Finally, After a Decade...the Falcata

Steely_Gunz

Got the Khukuri fevah
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It's easy to see why a Roman solider would fear the Iberian Falcata. In a world of thrusting and slashing swords, the Falcata was a game changer with its wide weight-forward chopping edge. Not much could withstand a blow from a heavy sword as long as a man's arm being swung at full power.

I could imagine being Roman soldier on the front line. Your entire survival hinges on two things: the strength of your shield and the displine on the man standing next to you protecting your other soldier. Stories had been told around the camp fires. Stories of banded steel being buried in the ground for up to three years to let the earth rust away the weak, to leave nothing but the strongest metal to be pattern forged into the cleaving tooth of a blood-thirsty demon. Stories of decimation and carnage where textbook disciplined Roman gladius strikes found their mark stabbing over and under the shield wall at the charging Spaniards, but not before the crash of deep biting steel buried its edge into the Roman helmet and shield administering the perfect jab.

In a world where being the perfect fighting force isn't enough, it's easy for a man, even one as disciplined as Roman solider, to begin to doubt. Doubt the strength of his thin shield, doubt the strength of his armor. Bronze buckles until pounds of steel dishing out 100 foot pounds of force concentrating on the finely honed edge. The men to your left and right must remain perfect. One shred of fear or hesitation and the shield wall will crumble. But how that be combated? How can a force using perfection and a driving wall hold up against such a weapon?

It's true that the Celts and Spaniards use a clumsier form of attack. Glancing axes and polearms can be parried and broken against the shield. The chaotic barbarian beast can meet their gods in a flash of stabs as they ebb out over Roman shields and are trampled under tack-treaded sandals. However, the falcata is another phantom all together. How long can a shield wall hold back an enemy who throws themselves against their target with the ferocity of tidal wave of blades pummeling the dug-in Romans? Even the design of the Falcata screams to the fact that it is an all out weapon of war. A heavy downward blade that clears the tops of shields and caves in the thickest bronze helm. The hooked grip that prevents it from being wrenched away in battle, that the life in the eyes of the barbarian dangling at the end of your gladius may be fading into oblivion but he still has one slash left in him, one more hateful blow he will try to rain down upon your exposed neck.

The wind picks up. The cool breeze blowing over the Roman's exposed skin breaks him out in goose flesh despite the stifling hot shared breath of his brothers in arms standing at his flanks. From the forest comes a low howl. It's unmistakably not lupine in nature, but comparing it to a pack of hungry wolves on the hunt would not be far from the truth in a sense. Centuries old celtic chants bounce off the silent sentinel trees. Blade-flats beating against shields. A lone voice rings out in what can only be a call to his gods promising violent glory, and the forest erupts in a dull cacophony of battle cries and booted feet thundering through the mossy mud blanketed the listless gray morning fog enveloping the trees.

They are coming. The Romans do not break formation to steal a glance at one another, but not one among the front line does not sport a quickening pulse and a bead of icy sweat tracing down his crown. They are coming. In trousers and fur skinned boots. Undisciplined and expecting, even welcoming, high casualties they will throw themselves against the Romans until every last one of the Barbarians are dead or the shield wall breaks down. If that happens, perfection will give in to chaos. A perfect strike of a Roman short sword will lose to a wild swing of the Iberian's superior sword. The old Roman turtle will be carved from its shell and picked cleaned to bones by the flashes of falcata edges.


I'm running late to a meeting, but I just couldn't contain my excitement any more:D After years and years of pining away for one, I finally took the plunge and snapped up the falcata Yangdu offered last thursday. Let me tell you my friends, masterful doesn't even begin to describe it. It is, by far, the finest piece of steel in my collection. I don't even have a Bura that touches it, and that is saying something indeed. Kumar is at the top of his game, and as far as I am concerned this may be his masterpiece. I have never seen a finer weapon.

I haven't been able to take any pics yet, but you have to hold it to understand. The raw power that thrums through it rattles your teeth. It's not a blade made to hold up to combat, it is a blade eager for it. Inspirational, truly.

Sorry to post and run, but I need to get to my next meeting. I'll post some pics up ASAP this weekend.

So stoked!:D

As always, a HUGE thank you to Yangdu and all of HI. Also, a full bow to Kumar for crafting such an heirloom of steel. Simply stunning.
 
Yeah, follow the evidence although the story kind of teared me up a bit.

Sorry it took years and years for it to find it's home but happy dance for you finally.
 
Congratulations! This one haunted me for few days. Which is nothing compare to the decade of yours. Such a beautiful piece.

I'm glad it found a great home. To someone who not only appreciate the sword itself but also understands all the fantastic history behind it.

Can't wait for more pics.
 
Very cool. It's fascinating how even after a decade and multiple khukuris, old timers still have certain blades on their wish lists.

These things are pretty addicting.
 
Ive been watching that blade since post too. Grats Steely! Glad you could snag it. Great reading to go with it too.

This poor guy could have used a Falcata about then:D
[video=youtube;XbI-fDzUJXI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbI-fDzUJXI[/video]
 
Thanks guys:)

I really will get some pics taken tomorrow. I was out of the office when the package arrived, then I had 4 meetings on Friday, which was torture.
My daughter had an early birthday party today, so the mighty falcata is sitting patiently under my desk at my office. For the first time, I'm actually really happy to work on a Sunday;)
I simply cannot put the quality of this blade into words. Everyone needs a sword made by Kumar.
Detailed report to follow tomorrow afternoon...maybe some test pics if I can find something worthy of destruction:D
 
I already was interested in a falcata, now I really want one. Maybe I should spend less time in this forum. It will get expensive if I'm not careful. And who wants to be careful?
 
As promised, here are a few pics of this beast of a blade:)

View attachment 562611
The picture really doesn't do the justice. The double fullers are about as perfect as one could expect from a handmade sword. Clean and even and seem to be a worthy tip of the hat to the Falcata's pattern forged heritage.

View attachment 562612
Here's a shot of the scope of this thing. Keep in mind that the second blade down is a 20" Cherokee Rose:eek:

View attachment 562613
Another scope shot. I'm not a very big guy at 5'10 195lbs, but this blade is a handful...in a good way. Oh, and please note the super awesome HI tee shirt I am sporting;)

View attachment 562614
Finally, I wanted to show the Falcata's piercing capabilities. It's quite obvious that it is a slashing and chopping sword. However, it is no slouch when it comes to penetrating when you let the weight of the sword do it for you. Giving it only the most moderate downward momentum, the blade pierced 257 pages plus the outer cover of the catalog. Had the target been softer (like the belly of a Roman soldier) and had my full weight been thrown behind it, I don't know what bronze armor would have been able to stand up to a bayonet charge;)

Some more thoughts about this blade:
It's a battle-hungry brute. While there is no doubt of it's gorgeous panther-like elegance in terms of looks, the Falcata, much like the khuk, is very intuitive in terms of use of design. Of course, you can parry and thrust and manipulate the sword, but it is obviously designed to be an offensive blade. The style of of the grip would make it almost impossible to lose it from your hand while in the heat of battle. The only down side is that as it is not a sword of finesse and lends itself to serious "wind up", I could see that it would leave an Iberian soldier momentarily exposed to a fast jab of a short blade. It's a trade-off style of blade. You risk a potential gut shot for the potential one-strike killing blow. It appears to me, an absolute unlearned amateur, that the Falcata is not a sword at home what one would think of as a "sword fight". It's not a series of parries and thrusts and blocks. It would lend itself more to charge, hack, hack, hack, shield up to gather strength, full force coup de grace. It's a sword for quickly breaking down a carefully constructed defensive army, an agent of chaos. Splinter the wall and win the day. As I have read, Roman armies would usually win out against a prolonged attack. The discipline and perfection of their fighting style would eventually win out if the battle raged on.

The long and the short of it, I don't own a nicer sword. It fits my hand like it was made for me and lends itself to a style of use I am very familiar with. I couldn't imagine a more perfect sword:)

Once again, a huge thank you to Yangdu, Kumar, and all of HI. And a super thank you to Kanchhi for the lovely tee shirt and hat:)
 
Not seein attachments Steely? Please hurry and fix it...Please please please...Done yet? OK ill check back..Done yet?...
 
Grrr. Sorry guys. They were working in advanced mode, but now I'm out of my office and on my phone. I'll fix them when I get back. Sorry!
 
Grrr. Sorry guys. They were working in advanced mode, but now I'm out of my office and on my phone. I'll fix them when I get back. Sorry!

Alright man! I already chewed up three pencils and half my keyboard waitin. Geuss I can wait a few more;)
 
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