HI gladius/short sword - Manjushree's Sword of Wisdom.

crimsonfalcon07

crimsonfalcon07

Joined
Dec 27, 2010
Messages
6,852
Just got this one in, courtesy of Abaniko. Very pleasant to deal with, and I can't say I've ripped into a box with quite as much eagerness in a long time. The eagerness was well justified. This blade is by far the most awesome HI product I've seen to date. It's a Manjushree by Sher the Tiger, and my first Sher. I have to say, his work is now on my short list. Wow!

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The scabbard is pretty loose, so it's quick to draw, and has almost no retention to speak of.

The blade is gorgeous. A few bobbles in the fullering, so clearly handmade, but finish is perfect, and the carving is by far the best I've seen. It's a lot lighter than I was expecting; it's actually pretty quick and nimble, which I wasn't really expecting. Feels about as alive as any HI I've handled to date.

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Check out that carving! Epic!

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It's got just enough space to fit another hand on the pommel if needed, and balance is pretty good too. Forward heavy, but not nearly as much as I'd expected. This blade is just so cool, and I'm very happy to have gotten one.

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Just my first impressions, but this blade is without question the star of my collection. Nice and rare, and just so cool, especially for a short sword lover like myself.
 
So glad that it arrived safe & sound & that you are happy with 'er:):thumbup::thumbup:
 
Point of balance is pretty close to the center of sword, several inches above the guard. As another member mentioned (JayGoliath maybe? memory failing me), it really lends itself well to thrusting. Point of percussion is probably at the last several inches of the blade. I need to sharpen it, and still haven't tested its cutting ability, but it moves quite well.
 
Great score CF, Sher (the Tiger) no longer works for HI IIRC, but I was fortunate enough to have my very first khuk made by him. Definitely a great craftsman.
 
I would still love to have a Bura, but Sher is a close second, particularly for this blade. I'll be honest, in my wife's absence, I was tempted to let it join me in the bed. Damn sexy blade.
 
crimsonfalcon07 said:
I would still love to have a Bura, but Sher is a close second, particularly for this blade. I'll be honest, in my wife's absence, I was tempted to let it join me in the bed. Damn sexy blade.
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I feel like I came to the HI party WAY too late. I would like some of Bura's work as well, from pics I've seen of his work it looks fantastic.
 
I thought I had enough swords, but a shorter blade is tempting. What's the weight (w/o sheathe), both blade and handle length, and blade width on her? I might need to write this into a mental wishlist.
 
I have no way of weighing it, unfortunately, so I can't help you there. It's lighter than the katana, but not by a whole lot. Blade is about 22", handle about 7". Width maybe an inch and a half. If you can find one of these, I definitely recommend jumping on it.
 
crimsonfalcon07 said:
I have no way of weighing it, unfortunately, so I can't help you there. It's lighter than the katana, but not by a whole lot. Blade is about 22", handle about 7". Width maybe an inch and a half. If you can find one of these, I definitely recommend jumping on it.
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I got 2 lbs 9 oz for a katana here. Length of both handle and blade seems be nearly the same smidgen over two-thirds. Was thinking of passing one of my long blades off to my next brother. It is after all my ancestor's tradition that every free man, and often woman, have a sword (and a shield but those have grown a little outdated). I figure now that he's moved out, I can pass one of my tenderly loved blades on and purchase one more suited to my low ceilings. His sisters got luxurious parkas, a dress, and a small fixed blade (love my tomboy sister, the two blades I handed out at Christmas were the most popular and treasured gifts) last year; while I spent a fair amount on the metal tankard and barleywine I got him, I'm sure he'd appreciate something a little more... aggressive in the future.

Nothing quite as satisfying as being the firstborn in a generation spawned from isolated German and Celtic families here in America. Having a family that looks nothing alike but are able to finish each others sentences (and sense when one of us is in a bar brawl) is just... content. :D

Shinook: at least wrap it first.
 
Absolutely love mine. I have one made by Bura, and it's an heirloom. One of the pieces I would grab if my house were burning. I have no training with swords or really any use for one, but my Manjushree is an absolute keeper. It feels even more battle worthy than my HI Kat. You know, I really need to get a chiruwa gripped HI sword. I think I'll just have to bite the bullet if another Falcata pops back up. I've been chasing one for a decade and should really just take the plunge:p
 
Steely, you better not get me searching for another blade, haha. Your review of yours was one of the reasons I jumped on this one.
 
Great pix and Sword, thank you for sharing
 
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