18” Scrimshawed Antler Salyan – Review

Howard Wallace

Howard Wallace

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I just received this beautiful knife from Yangdu and Kami Sherpa. Apparently last time Kami Sherpa was here in the US he acquired some scrimshaw tools and took them back to Nepal. This knife is the result. It’s Bura’s first scrimshaw.

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It is the Salyan style, but it is significantly larger than Bill’s original model, and the similar sized ones that HI has recently been offering as the Uncle Bill memorial Salyan. This one will hold its own against a BAS or WWII style of similar length. There was a historical attempt to get a larger Salyan which resulted in a giant knife of limited utility. This one is well proportioned and well sized for a knife that will be used. I think this knife has many of the advantages that make the HI WWII a favorite, without the forward balance of the WWII.

The handle is well suited in size for larger hands.

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The handle is of antler (of US origin). The scrimshaw is of a dragon, curling and twining around the handle. It’s a little hard to capture the dragon in these pictures, but I took a series that I hope will give the idea.

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Guys, let Yangdu know what you think of this. What do you think of a Salyan this size? What about the scrimshawed antler? Yangdu is on vacation now, but she asked me to write this review so she is interested in reading what you all think.

So ???
 
Love the size, love the bolster and butt cap, love the antler, don't wanmt the scrimshaw my self, but it looks very nice. If the scrimshaw is going to stay, maybe a scroll design to co ordinate with the engraving?.Maybe a geometric or basketweave design?

Would like to see some offered plain, no engraving, etc...

:)


Tom
 
I fully endorse the size! The scrimshaw is also quite beautiful and adds a new dimension to sacrifices my wallet will have to make.:)

john k
 
I love it! Length, scrimshaw---the WORKS!! I can see another blade on my must do list!!:o ;)
 
I think its beautiful. I know it'll be a seller. Imagine that Bura is just BEGINNING to learn to Scrimshaw!!!!!!!!!!
 
That's fantastic work! Keep the trad bolster, buttcap, cho, etc. I like the handle rings on my khuks, so perhaps a simpler model would sport them? It would go well with Gravertom's basketweave design, or something like chainpuri or chitlangi handles have, only more ornate. I don't know how easy antler is to work. Obviously they would interfere with the scrimshaw on this knife. Depends on if you want a working blade or a collecter's piece. All my blades are users, but something like this is so nice that I couldn't get one because I'd ruin it.

How about some dragon-motif on the blade like that one we saw last week? I think that would be the ultimate, scrimshaw plus a worked blade. Wouldn't have to be as elaborate as the other, but maybe have a dragon coiled around the sword of Shiva? I dunno, just ideas.

-Tycho-
 
Beautiful. Don't know if I'd buy that size, but the scrimshaw is gorgeous. Thanks, Howard and Yangdu!

Chris
 
Absolutely stunning, Howard.

I think there ought to be a full size Salyan, with hopefully Scrimshaw being available on many HI models.


munk
 
Wow! I have an 18" antler salyan (there have been two of them made I believe, one with rings and one smooth like this one, and mine is the one with the standard rings), but I really like this scrimshaw. The work and innovation coming out of Birghorka is amazing these days!

I have the Salyans in the 3 sizes offered so far, and they are all nice, but for all around use and feel I really like one about 15 or 15.5" and 22-24 oz.

This one here from the 12/5 deals at 15.5" would be ideal for this kind of scrimshaw work IMO:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=376394&highlight=salyan

Thanks for sharing the great pictures. I hope we see more of this scrimshaw work on other smooth antler handles, and not just the Salyans.

Norm
 
Wonderful and Beautiful work.:thumbup: :D :cool: If I didn't already have a Kothimora I would definitely be in the market for something such as this.
Actually might be anyway on a special order.;) :o
What will the scrimshaw add to the cost over all? :confused:
 
That's a good question. When I asked Yangdu about it she did not know the market price for scimshaw work. I knew a little- that it is expensive. Naturally, I think she will try to give forumites the best deal possible.



munk
 
The 18", 24 oz. Salyan with a chandan handle I have is really nice (there was a group of four of them, all blems, for a DOTD).
 
Wowza! I thiink that thing is wonderful! For me, I'd like this knife at 16-17", 24 oz, and buffalo horn with carving in a ring around the handle like a lot of the nicer old ones had. As a matter of fact, I wish that they put these carved rings around the handles on a lot of different styles. I'd definitely pay extra for such a thing :)
 
I like it...but, as said above...would rather see it "set" inside a geometric pattern of some sort, or similar, perhaps to the carved handles we've been seeing lately.

I wonder if they have access to colored ink?
 
I have two 18" Salyans that were sold recently. One is in chandan and the other one is an antler one like yours without the scrimshaw. As a display piece, the scrimshaw makes yours look more desirable. For use, I would go with wood or horn.

My 18" antler comes in just under 28 oz. which makes it more desirable for me than the smaller, lighter ones. I think Munk is with me on that point.
 
There's nothing wrong with the 15" Salyan (it's the size that I prefer) but I think that they really come into their own in 18". The design seems sound to me. Mine is on the light side for heavy work but it feels great in the hand. Both are very good sizes in my eyes, for different reasons.

Scrimshawed antler? An emphatic :thumbup: . I sincerely hope that we see more of this. That is amazing, Howard.
 
Hewy fella!
Just de-lurking for a quick comment.

That Saylan is fantastic, Howard!
Great HI work, as usual.

Hey - did you enjoy the wind this past weekend? We had a ton of down wood at our place :)

Pat
 
I like it but I would want to see a smaller diameter handle. That's my main complaint about probably 50% of the HI khukuris I have or more. Handle too big diameter wise.

Although I mainly like villagers and non ornamented khuks I think the scrimshaw is nice and I REALLY like the scrolled butt caps they are using sometimes now.
 
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