- Joined
- Mar 5, 1999
- Messages
- 34,096
Dean Rector
-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
And the winner of the Hanshee is.......
- Thread starter Bill Martino
- Start date
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2003
- Messages
- 1,710
Congrats!
- Joined
- May 18, 1999
- Messages
- 15,395
Congrats Dean!!!!!!!!!!!
Now that's one you're gonna need to bring over so I can see
it!!!!Please!!!!!!
Mayhaps we could get T-Bone down at the same time. Y'all ain't never met have y'ans?
Oh, Forgot Gregg, he might wanna see it too, lets see,
Yvsa, scratchin' his head to see if he can recall anyone else living as close by.
Now that's one you're gonna need to bring over so I can see
it!!!!Please!!!!!!
Mayhaps we could get T-Bone down at the same time. Y'all ain't never met have y'ans?
Oh, Forgot Gregg, he might wanna see it too, lets see,
Yvsa, scratchin' his head to see if he can recall anyone else living as close by.
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2002
- Messages
- 3,397
Hanshee arrived this morning about 11:00am.
First thing I was impressed by was the handmade
triangular shipping box of very heavy cardboard fitted
around the bubble wrapped khuk.
No magic, but a nice touch.
I don't know John's background, but wouldn't be surprised
to find out he's an architect or engineer.
The Hanshee looks and feels different from the HI khuks.
Looking at the pix I hadn't realized there was a very
deep double groove along the spine.
The handle is longer than I expected from what little
I know of older khuks.
It's small diameter (diamond oval, sharper bottom than top),
but fits my hand Very well.
The length would fit a much larger hand than my average.
The ring is notable for being both promenant and wide.
The width keeps it comfortable, and it falls instantly
between my middle- and ring-fingers.
A magnet shows me that a partial tang extends almost exactly
to the location of this ring.
The blade balance point is 1/4" forward of the exact
center of the 18" OAL.
The spine is 5/16" up to the almost imperceptible bend
at the end of the grooves.
From there it tapers evenly to about 3/32" where
starts the edge-grind bevel at the point.
It feels like it would go through anything in its path.
I'm so tempted to set out a 2x4 and give it a few whacks.
But maybe not.
This one likely deserves a box on the wall to show it off.
Thanks for the opportunity John.
Yvsa: ya gotta see this.
First thing I was impressed by was the handmade
triangular shipping box of very heavy cardboard fitted
around the bubble wrapped khuk.
No magic, but a nice touch.
I don't know John's background, but wouldn't be surprised
to find out he's an architect or engineer.
The Hanshee looks and feels different from the HI khuks.
Looking at the pix I hadn't realized there was a very
deep double groove along the spine.
The handle is longer than I expected from what little
I know of older khuks.
It's small diameter (diamond oval, sharper bottom than top),
but fits my hand Very well.
The length would fit a much larger hand than my average.
The ring is notable for being both promenant and wide.
The width keeps it comfortable, and it falls instantly
between my middle- and ring-fingers.
A magnet shows me that a partial tang extends almost exactly
to the location of this ring.
The blade balance point is 1/4" forward of the exact
center of the 18" OAL.
The spine is 5/16" up to the almost imperceptible bend
at the end of the grooves.
From there it tapers evenly to about 3/32" where
starts the edge-grind bevel at the point.
It feels like it would go through anything in its path.
I'm so tempted to set out a 2x4 and give it a few whacks.
But maybe not.
This one likely deserves a box on the wall to show it off.
Thanks for the opportunity John.
Yvsa: ya gotta see this.
JDP
Gold Member
- Joined
- May 31, 2003
- Messages
- 236
Dean,
Please don't go "testing" it. This a very old knife that has already done its share of work. Granted, it is yours to do what you like, but I really don't think these old warhorses should be subjected to something that may crack the grip, loosen the bolster or even damage the blade.
The finish on the blade is exactly as I found it. I was going to have the surface on it evened out, but decided to leave well enough alone. It was amazingly clean for its age. The patina on the grip is beautiful, but if that was removed you would be awed by the beautiful fruitwood used.
I am very glad that this great old kukri is in good hands and will be well treated. I also hope you get a chance to show Yvsa or anyone who never has held a hanshee.
Please don't go "testing" it. This a very old knife that has already done its share of work. Granted, it is yours to do what you like, but I really don't think these old warhorses should be subjected to something that may crack the grip, loosen the bolster or even damage the blade.
The finish on the blade is exactly as I found it. I was going to have the surface on it evened out, but decided to leave well enough alone. It was amazingly clean for its age. The patina on the grip is beautiful, but if that was removed you would be awed by the beautiful fruitwood used.
I am very glad that this great old kukri is in good hands and will be well treated. I also hope you get a chance to show Yvsa or anyone who never has held a hanshee.
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2002
- Messages
- 3,397
Really I won't.
But I sure was tempted for a moment.
Given the age, small crack in the wood, and the partial tang
I would be careless to put any stress on it.
I will probably try to polish it a bit, by hand only,
starting with the gentlest compounds.
I noticed that the wood under the patina looks very deep
and rich. But I don't plan to 'clean' it.
JDP
Gold Member
- Joined
- May 31, 2003
- Messages
- 236
Dean, it depends on your thoughts about restoration. Once school of thought is not to touch and the other is too bring it back to "new". I think there is a midway point that could be applied to this piece.
I personally would go at the blade a bit to soften the scratches left by steel wool...that blade should come up with a beautiful subtle shine. The same goes for the grip. That is a great piece of wood that has been around for a long time and would be worth seeing again. One of the forumites can give you hints about bringing "back" the glow and grain with a very gentle method.
If you ever decide to have a scabbard made for it I can give you some hints. The important thing would be putting the correct karda and chakmak in. The karda probably would have been one of those unique stag gripped models with a few "points" from the antler. It also would have had a large pouch with a long thong attached.
I personally would go at the blade a bit to soften the scratches left by steel wool...that blade should come up with a beautiful subtle shine. The same goes for the grip. That is a great piece of wood that has been around for a long time and would be worth seeing again. One of the forumites can give you hints about bringing "back" the glow and grain with a very gentle method.
If you ever decide to have a scabbard made for it I can give you some hints. The important thing would be putting the correct karda and chakmak in. The karda probably would have been one of those unique stag gripped models with a few "points" from the antler. It also would have had a large pouch with a long thong attached.