See more in the Gallery.
Khalsa Kirpans
The Handmade Knives & Swords
of Jot Singh Khalsa
Bio
My name is Jot Singh Khalsa. I grew up in the Boston, Massachusetts area. My shop and home are in Millis, Massachusetts, about a 50 minute drive southwest of Boston. I design and make handmade knives, swords and knife jewelry (at LifeKnives.com). I also design and manufacture jewelry (soon to be at TheKhalsaRaj.com).
I enjoy designing knives and swords, fine-tuning the mechanics of a folding knife, and meeting the challenges that a one-of-a-kind dagger or sword can present. Choosing the materials that will best suit the subtleties of a particular model is another aspect that I enjoy - matching different colors and patterns of handle materials with patterns of forge-welded damascus steel. It’s always satisfying when a piece that I’ve worked on develops into something that pleases other people as well as myself.
It wouldn’t be a lie for me to say, “Knife-making has been a spiritual experience for me.” When I was nineteen years old and in college studying fine arts (with a focus on gold and silversmithing), I began to practice Kundalini Yoga and meditation. Through my affiliation with our non-sectarian yoga organization, 3HO Foundation, I met Yogi Bhajan, a spiritual master who was also a member of the Sikh religion. The fundamental practices of Sikh Dharma appealed to me: daily yoga and meditation, relating to the One God in all; and living a healthy, vegetarian lifestyle. One of the symbols of the Sikh religion is the kirpan (knife), which is worn to remind one to be a protector of the weak and innocent. The symbolic kirpans that friends were obtaining from India were/are still not of great quality. Encouragement from a couple of Sikh friends led me to acquire the special metalsmithing skills required for knifemaking. I made my first knife at SUNY, College at New Paltz, New York, in 1977. That first knife was more decorative than practical, but making it “forged” in me the desire to perfect the art of knifemaking. I sought out established knifemakers and bladesmiths throughout the USA to learn about grinding and forging; the best steels and their heat treatment; as well as information on knife/sword construction and fabrication. I quickly developed the necessary skills and experience to become a member of the Knifemakers’ Guild myself, and have enjoyed making knives and swords full-time since 1978.
That was nearly 30 years ago. In that same time I continued to practice and teach yoga and meditation – and to learn from my yoga teacher/mentor of over 30 years, Yogi Bhajan. Both my personal yogic and Dharmic practices and my teacher have given me valuable insights into my life, as well as tools for deep relaxation and accessing my potential. I’ve shared the wonderful science of yoga with many people – through Adult Education yoga classes, at knife shows and yoga-related venues – for over 30 years. Martial arts, which I’ve practiced for over 25 years, has been another source of relaxation, exercise, and self-confidence. I also serve as a Sikh minister. As far as I know, I’m the only Sikh member of the Knifemakers’ Guild. I’m easy to find at knife shows as “the guy in white, wearing a turban.” Luckily for me, my colleagues and customers know that I’m one of the good guys!
