Swiss knife maker takes on India

[Son of Guru Gobind Singh Ji]

Swiss knife maker takes on India

BBC correspondent in Bangalore

Thursday, 19th June 2003

Swiss knife maker Victorinox is planning to tap into a traditional Indian market.

They hope to sell the customary knives carried by Sikh and Gurkha communities in India.

A company representative said work was already underway to design traditional knives in the country.

Victorinox have started designing the brass and enamel-plated handles for the traditional "Kirpan" worn by Sikhs.

Anish Goel, who represents Victorinox in India, said the work is being carried out at a unit in the commercial capital Bombay, also known as Mumbai.

Encouraging

He said the blades for the knives would be manufactured in Switzerland.

Mr Goel said company officials have met leaders of the Sikh community in India and they have had an encouraging response.

"Our next target is the Gurkhas, another community associated with knives," Mr Goel told the BBC.

Gurkhas carry traditional "Khukri" knives and are known for their bravery.

India and the UK have army regiments named after this community hailing from Nepal.

"We are targeting a growth of 20% this year," Mr Goel said.

He said the company - best known for the production of 'Swiss Army' pocket knives - sold about 30,000 knives in India last year.

http://waheguroo.com/news/?{633Q6-17274-69...26-49443-Q3935}

[Guest SikhForLife]

why buy foreign?

support our sikh brothers/sisters who work hard to create our shastaars and kirpans!!

[Son of Guru Gobind Singh Ji]

vaaheguru ji ka khalsa vaaheguru ji ki fateh

why buy foreign?

support our sikh brothers/sisters who work hard to create our shastaars and kirpans!!

I totally agree with you. We should support our brothers and sisters who work hard for creating shastars for us.

But there is one good thing about foreign shastars. They won't be blunt! When was the last time when you saw a kirpan that wasn't actually blunt? I personally only know of a couple of places which make shastars how they are supposed to be. Rest of them just sell iron plates and nothing else.

vaaheguru ji ka khalsa vaaheguru ji ki fateh

[Guest SikhForLife]

ya ur right.. i know a couple of people who sharpen theirs ... they have tools at home

[ms514]

Sat Sri Akal:

Actually quaility Sikh weaponsmiths still DO exist in India!!! They are called the Sikligars and they, from the times of the Gurus, having been forging quality weaponry. However, they are not in the Punjab and their product is not known (at least by me) to be in the Sikh markets.

Any info. on this group and whether they are manufacturing Kirpans for the Sikhs?

[Son of Guru Gobind Singh Ji]

I do the same to my Sri Sahib, but believe me, the Punjabi mades are NO WAY in compairson with the foreign ones.

[Guest shastar se adhen he raaj]

fathe je!!!!!

[Guest shastar se adhen he raaj]

sorry for the first post!!!!

could u pls tell veerje where in bombay is their office

[Son of Guru Gobind Singh Ji]

veer ms514 said he's not sure about the company.

btw, isn't ur display name supposed to be shastran 'ke' adheen hai raaj?

[Guest shastran ke adheen hai raaj]

yess veer ur rite i am wrong thanks for correcting :D