Here's the 18? inch Salyan -- pix.

Hi All,
Just a couple of notes on hand comfort.
1] I remove that raised ring in the middle of the handle,thus removing a pinch point and less blistering.
2] For using, I wrap the handle with aftermarket grip tape for tennis raquets. It absorbes most of the shock and reduces slippage from sweat, rain, etc.
Happy Trails,
Dan
 
I hope that Monday will bring delivery to one of the 3 lucky ones. Anxious to hear reactions. This group seems made up of those with just a streak of contrariness in them. I suspect we'd adopt a "misfit" khukuri just because it was different, and thus had a character of it's own ( "You is plumb crazy, boy! I could get downright fond of you!" ).

Maybe we should rename this the "Super Salyan" or the "Super Sized Salyan".

And I'd love to have someone video tape reactions to it at a blade show. Especially those of the blowhard makers that advertise that their knife is tougher than anyone else's.

Maybe on the next batch you could beef up the blade from 5/8ths to 3/4ths?. ROFLMAO, Rusty
 
It came today. It is huge!!!!! It is beautiful!!!! I am mostly just speechless. I showed it to my wood pile a few minutes ago and all the wood ran off threatening a lawsuit! More later when I have had time to comprehend what this is.

Mike
 
It is huge, Mike. Too much for this 66 year old body to handle I can tell you without any hesitation. I expert performance to be very similar to the 20 inch Ak.

Uncle Bill
 
Mike - is it a two hander or a one hander? Cliff thought the blade would be 15", I guessed more like 12, with 8" handle.
 
The measurements are more like 12" and 8". It does not lend itself well to a 2 handed hold. I have found myself taking as low a grip as possible which puts my middle finger just below the ridge in the grip. Gripping much farther up than that doesn't give me the leverage I need to really make use of the blade

Chopping the standing dead tree that broke the BAS was interesting. (after looking at some of the bark on the ground I think it may be locust, not maple) It takes huge bites out of the wood when chopping down and in on the wood. Fatigue is definitely an issue. It is heavy! At 6' 215 (not all of it is fat!!) I'm no hercules but I'm not a weakling either. After about 5 minutes of continuous chopping I could definitely feel the burn.

I moved over to the wood pile after a few minutes of rest. Many times I found that a good solid hit would only provide about 2" of penetration. However, directly to one side or the other of the blade the log would split completely, through and through. The logs were generally about 8-9" in diameter and around 1 1/2 to 2' long. Several pieces of wood just didn't want to split at all. Most of them seemed to have some irregularities like large knots or branch junctions. Most of the logs of smaller diameter just split cleanly. Penetration of this behemouth is definitely limited by the width of the blade.

The balance point is about 1 1/2" behind the angle in the spine. I am having a difficult time getting that final "snap" at the end of each swing which I have found to be so effective with my other khuks. It's just so heavy! I have a feeling that the 20" AK, with it's extra weight in the spine, will out chop this beast.

The craftsmanship is first rate. It is the most visually impressive knife I have ever seen. Between it's size, the high level of polish, the detail and inlay work on the sword of Shiva and the beautiful rosewood handle it is just breathtaking. When my wife saw it her eyes bugged out, her jaw hit the floor and she said "Oh my God!". That seems to be a common reaction. I just don't know if I really like it or not. It may just be too damn big!! Put me down as still undecided.

Mike
 
The downside to this model is I still think the knife is too stubby even though Cliff laughs at this. The upside is I don't believe we will ever make this particular model again so that makes this run collectible.

Uncle Bill
 
Uncle Bill,

How do the handling characteristics of the monster Saylan compare to the 20-22" AK?

Mike
 
Bill, do you mean that you will not be having any more made that look like these ones, or that you won't be making any more large Salyans at all?

-Cliff
 
Mike, I think the Ang Khola will perform better than the Salyan.

Cliff, we may make more Salyans but they will never be this thick and heavy. This knife is overkill.

Uncle Bill
 
Bill,
Ohhhhh RATS! I wanted to get one of these, but am out of cash. What a downer, and no more to be made. I like long handles and short blades.... less stress on the wrists (the fulcrum effect).
Dan
 
I have shown Godzilla to several people over the past few days and the reactions are all identical. Eyes bulge, chins drop, and various references to dieties are uttered. Considerable damage to my wood pile has been done and I believe that the logs are in contact with an attorney. I have heard talk of a class action lawsuit. Excessive force, profiling,etc, etc..

Uncle Bill, it is "stubby" in it's own way. I find it to be entrancingly beautiful. I think it is a keeper. There's just something about it.... No, I'm not just saying that because it's bigger than me!

Mike
 
Uncle Bill, rec'd the Yeti-Salyan just now.
Opened it in the PO Lobby, as the clerk is a vet friend. So far initial remarks have pretty much been "Oh my God" and "what do you do with it". It is of such Beauty that I won't waste members time trying to describe it. They all already know. I'm going to do the oak tree I told you about with the 20"ak and then my yeti and let you know. Thank you isn't enough. Blue Skies and Stay Safe to all!!

------------------

Greg


 
Mike and Greg, thanks for feedback. I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If we all had the same tastes it would be a boring world. I am delighted you find the Salyan beautiful but when I look at it I see a "stubby" knife.

Uncle Bill
 
Cliff,

Is the Saylan in the link you posted yours? It is a beautiful blade. If it is yours could you tell us about it? How does it handle/perform? What are the dimentions? Is it an HI?

Uncle Bill, do you think you will be making any Saylans of regular proportions?

Mike
 
Mike, that khukuri is not mine unfortunately. I think one of the bando guys owns one that is very similar.

-Cliff
 
Cliff, unfortunately is right! I don't own one of those models myself. It looks like a Salyan but because of the pommel it was called a Sherpa style khukuri. The one shown was made by the kami who made the khukuri that killed the bear.

The blade was typical village quality and performed much like an AK. Handle because it was so made almost never failed.

Uncle Bill
 
Godzilla and I just finished chopping down the tree that broke the BAS. It is truely the king for hacking out chunks of wood. It is not that great of a splitter though. It's splitting capabilities are only a little better than the 15"AK. Certainly not proportionate to it's size. Probably because the blade is so thick it just won't penetrate well.

Mike
 
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