- Joined
- Dec 28, 2003
- Messages
- 4,793
Hey guys. I had a couple of things to write about and thought I would combine them into one thread. I started looking at my collection a few months ago, and again lately in light of the "how many do you own" thread. I made a list last year, but hadn't updated it in quite a while. I recently sold about a dozen items, but then snagged Salyans and got my FF, etc, so offset that a bit. I also did not want to be seen at all as boasting, as inevitably someone would take it that way, so even when Danny asked me outright a few months ago on a thread I just did not respond.
I am not better off than most people, I just made the decision to divert everything to this passion, and stopped all my other pursuits to that end. Anyway, I started cataloging stuff yesterday, and finished today, and let's just say that I need to get it down to a couple of hundred anyway or my wife will leave me! Closet racks, a large display cabinet, two wall racks and a gun cabinet that now contains no guns are all full, as is the available space in two bookcases.
I hope it is not a violation of forum rules (which I still don't quite understand) to simply say I will be parting with some items some time in the future, and leave it at that.
As I started going through the collection pulling out dupe items and others that I like but just do not interest me that much anymore, I started reflecting on the intangibles that make a knife desirable. True edges, well fitted scabbards, wood to metal fit, straight handles, good bolsters, overall handling and balance, well cut non-creep chos, etc., etc., etc.
Of course much of this is individual and subjective and depends on each persons size, strength, hand size, preferences etc. I found myself coming up with a preponderance of the "smaller" knives, 15" and less, to part with, while keeping the larger stuff. I didn't get into the smaller biltons and chits of 8-9" OAL, but will have to do a separate pass on those.
While I was going through these, the mail arrived with last weeks paycheck wrapped up. From there I pulled that great Sher carved chandan sword from 10/4, (see link)
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=367153
and the Sher Special from 10/5. (The one on the shell (-
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=367281
Yangdu had called it a "Sher Special" when Dean got his on 9/27 with the neem handle, and here she called it a new model, but I'll stick with the first name.
The reason this was of interest (to me anyway!) is that this Sher special hanshee is almost the twin of the original Rod Allen hanshee that Danny had made 2-3 years ago I guess, except it has a standard bolster and zero cho creep. I bought this from Danny a couple of weeks ago, and it is very unique and a one-of-a-kind knife, but this new one is almost it's twin. Amazing timing! Danny had blued the blade and done a great rework of the handle though, and it is a pleasure to hold.
This is also notable from an evolutionary standpoint, because the new knife which was sold for about $15-$20 off as a blem because of a horn crack, is perfectly done. It is traditional in every way. The bolster is small and well crafted and traditional. The cho is exactly 1/2" from the bolster and very well done. The blade is straight as a die, and the scabbard fit is perfect. There is no comparison between the fit of this knife to this scabbard and what I see on dozens of other knives. I can turn this upside down and shake it vigorously and the knife will not budge. And yet when I draw it, the knife slides smoothly out with just the right amount of resistance. If I tried that with 100 of the others I have the knife would hit the deck. That does not mean that those scabbards are _all_ poorly fitted by any means, just that this is that much better.
I do not want this to be considered a criticism of HI quality, as I would not own so many if I thought the quality was deficient, but simply an observation on what I would hope is a sign of an even higher renewed attention to fit, finish and quality. My biggest complaint of HI knives, and again I hope that this will be taken with regards to my support of the company, is not the knives themselves, but the often poor fit of the scabbards which are obviously not always made with the knife being present, relying on the habaki bolster to take up the variables in fit. Without that bolster, you usually get scabbards like this.
I guess I am just saying that I think this whole rig is outstanding, and I sincerely hope that we start seeing more and more of this kind of work. I would rather start paying a bit more and expect this level of work, than pay less and have the blades be 10/10 but some of the supporting features not be up to what they could be.
FYI, here are just a couple of quick pics of both knives together. The Rod Allen Hanshee is 18.5" and 24 oz, while the Sher special hanshee is 18" and 22 oz. However the RAH has more of a pronounced curve, so the actual length if measured along the blade as opposed from pommel to point would be considerably more than just 1/2" longer than the new blade.
Sorry for the typically long post!
Regards,
Norm
I am not better off than most people, I just made the decision to divert everything to this passion, and stopped all my other pursuits to that end. Anyway, I started cataloging stuff yesterday, and finished today, and let's just say that I need to get it down to a couple of hundred anyway or my wife will leave me! Closet racks, a large display cabinet, two wall racks and a gun cabinet that now contains no guns are all full, as is the available space in two bookcases.
I hope it is not a violation of forum rules (which I still don't quite understand) to simply say I will be parting with some items some time in the future, and leave it at that.
As I started going through the collection pulling out dupe items and others that I like but just do not interest me that much anymore, I started reflecting on the intangibles that make a knife desirable. True edges, well fitted scabbards, wood to metal fit, straight handles, good bolsters, overall handling and balance, well cut non-creep chos, etc., etc., etc.
Of course much of this is individual and subjective and depends on each persons size, strength, hand size, preferences etc. I found myself coming up with a preponderance of the "smaller" knives, 15" and less, to part with, while keeping the larger stuff. I didn't get into the smaller biltons and chits of 8-9" OAL, but will have to do a separate pass on those.
While I was going through these, the mail arrived with last weeks paycheck wrapped up. From there I pulled that great Sher carved chandan sword from 10/4, (see link)
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=367153
and the Sher Special from 10/5. (The one on the shell (-
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=367281
Yangdu had called it a "Sher Special" when Dean got his on 9/27 with the neem handle, and here she called it a new model, but I'll stick with the first name.
The reason this was of interest (to me anyway!) is that this Sher special hanshee is almost the twin of the original Rod Allen hanshee that Danny had made 2-3 years ago I guess, except it has a standard bolster and zero cho creep. I bought this from Danny a couple of weeks ago, and it is very unique and a one-of-a-kind knife, but this new one is almost it's twin. Amazing timing! Danny had blued the blade and done a great rework of the handle though, and it is a pleasure to hold.
This is also notable from an evolutionary standpoint, because the new knife which was sold for about $15-$20 off as a blem because of a horn crack, is perfectly done. It is traditional in every way. The bolster is small and well crafted and traditional. The cho is exactly 1/2" from the bolster and very well done. The blade is straight as a die, and the scabbard fit is perfect. There is no comparison between the fit of this knife to this scabbard and what I see on dozens of other knives. I can turn this upside down and shake it vigorously and the knife will not budge. And yet when I draw it, the knife slides smoothly out with just the right amount of resistance. If I tried that with 100 of the others I have the knife would hit the deck. That does not mean that those scabbards are _all_ poorly fitted by any means, just that this is that much better.
I do not want this to be considered a criticism of HI quality, as I would not own so many if I thought the quality was deficient, but simply an observation on what I would hope is a sign of an even higher renewed attention to fit, finish and quality. My biggest complaint of HI knives, and again I hope that this will be taken with regards to my support of the company, is not the knives themselves, but the often poor fit of the scabbards which are obviously not always made with the knife being present, relying on the habaki bolster to take up the variables in fit. Without that bolster, you usually get scabbards like this.
I guess I am just saying that I think this whole rig is outstanding, and I sincerely hope that we start seeing more and more of this kind of work. I would rather start paying a bit more and expect this level of work, than pay less and have the blades be 10/10 but some of the supporting features not be up to what they could be.
FYI, here are just a couple of quick pics of both knives together. The Rod Allen Hanshee is 18.5" and 24 oz, while the Sher special hanshee is 18" and 22 oz. However the RAH has more of a pronounced curve, so the actual length if measured along the blade as opposed from pommel to point would be considerably more than just 1/2" longer than the new blade.
Sorry for the typically long post!
Regards,
Norm
Except for target shooting, HIs are really my main hobby right now. Some of us have many hobbies, some of us only a few.
