Thanks I was very happy with the way the sheath came out too. I like the dragons and the way the brown embossed leather and the black frog look together. Originally I got the brown stuff because it was cheap and I thought it might look bad as it is not a tradional color or style, but it came out very nicely I think. Stitching up the back was some work, especially since I didn't know how to stretch the leather as the original was done. Getting the leather to follow the contor and decreasing width of the sheath took some careful needle work, but it came out great.
The handle is bone (I think) and hollow. It has a full rat tail tang. 'full of epoxy now!
The engraving is beautiful isn't it? The pictures I put up don't do them justice, I just put the sheath and knife on the scanner since my camera is broken.
I bought the knife while in Hong Kong after studying in Taiwan for a few months. Some guy on the street was selling various things from a blanket. I don't think it's a great blade. I have sharpened it and used it but it's too soft and on some really hard dry pine the edge has folded over a couple of times. It cuts soft stuff like brush and devil's clubs great! I love the design of the blade and the engraving and I wish I had seen one with as good looking a blade and a solid heat treatment etc..
PS the original sheath had a lot more brass stuff on it includinging a brass piece saying Nepal in English that pierced the leather frog and the wood of the sheath and held the frog on. Mine stays on by friction fit, much better.
boy I wish they made those smaller knives bigger, so they would be more useful.
thanks Craig and Maddog for your advice. I enjoy reading your posts and the trick of boiling the handle to get it off was priceless.
shiro
