Rusty would be very proud and pleased

Sylvrfalcn

Sylvrfalcn

Joined
Jun 4, 2002
Messages
3,930
I know I am, and unsurprisingly I am once more profoundly in Yangdu's debt, a better person to be indebted to I cannot imagine. Guys, this one is "all that and a bag of chips", a serious Sgian Dubh, as capable of gutting a deer as it is cutting the haggis on Bobby Burns Day. Perfect size to be a functional, capable, carry knife, but still sweetly compact enough to slip into your boot or sock top.
Here's some specs;
Blade length: 4 3/16"
Blade width: 1 1/16"
Blade thickness (at spine): 5/32" (that's just a skosh over 1/8", and absolutely spot on, what a cutter)
Blade grind: Full convex (again, what a cutter)
Handle length: 4"
Handle width: 1 1/4"
Handle thickness: 5/8"
Description of markings;
Left side of blade: HI and maker's initials done in Devangari script, maker's mark (torch), HI mark (sun), inscription centered and parallel with blade 200K Posts
Right side of blade: inscription centered and parallel with blade Rusty Sgian Dubh

I lack Steve F. or Yangdu's skill with a camera, but this pic should give a fair idea of what these beasties look like. Top knife was made by new kami Yuvraj, and most excellently done, bottom knife was made by some crusty old retired master sergeant. Enjoy :D

f3b1.jpg


Sarge
 
I'd say the crusty old sarge did pretty good.

Sarge- is this the knife Yangdu has privately referred to as the 'Rusty knife' - the blade several forumites wanted, or is that another blade?

I ask to learn the answer, and also because she told me they'd had some moderate amount of difficulty getting the Rusty knife to spec. I hope this is. It's interesting that even a 'simple' thing as a knife, and this a small one, still has many things that can go wrong before it is alright.


munk
 
munk said:
I'd say the crusty old sarge did pretty good.

Sarge- is this the knife Yangdu has privately referred to as the 'Rusty knife' - the blade several forumites wanted, or is that another blade?

I ask to learn the answer, and also because she told me they'd had some moderate amount of difficulty getting the Rusty knife to spec. I hope this is. It's interesting that even a 'simple' thing as a knife, and this a small one, still has many things that can go wrong before it is alright.


munk
Click to expand...

This knife is IIRC Yvsa's brainchild to commemorate the HI forum's two hundred thousandth post in memory of Rusty. Yvsa asked me if I would do the design and cook up the models to be sent to Bir Ghorkha, and it was indeed my honor to do so. I can scarcely fathom the time, trouble, and headaches that Yangdu has gone through to get these knives so "spot on", but I suspect she felt, as I did, that the "extra mile" was worth it for a guy like Rusty.

Sarge
 
I can scarcely fathom the time, trouble, and headaches that Yangdu has gone through to get these knives so "spot on", but I suspect she felt, as I did, that the "extra mile" was worth it for a guy like Rusty..... Silver Falcon


It is kind of you to say so, Sarge, and I bet Yangdu lets the Kamis know they came through with flying colors; but she insisted upon spec for you and Yvsa, as much or more than anything else. She knew Yvsa wanted the precise product, and fought to get it. There was a group of 'also-rans', and I'm not sure what she did with those. HI lost money on the FF. Some of these special projects end up like that. It's the risk part of the willingness to try new things. When it doesn't work, or takes a while and several batches to get right, HI gets the bill.

You're pleased, I'm pleased, our friends here are pleased Yangdu stuck her neck out. While we've had minor problems in the forum, Yangdu has been doing a hell of a job running HI her way, and we are lucky dogs.

I'm fascinated by this- the running of a small company. HI is better than it ever was. Yangdu did it.

And we get more years; who knows what is coming? Great fun, man. The new, "Good Old Days" are here.


munk
 
Bri in Chi said:
Sarge,
Is there going to be a sign up for these? Or did I miss the boat?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure when or how Yangdu is going to be offering these sgian dubhs, but rest easy, you've not missed the boat Bri. I hope I haven't stolen any of her thunder by letting this cat out of the bag, but I was just too excited to keep my mouth shut.
I will say this, the inscriptions are important to me, and have special significance to those of us that knew Rusty. But, If I took a whole truckload of unmarked versions of this knife to any highland festival, it ain't even funny how quick I'd empty that truck out. Dead serious about that, these sgian dubhs make the cheesy plastic handled junk that many vendors are pushing for 60-70 bucks a pop look like pure crap. These aren't costume accessories, they're honest to God forged steel knives, that are as good or better than the originals from "back in the day". Sound like I'm proud of 'em? You dayumed well better believe it. ;)

Sarge
 
Nice work, Greg.

Nice work, Kami Yuvraj.

Nice work, Yangdu.


Nice work, Rusty...a "back-up" knife in your honor. Makes me grin, it does.
 
Great pictures and review, thank you Sarge
 
Dibs on the first *horn* model..."Black Knife" after all.
 
Nasty said:
Dibs on the first *horn* model..."Black Knife" after all.
Click to expand...

Sgian = knife, Dubh = black, erego "Black Knife". Interesting to note that a preponderance of early ones had antler handles, and the dark handles like bog oak, ebony, and blackwood didn't come into their own, so to speak, until the sgian dubh had been around for a while. That's led a lot of folks to conjecture that "black knife" refers to it's dark nature as a hidden weapon, similar to the usages of such terms as "blackmail", "black magic", et cetera. Still, horn, how sweet would that be? Sigh, Nasty's done called dibs. :( :D

Sarge
 
Sylvrfalcn said:
I'm not sure when or how Yangdu is going to be offering these sgian dubhs, but rest easy, you've not missed the boat Bri. I hope I haven't stolen any of her thunder by letting this cat out of the bag, but I was just too excited to keep my mouth shut.
I will say this, the inscriptions are important to me, and have special significance to those of us that knew Rusty. But, If I took a whole truckload of unmarked versions of this knife to any highland festival, it ain't even funny how quick I'd empty that truck out. Dead serious about that, these sgian dubhs make the cheesy plastic handled junk that many vendors are pushing for 60-70 bucks a pop look like pure crap. These aren't costume accessories, they're honest to God forged steel knives, that are as good or better than the originals from "back in the day". Sound like I'm proud of 'em? You dayumed well better believe it. ;)

Sarge
Click to expand...

I am defintely in for one Sarge, and thanks to you and Yvsa for doing such a great job driving this and for all your hard work!

Regards,

Norm
 
Hard work Norm? It was Yvsa's idea, and Yangdu's efforts that made these happen. All I did was whittle a couple of models and made a couple of sgian dubhs, that ain't work for me, it's relaxation. 'Course I'd be lying if I didn't admit to a bit of tossing and turning, and floor pacing over these, but I'm plumb tickled they met my parameters so well. What parameters? Well. . . .
- Simple and straightforward design that is unmistakably a sgian dubh but easy for the kamis to replicate
- Large enough blade to be useful, and be a serious backup weapon, large enough handle to fit most folks' hands comfortably, but still small/compact enough overall to conceal and carry comfortably
- Handle design that lends itself readily to personalization/customization. Note that the handle is solid wood without a pommel, and only metal fitting of handle is brass hilt plate. Reshape the handle if you like, apply some decorative carving if you like, mount a clan crest, etc. on the broad plain just aft of the blade/handle juncture. That handle is purposely designed so you can do all of that and make the knife uniquely yours. Or leave it as it is and just enjoy it.
- A small knife can't rely on weight and leverage to make the cut. That's why the blade is relatively thin (by comparison to what the kamis normally make), and also why the blade profile is a gentle convex grind that encompasses the width of the blade. This blade thickness (5/32") and profile make for a blade that's stiff enough to stab a hole in an oil drum, but thin and sharp enough to slice onions. Pretty as it is with it's tapered spear point and decorative jimping, this blade is intended to earn it's keep

I wanted a sgian dubh that any one of you would be proud to carry, and it had to be 100% worthy of Rusty, true to Yvsa's intentions, and worth Yangdu's time and trouble. No pressure, no pressure at all. :rolleyes: ;)

Sarge
 
Sylvrfalcn said:
I know I am, and unsurprisingly I am once more profoundly in Yangdu's debt, a better person to be indebted to I cannot imagine. Guys, this one is "all that and a bag of chips", a serious Sgian Dubh, as capable of gutting a deer as it is cutting the haggis on Bobby Burns Day. Perfect size to be a functional, capable, carry knife, but still sweetly compact enough to slip into your boot or sock top.
Here's some specs;
Blade length: 4 3/16"
Blade width: 1 1/16"
Blade thickness (at spine): 5/32" (that's just a skosh over 1/8", and absolutely spot on, what a cutter)
Blade grind: Full convex (again, what a cutter)
Handle length: 4"
Handle width: 1 1/4"
Handle thickness: 5/8"
Description of markings;
Left side of blade: HI and maker's initials done in Devangari script, maker's mark (torch), HI mark (sun), inscription centered and parallel with blade 200K Posts
Right side of blade: inscription centered and parallel with blade Rusty Sgian Dubh

I lack Steve F. or Yangdu's skill with a camera, but this pic should give a fair idea of what these beasties look like. Top knife was made by new kami Yuvraj, and most excellently done, bottom knife was made by some crusty old retired master sergeant. Enjoy :D

f3b1.jpg


Sarge
Click to expand...


Where's the pics Sarge??? I don't see any and I definitely wanted one of these (and to think I just spent my money on a Karda, hopefully the birthday fairie will bring me some $$ so I can purchase one of these as they come from my heritage and I definitely wish to get one). I am anxious to see what it looks like!!

Jack
 
I'm going to be pretty much offline for up to two weeks, but I want in if there is going to be a list signed up!
 
Don't know what to tell you Jack, you're the first person who's mentioned not being able to see the pic, maybe it's due to the Yahoo site the pic is linked from. Here, let me see if I can attach it straight from my hard drive.

attachment.php


How's that?

Sarge
 

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  • Rusty Sgian Dubh.JPG
    Rusty Sgian Dubh.JPG
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We are very lucky to be living here at this time, with these folks as friends:D I don't take it for granted for a minute.
 
HEE HEE!!!! I gots one too!!!!
And lets get one thing straight right off the bat, Does it make the grade? You're Damned Straight it Does!!!! :thumbup:
Does everyone need one? Damned straight they do!!!!
Now with that out of the way I can give y'all the impression I gots from mine.;)
Seems like mine is just a wee bit larger than the one Sarge measured or I guess a feller could say, "Mines bigger than Sarge's.";)

The blade on mine measures 4-1/4" long and 1-1/8" wide and 0.003" over 11/64" thick but I'm splitting hairs here.
The handle is similar in that it is 4-3/16" long, 1-3/16" wide and just a skosh over 5/8" thick, I put my mic's on it but that's close enough since we're not building a rocket.:rolleyes:
Weight is just a skosh over 3-1/2 ounces for all you backpackin guys who worry about weight and dayumed close, read right on, to 4 ounces with the sheath.:p

The handle is a real nice piece of Saatisal that has a grain that shows something like the face of a wee bonnie gremlin or maybe a wee troll, on one side, seeing as how it's s'posed to be Scottish.:D
The handle is also nicely shaped and pretty true to what Sarge carved on the models, no gripes here.

Another real plus and especially with me is that this is one of the best and most properly hardened knives I've gotten from HI in a long time, which means it is hard along the edge from the handle to the point!!!!
I'm gonna have to etch this one for sure just to see how far up the blade it does go.
I was uncertain at first because my good file was cutting it pretty easily but not all along the edge, after a bit the file was skating all along the edge, perfect hardness for a Sgian Dubh edge!!!!

This is a wonderful as well as a great rendition of a really nice little Scottish Sgian Dubh but...
it isn't totally perfect, just nearly so.
Now let me make it perfectly clear that I am a long time supporter of HI and no doubt always will be but that doesn't mean that HI nails every dayumed knife every dayumed time.
The last I recalled the kamis are human as we all are and there is sometimes things lost in the translation as has already been mentioned in the first batch or whatever that weren't nearly up to snuff.
If you have forgotten what I said in the very beginning then scroll back up and read it again.:rolleyes:
The sheath is the pits and could possibly get someone hurt if they carry the little knife in the wrong place. Remember that this knife is made to carry in your sock and that carrying it there with this sheath is probably fairly safe, but don't carry it in this sheath anywhere near your midsection or anywhere there might be a serious artery or vein laying close by even underneath a bit of flesh because this little knife could be very deadly if a wound is inflected in the right, or wrong, place.:eek:
The only other gripe I have is that the handle is too thick on the flat side, the side that lays next too your leg or other part of your body.
Is this a serious flaw, Hell no, it's just that I'm a nitpickin bastard.;)
Read the part about things being lost in translation again.:rolleyes:

I was lazy today so I took it into the workroom and ground the nicely already convexed edge into razor sharpness with a burr all along the edge and then I buffed the burr off with Jeweler's Rouge on a coarse buffing wheel.
Then I brought it back to the computer desk where I stropped it lightly on my strop a few times.
I've been pretty lazy about my edges lately but this knife and what it represents wouldn't take any less than one of Yvsa's famous Scary Sharp Edges.
Tomorrow if things go all right I might try to take some pix of it. <VBESEG>
 
"Mines bigger than Sarge's."
Good thing "bragging" isn't a sin! Yvsa looking forward to your pictures.

Dick
 
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