degrees. Does this suggest different styles of use?

I've owned both kinds in the past... had a lil' bichwa craze... in fact I think some of VANDOOs images he's using are from a bichwa I once had

I think there must be two slightly different methods of use, one's blade is in line with the plane of your hand/arm and the other is not.

[shayde78]

Rather than starting a new topic, and at the risk of reviving a thread that has long lain dormant, I've been pondering lately if the bichwa form could have developed as a knife specifically designed for archers.

The tightly fitting hilt with guard allows the weapon to be in one's right hand even while drawing a bow. This would then give the archer a close quarters blade to deploy if his position were overrun. Rather than having to pause to unsheathe another weapon, the bichwa would be at the ready even while acting as an archer.

I know the reference books speak of the bichwa being a preferred blade of assassins, and the like, because it could be easily concealed (which is true of any number of weapons), but also because it allowed the wielder to climb walls while having the blade drawn. I wonder if this utility may have served a more overt military function rather than a covert nefarious one.

Thoughts?

[ariel]

It was rather sad re-reading this topic.
Lew and Vandoo, Rest In Peace.....

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by shayde78

Rather than starting a new topic, and at the risk of reviving a thread that has long lain dormant, I've been pondering lately if the bichwa form could have developed as a knife specifically designed for archers.

The tightly fitting hilt with guard allows the weapon to be in one's right hand even while drawing a bow. This would then give the archer a close quarters blade to deploy if his position were overrun. Rather than having to pause to unsheathe another weapon, the bichwa would be at the ready even while acting as an archer.

I know the reference books speak of the bichwa being a preferred blade of assassins, and the like, because it could be easily concealed (which is true of any number of weapons), but also because it allowed the wielder to climb walls while having the blade drawn. I wonder if this utility may have served a more overt military function rather than a covert nefarious one.

Thoughts?

A very interesting theory by why just for archers? Why not also for gunners, they would need a close by weapon as well. I guess trying a simulation with either a bow or gun would be the next step. As for the bichwa being "easily concealed".....pure guess work I think until someone comes up with some type of information to back this theory up.