HI smatchet

D

davidf99

Gold Member
Joined
Sep 27, 2011
Messages
2,658
A recent thread had some discussion of the HI version of the smatchet. The closest model I've seen, until a few days ago, was the HI Spear Vala, which is a massively built, double edged blade. The first image below shows a Spear Vala by Bhakta Kami. It is 14" overall length and 28 oz, thus achieving the impressive ratio of 2 oz per inch. It feels great in the hand.

I think it was Karda who told us that earlier versions of the Spear Vala were much bigger and heavier than the more recent ones. However, last week I was fortunate to acquire what might be a one-of-a-kind, an actual HI smatchet, apparently someone's special order. It was made by Sher Kami, 18" overall length, and 30 oz. When I hold it near the butt it feels like an axe. When I hold it choked up near the guard, it feels like a big knife. Either way, it's a thing of beauty. And here it is.

View attachment 514374

View attachment 514375 View attachment 514376

Maybe this would be a good thread for others to post their smatchets or spear valas.
 
Last edited:
I love the Spear Vala. Mine is 14" but comes in at nearly 2lbs. I keep it in my night stand as one of my go to bump in the night blades.

Just a stout beast, and I love it so much:)
 
That is a thing of beauty, Dave!

I had a Bhakta Spear Vala like the one in your first picture, that has since gone to live with another forumite. It was a beast of a thing.
 
One word! Drop Dead Gorgeous! Ok technically I guess that's actually 3 words but say em together fast and who would know the difference ya know?

I love that thing.
 
eddsHandledKhuk.jpg


How about a double edged custom HI khukuri?

n2s
 
would just like to say this is one of the finest HI blades I have ever seen, perfection of lines, form and function !!!!-- karda please look at this blade, auntie as well--- a run of smatchets that are like this instead of the spear vala version would all be sold-- and I would buy every one of them if nobody else did , can't say enough good things about this--

dave you are a collecting master, the only way this could be better is if I found it first :D
 
Gehazi said:
karda please look at this blade, auntie as well--- a run of smatchets that are like this instead of the spear vala version would all be sold-- and I would buy every one of them if nobody else did , can't say enough good things about this--
Click to expand...

I would definately be in for one!
 
I would definitely be in for one like the Sher version shown in the 2nd and 3rd images. I'm not sure if by 'Spear Vala' you refer to that version, or the Bhakta version in the first image, or both.

- Bill D.
 
WFD said:
I would definitely be in for one like the Sher version shown in the 2nd and 3rd images. I'm not sure if by 'Spear Vala' you refer to that version, or the Bhakta version in the first image, or both.

- Bill D.
Click to expand...

The first picture shows an HI spear vala, which is a standard HI model, though not seen too often lately.

The second and third pictures are the Sher version of a smatchet. I believe this was a one-off, probably done as a special order to someone's specs. I call it a smatchet, but as far as I can tell most military smatchets were a simpler design with the same shape but no fullers, more like the spear vala but not as heavy.

If you do a web search for "smatchet" and browse through the images, you'll see that most smatchets had the leaf-shaped, double-edged blade, with no fullers. There is one company that makes a fancier smatchet that is very nice but also very expensive, and it still doesn't measure up to what Sher made. Looking at the images I only found one example of a smatchet that was as nice as Sher's smatchet, and that was not for sale. Or rather, the person posting the image listed $999,999 as the price, which is the same as NFS.

Someone asked me if I planned to keep the Sher smatchet as long as I live. My answer was, no, I plan to keep it longer than that, and be buried with it eventually. Hopefully not for many years.

It occurs to me that an interesting thread might be: Which HI blades would you want buried with you? I think I could narrow it down to five or six of my collection, but the Sher smatchet would be right up there in the top two or three, maybe the top one. (The answer might depend on where you expect to go afterward. If it's Valhalla, then one probably needs a sword or an axe, preferably both.)
 
That's a tough one, David. On the one hand, it seems a shame to let any HI blade be buried when it could go to someone who would love it & use it well. On the other hand, the tradition of grave goods is pretty cool. I suppose I'd take my WW2 with me, and give my other HI knives to good homes.
 
Guess it don't make a lick a sense to ask david what it would take to call that Smatchet me own, don't sound like he's near ready to part with it.

Puts a whole new meaning to the phrase grave robber don't it.

Yup, officer seen this derelict in a wheelchair just a digging for all he was worth.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top