Last of the Super Salyans

Mike L.

Mike L.

Joined
Aug 19, 1999
Messages
1,955
I bought this from forumite Gone Sailing...it arrived day before yesterday.
There is a chip in the handle by the buttcap
about 7 x 5 millimeters. I think I can repair it well enough by using a little wood from an old chakma handle and some super glue.

Words are difficult describing this knife.
"Massive" is something of an understatement.
Like I told Gonesailing, this knife seems to have been made for a race of giants, long vanished from the earth (or moved to Canada).
I feel almost a reverence for this thing.

If someone can tell me that it will not be offensive, I think I am going to name this one "Ganesh" after the Hindu Elephant God, the Remover of Obstacles. Seems to fit.
Otherwise, "Gargantua" will have to do.

This one will be repaired, polished and hung on the wall (securely ancored to studs).
I feel privileged to own it.


--Mike L.


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Real men ride Moto Guzzis!
 
Hi Mike:

Now you can see why Jim with a lame wrist could not use the Salyan properly. It takes a strong hand, wrist and arm to use that khukuri.

I think Ganesh will be an okay name for this knife. Especially, when one remembers that Ganesh is the result of having his human head chopped off.

If you need some tips on getting the handle back to new condition, email me, but it sounds like you have it under control.

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Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
http://members.aol.com/himimp/index.html
 
Yup, words just aren't sufficient, are they?
Thanks, Mike, for grabbing it before I broke down and committed the insanity of having two of them so I could mount them crossed on a plaque.
 
I dunno Rusty, you may not be safe from the funny farm yet. I *might* consider a trade for another khuk. But it would have to be something special.

Think about it.


--Mike L.


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Real men ride Moto Guzzis!
 
Mike
Finally got this #$%^%$# computer working again.
The chip in the handle must have been done by me, but don't remember doing it. Unfortunately the wood is not as strong as the blade.
When testing it last summer, no mercy was shown.
Was thinking about making a pocket clip for the sheath instead of the frog.
smile.gif
That way it could be carried on the waste band of your shorts.
Jim

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What? Another knife? Don't you have enough of those things already?
How many does one person need?
And just what are you going to do with this one that you can't do with the others?
What is the purpose of all these knives anyhow??


 
I think a suitable clip could be made ...out of a jeep leaf spring, maybe.
I would consider using a baldric
(over the shoulder sword/scabbard carrier) if I were going to tote this thing. Works quite well with the basket-hilt Claymore that I wear with my kilt.

I *can* swing Ganesh, but stopping or changing his trajectory is...problematical.
A somewhat lighter Khuk would probably be better for martial arts/defensive use.
The trees in my back yard do look a little nervous, though.


--Mike L.


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Real men ride Moto Guzzis!
 
The large Salyans cut very well due to the wide blades, easily better than the Ang Khola's. I was concerned about the edge being weak because of the width so I did a pull up on mine with only the edge in a tree. It held up fine. It is heavy, but the large blade allows for a very nice handle, larger and thicker than the ones on the AK's.

-Cliff
 
Cliff, anyone... what do the Super Salyans weigh? I know about 4 lbs at least.

They're having an interesting discussion over on NetSword on historical weapon weights, and came up with the following as rules of thumb.

Single Hand Sword:
1.5 to 2.5 pounds

Hand-and-a-Half Sword:
2 to 3.5 pounds

Two Hand Sword:
3 to 5.5 pounds.
 
Back when they came in, Bill said they weighed 3.5 lbs.
After swinging Ganesh, a World War model feels like a toy, and a Sirupati becomes a toothpick!

--Mike L.




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Real men ride Moto Guzzis!
 
I weighed a couple of the Salyans when they came in but I can't remember exactly what they came in as. I do think they were heavier than the AK of the same length.

They are overkill is you'll forgive the expression -- at least for me.

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Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
http://members.aol.com/himimp/index.html
 
Too bad you didn't have one to show Jim March. That would have been a sight to see.
 
Chopping results please! This knife should be really interesting on hardwoods. Does it bind up?

Is it really the last one?

Will
 
Will, if we ever get caught up and a few pals want a SS we will get a few made -- but not right now!

Personally, I didn't like the knife. It was too stubby looking and it is definitely too big and heavy for this body I now inhabit.

------------------
Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
http://members.aol.com/himimp/index.html
 
Will, sorry it took me a while to reply.
I cannot give you objective, measured chopping report, ala Cliff Stamp.
The only chopping material left in my yard is an old knotty pine 6x6. Ganesh goes through this rather quickly, probably takes only 1/2 the chops of my GH Panawal model or my HI village model. This knife is rather "out of scale" for me. I am 6' tall, but not heavily built (call me Slim)at about 170 lbs. Ganesh would probably fit someone in the 6'6", 250 lbs+ size range a lot better. I let the weight of the knife do a lot of the work. I did not experience any significant binding or blade sticking in the knotty parts of the wood.

This knife weighs as much or more than my 31" basket-hilt Claymore!


--Mike L.



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Real men ride Moto Guzzis!
 
At 4' oal with 38 1/2" blade, my hand-and-a-half DelTin weighs 3lbs 12oz., and even *it* feels lighter than the Salyan.

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'...and on the Eighth Day, God said "Murphy, you take over."'
 
Thanks for the chopping results. I'm not a particularly big guy either. I tend to be lazy and if I can see results it encourages me to work harder. So I enjoy using my 22" Ang Khola and watching the wood fly.

I am interested in the SS as Cliff reports the SS out cuts/chops the AK. I will patiently wait for the next SS offering.

Will

[This message has been edited by Will Kwan (edited 14 November 1999).]
 
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