by Jot Singh Khalsa, designer, bladesmith/goldsmith
Our History
Around 1982-83 a Connecticut knife customer asked me to create a miniature necklace knife in 22kt. gold. I was happy to oblige and created something that he was quite pleased with and even had a few gems set in it also.
Because of my background in gold and silversmithing, I decided to make a rubber mold of the piece before delivering it, with the thought that I might be able to sell duplicate pieces in sterling silver. This would be to friends, colleagues, customers at knife shows, and a new market of yoga students and other Sikh religion adoptees (who wear a knife-called kirpan by Sikhs) to help remind them to be protectors of the weak and innocent.
That was the beginning of LifeKnives. Soon after I created a larger piece in gold as a gift and made a rubber mold of that as well. Both of these styles are still part of the LifeKnife line of more than 25 original patterns currently offered.
The Process
Generally I'll create a pattern then have an accomplished engraver/sculptor, here in the USA (who I'm well connected with through my full sized decorative knife and sword business) work into that model to complement my work and help to create something unique and special.
Thinking that it might be neat to have some kind of natural gemstone/shell/horn to use as the knife handles on certain LifeKnives, I ordered a batch of fluted ivory beads (before the ban on importing ivory) from a company I was doing business with. Eventually they were kind enough to give me the name of their supplier in Hong Kong who I contacted and ordered beads from for about 10 years.
These beads were made to my specifications so as to have the perfect proportions for certain LifeKnife designs. I have several overseas suppliers now. In 1999 I found some ideally shaped colorful Chinese cloisonné enamel beads that we are utilizing currently in several LifeKnife styles.
On the horizon we are looking to create a number of new patterns incorporating intricate, natural gemstone and shell inlay work on LifeKnife handles.
Adi Shakti
The Adi Shakti is a symbol of infinity. It relates to our primal creative power and has three parts to its design:
The chakra is the circle that reminds one of Gods inifinite nature, which has no beginning nor end, and the unity of mankind regardless of race, caste, religion or gender.
The khanda is the double-edged central sword which represents the straight and narrow path, the razor's edge that must be walked to stay on the path of righteousness.
The kirpans are the two curved single-edged swords on both sides of the symbol. Guru Hargobind (one of the founders of Sikhism) wore two such swords, signifying Miri - political and temporal power and Piri - spiritual sovereignty.