A Kind Hand Stretching Forth from the Bardo

Howard Wallace

Howard Wallace

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A box came from HI the other day. Nothing I had ordered. Yangdu said it was something Bill wanted me to have.



It’s a khukuri, modeled after Bill’s Salyan. Bill’s was given to him by a friend, and it had a special place with the dust bunnies under his bed. Yangdu has a picture of it as her avatar. Here’s a picture of Bill’s Salyan from the FAQ.



dhantukakhuk1.jpg



The model I received is fairly true to its inspiration, except it has a chandan handle and “Salyan” in the Nepalese script next to the “HI” marking. The letters are painstakingly inlaid with brass. It has an old-fashioned scrolled buttcap and similar engraving on the chape. One side of the chape is a flower and the other crossed khukuris. The cho is like the one on Bill’s.


The knife is a little over 12” long. I’m not sure the weight, as I seem to have lost my little scale. It is a solid knife though. It will hold its own gathering firewood. I can imagine carrying this as an “only” khukuri. The handle is small, due to the overall size of the knife, so this is definitely one I choke up on to avoid getting poked by the buttcap.



This knife has a great value for me, coming as it does from the spirit world. Even though it was made in BirGorkha, I am reminded that mind impelled its creation. It helps me to remember the nature of things.



Here’s a picture. Please excuse the poor quality.

Salyan.JPG



And here it is with a FFF for scale.


FFFSalyan.JPG



Yangdu tells me that some of these will be offered for sale on the forum later in July. If you’re looking for a little big knife you might be interested.

Thanks Bill.

OMPH.JPG
 
And I don't mean the knife. I'm talking about the fact taht Uncle Bill continues to touch us after his passing.
 
Thanks for the pix Howard. As far as I know there were three of these given from the heart according to Uncle Bill's wishes.
Howard, Munk, and I all received one of these beautiful examples of the Salyan.
I am both humbled and amazed at receiving such a beautiful display of love from the beyond but not surprised as this is just like Uncle Bill.
He was always one for the great surprise.

Mine is almost a mirror image of Howard's but I'm not sure mine is handled with Chandan as the wood has a beautiful curly grain and. although dark like Chandan, is multi-colored.
The wood on mine also has a deep inner glow that will make an old woodchuck weep.
The weight is exactly 11-1/2 ounces and the little khukuri has a perfectly formed cho exactly the mirror image of the original Salyan. Seldom are the chos so accurate and perfectly formed!
The word Salyan in Devanagari Script that is so "painstakingly inlayed with brass" as Howard says shines with the appearance of Gold. Absolutely stunning!

The scabbard also has the embossed chape and the leather like Howard's from the appearance is almost a type of patent leather and a fitting cover for such a beautiful and delightful example of the kami's art.
Bura truly outdid himself on these!

Like Howard I add my, "Thanks Bill" as well.

And also like Howard Yangdu has said she expects these to be available sometime in July, "She hopes."
I don't know what they will go for but everybody here that's a regular, has been a regular in the past, or hopes to be a regular in the future, owes it to themselves to get one of these. Not only as a beautiful and delightful example of the kami's art but as a Memorial to Uncle Bill, whether to use it or not is entirely up to the discretion of the one buying it.
Mine will probably go on a shield or plaque of some sort except for special occasions.
 
Hello Berkley,
Today we received a shipment of khukuris from Nepal. There is one Salyan UB special with beautiful bone handle in this box.
Price for this knife is $150
Can I ship this one to you?
Thank you for all your help.
Peace,
Yangdu
Uncle Bill in Peace.
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Naturally, I ignored this obvious Spam :yawn:

[Sarcasm mode off]
The check is in the mail.
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Once again, words fail me, but Yvsa said everything that needed saying.
No, I take it back - I would add this: "If you could have only one...". ;)
 

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Berkley said:
Once again, words fail me, but Yvsa said everything that needed saying.
No, I take it back - I would add this: "If you could have only one...". ;)
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Nice picture, Berk. Much better than the ones I took for showing what they really look like. I said the inlay on "Salyan" was brass but it might be gold. I really can't tell. I suppose if it tarnishes it is brass.

That bone handle on yours is very similar to Bill's. I think his is ivory though. In any case, that is a special knife you have.
 
Groan!!! OK, who do I have to off to get one of these? :confused: ;)

Berk, that is the most beautiful knife and a real keepsake! It's a tribute to your contribution to the forum that Yangdu contacted you, and I am glad for you.

Regards,

Norm
 
Howard Wallace said:
Nice picture, Berk. Much better than the ones I took for showing what they really look like. I said the inlay on "Salyan" was brass but it might be gold. I really can't tell. I suppose if it tarnishes it is brass.
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Howard I was so taken aback by the appearance of the inlay I asked Yangdu in an email when I was inquiring what the letters meant in Devanagari and if it was gold inlay because I really did think it was!!!!
The inlay is indeed brass, not that it matters. Another difference between Eastern and Western Brass.
I think the Eastern Brass is more like a Naval Brass from experience in machining it one time years ago. Damned tough stuff but shines like gold!!!! :eek: :D :cool: :D

Svashtar said:
Groan!!! OK, who do I have to off to get one of these? :confused: ;)

Regards,

Norm
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Simply put your order in for one when they come out in July Norm.;)
Everyone Absolutely OWES it to themselves to get one of these little knives.
If they all are as good as mine and apparently Howard's and Berk's methinks everyone will agree that Bura really out did himself on these!!!! :D :cool: :D
 
It's a tribute to your contribution to the forum that Yangdu contacted you
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Uh, well, I forgot to mention the first e-mail of the series that started out "Dear Yangdu, Please, please, please..." :o

BTW, this is not just a pretty face - I left her lying on the desk to admire, made a careless move toward the paper clips, and "Youch! She bites!" :eek:

[Edited to reply to Yvsa: if that ain't gold, you could sure have fooled me. As for Bura's workmanship, I think everyone who had a part in crafting these must have felt they were involved in something very special - and they were.]
 
very nice. congrats.

been trying to think of a khukuri that could commerate Uncle Bill. I think this one is it.


Peace.

-D
 
been trying to think of a khukuri that could commerate Uncle Bill. I think this one is it.
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In so many ways... been doing a little internet archaeology, and came up with the story, from 1998. Fortunately I'm an old fart, so no one thinks it unusual if I occasionally just get a little weepy and teared up.
That khukuri was given to me by a young Nepali man from Gorkha in 1984. His name was Govinda Dhital and he was a Chetri, the warrior caste. He told me his uncle, a Gurkha, had carried the knife in Burma and other places in WWII. It is an officers' model, 12 inches, with deer horn handle (VERY hard to find these days) and was made in Salyan. If you look very closely at the picture you can see some markings near the back of the blade in the chopping area -- this says Salyan in Nepali. Because of its great sentimental value it is my favorite khukuri and our company logo.
Govinda had lost both father and mother and while I lived in Nepal I served as sort of a surrogate father for him and helped him get a "do good" project launched which blossomed and helped a lot of folks from his village of Gorkha and the surrounding area and helped him a lot, too.
Bill
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Thanks for posting that quote, Berk.

If there's a run of these in the future, I want in.

What a beautiful khukuri. I would guess it handles like a BAS but with more bite. Is it true the cho/guara is sometimes in the shape of a certain temple?


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You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Berkley again.
 
Is it true the cho/guara is sometimes in the shape of a certain temple?
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Very true - see this thread at IKRHS. especially Howard Wallace's great photo of a chorten. But I think the symbolism here is a stylized representation of the head of a danphe, an endangered species of pheasant which is the national bird of Nepal.
 
I'm definitely in for one of these. Uncle Bill's logo khukuri and the scrolled buttcap...how could I resist? :D

Bob
 
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