The Backwards Blade

Bob, I don't know there will be a near future. I just don't know. Ask Yangdu, I guess.


munk
 
Big Bob said:
This style sword should sell pretty well once the kamis get the handle right. I'd like to get one of these in the near future.

Bob
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Actually the handle is correct, it's the edge of the blade that's on the wrong side. Think scissors, the sharp edge is on the straight edge and the rounded edge is not sharp. These swords are reversed...doesn't make them wrong, just not a Gununting.
 
Turn the handle around, sharpen both sides, and you would have a decent double edged short sword.
Maybe they should take a trip back to Nepal and be reworked. I can't imagine what anyone would do with one in its' present state.
 
I would assume that the trip from Nepal is where a majority of the expense comes for HI. That would negate the trip back idea.

I think two solutions jump out. First you could do what Norm has suggested. Grind off the stub at the end of the handle and repolish. Voala. Finito. Good looking sword.

The other is to heat off the handle, clean up the tang and epoxy the handle back on facing the right direction. Really guys. This project would take 45 minutes. It would probably take longer to grind off the nub.
 
Maybe I'm missing something here, and if I am please let me know.
Why would anybody want to spend $145 or $165 on a knife/sword that you know you have to monkey with before it is worth anything at all?
Why not take that money and go after a DOTHD blade that will be of some value to you?
Like I said, maybe I'm missing the point, but I thought the idea behind owning knives and swords was so that you could cut things that need cutting.
 
Well call me (and ME and me and me!) crazy, but i shot off an e-mail to Yangdu last night for one of these mixed up and misunderstood swords. Who cares if it's "not right". Kis has a dog like that, and i'm pretty sure he still feeds him once or twice a week;)
I was holding out for a tarwar, but if Munk says it swings better...gudnuf for me. I have no idea where I'll find the money for one of these, and my wife is going to kill me (we have a long weekend trip coming up next month since we didn't take a honeymoon). However, I kinda like this odd duck of a sword. You know, it could be THE deciding factor in armed combat with the undead:D
Yangdu needs to get rid of these little goofs, and I think these little monsters are worth a night or two on the couch. My wife will thank me later. Statistics show that zombie/ninja/pirate attacks are up a whopping 215% in 2005:eek:
The carpet will run red and I will be in much trouble with the Mrs. as wave after wave of invader fall under my Crazy Sword. This neat little backward blade reminds me of something out of those Chinese kung fu movies where the over the top warriors always have some sort of odd or unique weapon. Something that is at such a mastery level, that no other person could pick it up and use it or even defend themselves against it;)

Now that I have said all of this, I hope i get one:D

jake
 
The_Shadow said:
Maybe I'm missing something here, and if I am please let me know.
Why would anybody want to spend $145 or $165 on a knife/sword that you know you have to monkey with before it is worth anything at all?
Why not take that money and go after a DOTHD blade that will be of some value to you?
Like I said, maybe I'm missing the point, but I thought the idea behind owning knives and swords was so that you could cut things that need cutting.
Click to expand...

Because sometimes it's not about the knife. Sometimes it's about the Great Heart. Sometimes it's about a wonderful lady that does wonderful things for us having inventory on hand that is not as desirable as they had hoped. No one has to be forced into buying these, but they ARE unique. Not right, but unique and worth owning because of the effort. Munk sent out a call to help out Yangdu in any way we could a week or so ago. Unlike many of the fine people here, I have no skills or talents to lend to HI. I don't even have any money, but hell or high water I'm going to scrape something together to help Yangdu unload one of these things because they are expensive to her.
Please don't take my comments as confrontational and especially don't take me buying one of these swords as some sort of high-horse-down-my-nose moral thing for HI (the ARE pretty freakin cool:)). These are not for everybody. However, my HI collection is complete besides snagging the cool specials that come out.

Jake
 
The_Shadow said:
Maybe I'm missing something here, and if I am please let me know.
Why would anybody want to spend $145 or $165 on a knife/sword that you know you have to monkey with before it is worth anything at all?
Why not take that money and go after a DOTHD blade that will be of some value to you?
Like I said, maybe I'm missing the point, but I thought the idea behind owning knives and swords was so that you could cut things that need cutting.
Click to expand...

Shadow, good to see you, btw.

A couple of reasons come to mind.

Firstly, sometimes mistakes make a better investment than the ones that came out right. It happens. The mistake makes a thing unique, and that particular item attains a value many times the value of the ones that came out right.

Secondly, many of the hard core collectors of HI stuff really snatch up the rare stuff. These swords could be extremely rare since they may loose money on them.

Thirdly, there IS value in a sword for <$200 that is functional, and only requires a little TLC before it is absolutely outstanding. Additionally, there are a bunch of us who really enjoy modding, and generally monkeying with, HI knives and swords. They're priced so we don't feel comfortable doing it too.

And finally, because HI is a cause to us, and not just a sick addiction we have to big chunks of shiney steel. We don't want HI to loose money on this batch of swords. That isn't going to help the Kami's, whom we love. What will help them out is for the swords to sell, and sell they will, I am sure.

Anyone who buys one and would like to give me a shot at modding it is welcome to PM me. I'll only charge shipping. Sounds like a dang fun project to me.
 
Jake, you said that way better than I did. Thanks.
 
I see your point. This is as much about feeling a connection to HI as it is about owning knives and swords. To the point that you will put your money where your mouth is, pony up and buy something you don't really want to support people you have never met, and probably will never meet.
This is not your ordinary run of the mill group of people. This is pretty rare in my experience.
 
tedwca said:
Actually the handle is correct, it's the edge of the blade that's on the wrong side. Think scissors, the sharp edge is on the straight edge and the rounded edge is not sharp. These swords are reversed...doesn't make them wrong, just not a Gununting.
Click to expand...

ah, enlightenment! google Gununting! the blade is supposed be be wharncliffe like. ahhhh.

scroll a bit on this one: http://www.szaboinc.com/edged.html they'll be happy to sell you one for $500. they have a short sword there too for $1100 and the *trainer* is $500. methinks for a working sword 145/165 is fair dinkum.

thinking about it now. we all love the unloved weird things.

bladite
 
Nothing like a proper DOTD phrasing:

Backwards Blade: 30 ounces and is 24.5" long. Bolster starts at 3/8" and tapers to 1/4". Scabbard is made of carved Nepali Oak, and has a design on both ends. Horn handle and skull buster point on the end.

Priced to MOVE !!! BUY NOW BUY NOW BUY TWO

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see for all pictures in series:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3994999&postcount=8
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3995005&postcount=10
 
The blade on that sword is absolutely beautiful. I think the handle looks cools as is and looks like it would be a user right out of the box. Cools stuff and thanks for the pics. Is it uncomfortable to chop with like this? Heck, if not, I would leave it as is.
 
The profile of this sword reminds me of a Viking ship. Built for adventure and conquering.

Eric
 
The handle did not bother me. A couple times I could feel pressure from the extention but it was no big deal.

My Tarwar was on the heavy side, as these things go, but I still felt a vibration from the blade not engaged by the wood. It's a longish blade and it vibrates. Wiggles-whatever. The Tarwar is 4 -5" longer.

This blade is short and stout enough that it just felt better chopping.

munk
 
Well I just got an e-mail from Yangdu. Looks like this poor backwards blade is coming to live in southern Indiana with me. The other ones are on there way to Reno for those that are interested. I told Yangdu that this one was blemmed and obviously meant to be used, so i would pass on the "new" ones for those collectors that collect...not hunt zombies or destroy things in the warehouse:p I figured she would have a better chance of clearing them out if the "Munk Tested/Munk Certified" blem was taken by a blade smasher like me.

That said, lets put this puppy through it's paces. Once the Mrs shows me how to work the new cam, I'll do a review with the new blade here at work. I'll have my asst manager here to help with the photos.

My hypothesis is that these swords are just as good "as is" as if they were "right". If the backward handle does not affect performance, then you all can buy the new lot of them with a clear conscious. If they feel awkward, then i will point that out too.

I'm not a sword guy. However, i'll do a few cutting chores to see what happens to some targets, how it feels in hand, what it's Z rating is (a unit i made up to measure how effective a weapon something is against the undead).
Pool noodles, coconuts, pine boards, ??? will be the targets of the day.

Any requests?

Jake
 
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