- Joined
- Mar 8, 1999
- Messages
- 8,911
A week ago Saturday, after the afternoon session of the convention we met at the Titanic.
While Yangdu was putting the stuff off the table away, including the large Tibetan Sword displayed on the table, I saw her pick up from somewhere a small Tibetan sword. I believe that someone may have seen it earlier and put dibs on it, thus, it's being taken off the table.
Anyway, they had another, and I got it. In a red leather scabbard, of course.
Thirty one&1/2 inches long overall, 8 inch handle from guard to buttcap. Brass bolster a bit more than an inch and a quarter behind the steel guard, and brass pommel the same length. Five and 1/4" black water buffalo horn slabs riveted to the full tang, shaped octagonally, with a swell in the center. Add 1/4 inch for the keeper at the end of the butt cap, which goes from oval next to the horn to eye shaped looking down on the butt, with hemispherical keeper and a steel "rat-tail" end to the tang, peened over like on the khukuris.
Forward of the guard is an inch-and-a-half long by 1&3/4" deep habaki style brass thickener. The guard itself is 4" top to bottom, and 1&1/2" wide around the handle tapering to roughly 1/2" at the tips. It is made in it's entirety of 3/16ths inch stock.
Blade to forward edge of guard measures 23&1/4". Thickness of spine is 5/16ths 2 " ahead of guard tapering to 3/16ths 2" behind tip. Depth of blade in front of guard is 1&5/8". It tapers to 1" 3&1/2" behind the point. The grind at first appears to be flat ground but turns out on inspection to be slightly hollow ground thus reducing weight a bit more. The spine drops slightly, bringing the point down to the center line. I have no means of measuring the weight unsheathed, but putting it in the sheathe adds 1" to OAL.
So much for the mundane facts.
Most of this past week when I've been seated at my computer, it's been sitting on my lap. And when I haven't been on the computer, I'm often working to true up it's edge or polish the blade...this one isn't there yet - but it was the last one left and not up to Bura's usual work or I wouldn't have been able to afford it. It's marked L. B. and shows Bura's 1/4 moon mark.
One guy has already asked if I'm going to round off the octagonal shape and reduce the handle size much as I did the AKBowie. Truth be told, I don't know. The large side flats do well to orient my hand on it.
There's a transformation going on. I'm not sure if it's to the sword or to me. But we continue to become acquainted. Mama Cass' voice keeps ringing in my ears "... and it's getting better, warm and warmer, strong and stronger, getting better every day, better every day...".
While Yangdu was putting the stuff off the table away, including the large Tibetan Sword displayed on the table, I saw her pick up from somewhere a small Tibetan sword. I believe that someone may have seen it earlier and put dibs on it, thus, it's being taken off the table.
Anyway, they had another, and I got it. In a red leather scabbard, of course.
Thirty one&1/2 inches long overall, 8 inch handle from guard to buttcap. Brass bolster a bit more than an inch and a quarter behind the steel guard, and brass pommel the same length. Five and 1/4" black water buffalo horn slabs riveted to the full tang, shaped octagonally, with a swell in the center. Add 1/4 inch for the keeper at the end of the butt cap, which goes from oval next to the horn to eye shaped looking down on the butt, with hemispherical keeper and a steel "rat-tail" end to the tang, peened over like on the khukuris.
Forward of the guard is an inch-and-a-half long by 1&3/4" deep habaki style brass thickener. The guard itself is 4" top to bottom, and 1&1/2" wide around the handle tapering to roughly 1/2" at the tips. It is made in it's entirety of 3/16ths inch stock.
Blade to forward edge of guard measures 23&1/4". Thickness of spine is 5/16ths 2 " ahead of guard tapering to 3/16ths 2" behind tip. Depth of blade in front of guard is 1&5/8". It tapers to 1" 3&1/2" behind the point. The grind at first appears to be flat ground but turns out on inspection to be slightly hollow ground thus reducing weight a bit more. The spine drops slightly, bringing the point down to the center line. I have no means of measuring the weight unsheathed, but putting it in the sheathe adds 1" to OAL.
So much for the mundane facts.
Most of this past week when I've been seated at my computer, it's been sitting on my lap. And when I haven't been on the computer, I'm often working to true up it's edge or polish the blade...this one isn't there yet - but it was the last one left and not up to Bura's usual work or I wouldn't have been able to afford it. It's marked L. B. and shows Bura's 1/4 moon mark.
One guy has already asked if I'm going to round off the octagonal shape and reduce the handle size much as I did the AKBowie. Truth be told, I don't know. The large side flats do well to orient my hand on it.
There's a transformation going on. I'm not sure if it's to the sword or to me. But we continue to become acquainted. Mama Cass' voice keeps ringing in my ears "... and it's getting better, warm and warmer, strong and stronger, getting better every day, better every day...".
... Yours sounds like a beauty!!
