HI smatchet

My Kothimoda Katana is coming with me so I can poke me out an air hole to buy me enough time to dig myself out with my 20" AK. My 20" chiruwa AK would be a good idea to take with me as well since id need to use it as a prybar to pry my coffin lid off with all that dirt. Wouldnt want to void my AK warranty:rolleyes:. Then since id be considered a Zombie Id have to pack my Manjushree for mortal protection. Since I been buried for so long id then need my Kagas Katne to open all that mail thats been collecting in the box. I could go on but...Shutup ndog they say:yawn:...Ok back to mule stories:D
 
davidf99 said:
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.
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Actually David, that's backwards. The first picture is HI's version of the smatchet. The second and third pictures are of shers spear vala.

There is also a third version by Bhakkta that has the a guard similar to the Vala and a different handle from both.
 
I usually defer to Karda in these matters, but here's a link to a 2011 posting by Steely that shows a picture similar to my first picture and calls it a spear vala.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/907177-The-Spear-Vala-The-Ghost-of-Fairbairns-Past

Also, when I got my blade (first picture) from Yangdu, I had asked her for a spear vala, and this is what she sent me.

I agree that the HI spear vala is very similar to the traditional military smatchet, whereas Sher's creation (my second two pictures) are pretty much in a class by themselves, a sort of super-smatchet to my way of thinking. However, a rose by any other name ....
 
davidf99 said:
I usually defer to Karda in these matters, but here's a link to a 2011 posting by Steely that shows a picture similar to my first picture and calls it a spear vala.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/907177-The-Spear-Vala-The-Ghost-of-Fairbairns-Past

Also, when I got my blade (first picture) from Yangdu, I had asked her for a spear vala, and this is what she sent me.

I agree that the HI spear vala is very similar to the traditional military smatchet, whereas Sher's creation (my second two pictures) are pretty much in a class by themselves, a sort of super-smatchet to my way of thinking. However, a rose by any other name ....
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Honestly, they are all called spear vala by the kamis and here. But we do kind of differentiate them on the basis of smatchetyness.
 
karda, what are the chances of getting a welsh trench sword made in the tradition of the sher super smatchet? I would buy 3
 
Gehazi said:
karda, what are the chances of getting a welsh trench sword made in the tradition of the sher super smatchet? I would buy 3
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Actually, I was thinking that he 2nd and 3rd pics of davids looked more like a welsh trench sword than a smatchet in the first place.
Something like that is probably about as close as youre going to get to it. I don't know if the kamis could make the WTS's folding guard. You'd have to ask Auntie, and she'd probably have to ask the Kamis.
 
Karda said:
Actually, I was thinking that he 2nd and 3rd pics of davids looked more like a welsh trench sword than a smatchet in the first place. Something like that is probably about as close as youre going to get to it. I don't know if the kamis could make the WTS's folding guard. You'd have to ask Auntie, and she'd probably have to ask the Kamis.
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Karda (and Gehazi):

I think you're right. I did a web search for images of the "welsh trench sword" (which I had not heard of before yesterday, when Gehazi mentioned it). Except for the folding guard, the WTS looks a lot like a longer version of what I have been calling the Sher smatchet (or Sher super-smatchet).

My understanding is that the folding guard was just so that the WTS could be stored and/or carried more conveniently when not being wielded. If Gehazi wants an HI version for a collection, and does not plan to ride (or march) into combat with it, perhaps the folding guard could be eliminated from the specs. (I don't mean eliminate the guard, just the folding feature.)
 
I'd never heard of a Welsh trench sword either but I love the look and one by HI would be the bees knees.
 
Yeah, I can't afford it at the moment, but the combination of "Welsh" and "trench" pretty much had me on board. Add in "sword" and "Himalayan Imports", and I'm looking to sell a couple kidneys.
 
yeah really, your smatchet was probably a welsh trench sword replica, I certainly do not mind a lack of mechanical guard, and if I end up using it in any trenches, I don't think the folding guard would keep me from using it , either way dave really great knife!:D-- and it would be well taken if another run of these were done!
 
I wasn't familiar with the Welsh trench sword, but found a lot of interesting information about it on the internet. Apparently there were less than 200 of the original made, and the one original that I found information on had a three inch wide blade that was 18" long. So if HI would make one just like David's (which appears to also have a three inch wide blade, but about 11" long), and made the blade 7 inches longer, we would have an amazing HI version of it. I'd certainly buy one if the opportunity arose.
 
moparsbob said:
I wasn't familiar with the Welsh trench sword, but found a lot of interesting information about it on the internet. Apparently there were less than 200 of the original made, and the one original that I found information on had a three inch wide blade that was 18" long. So if HI would make one just like David's (which appears to also have a three inch wide blade, but about 11" long), and made the blade 7 inches longer, we would have an amazing HI version of it. I'd certainly buy one if the opportunity arose.
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That would be approaching a Gladius! Id be in for one of them whatever you want to call it. Bhakta could whup one of them out in no time i bet:cool: I think a permanent white metal guard would look just fine!
 
Anyway,

I'm in if HI makes a rerun of this thing, whatever it is called
attachment.php
 
Agree Snow, Whatever they name it if I see one of those I will risk the very gums in my mouth trying to gum that to death rather than letting it get away from me.
 
Yep, I'm a bit afraid of what that feeding frenzy is going to look like if these ever start popping up again.
 
well I am saving for a set sword and dagger welsh style ; special order takes longer, but you get what you want. ( basically those super leaf blades , thanks to the picture by dave I think it will be very easy for kami to reproduce-- have not asked yet but auntie never really says no if you can provide a good picture and reasonable parameters)-- and if they make me some they are bound to make extra like always. I have some hope we will see these, maybe not as crisp as dave's but at lease a nice facsimile.
 
snowwolf said:
Anyway,

I'm in if HI makes a rerun of this thing, whatever it is called
attachment.php
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My previous post about the Welsh trench sword was not meant in any way to detract from this "Spear Vala" of David's - I'd jump at the chance to buy another one like his!
 
moparsbob said:
My previous post about the Welsh trench sword was not meant in any way to detract from this "Spear Vala" of David's - I'd jump at the chance to buy another one like his!
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One day I will get a completely faithful high quality reproduction Smatchet. One day I also want to get one of these.
 
I did an online search yesterday for "welsh trench sword" to see if any were for sale anywhere.

Apparently only about 200 were made and an original today would cost many thousands of dollars, and would probably be mostly rust.

As for replicas, it turns out IMA (our source for old Longleaf and Bhojpuri khukuris, along with Atlanta Cutlery) sells a replica that is supposed to be a close copy of the original, complete with folding hand guard. It's pretty inexpensive and I debated long and hard whether to buy one, but decided against it. The quality would be disappointing compared with Sher's version, and also compared with the less elaborate HI spear vala. Also, I found a few reviews by people who pointed out that the folding hand guard is loose and noisy, and doesn't lock into place; it has to be kept open by the pressure of one's hand. Apparently that odd hand guard is what allowed the designer to get a patent on the knife. (Not that the patent did him much good if it's true that only 200 were made.)

Still, if anyone wants a faithful copy of the original, IMA has them. Personally I'll wait for the next round of HI models and fight with the other sharks to see if I can end up with two. I have two hands, after all.
 
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