The Spear Vala/The Ghost of Fairbairns Past

Steely_Gunz

Steely_Gunz

Got the Khukuri fevah
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May 9, 2002
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My wonderful mail lady just dropped off one of those oh so coveted triangular boxes. You all know the routine. We exchange a few moments of polite chitchat, all the while my mind is reeling at getting into the treasure inside. Upon seeing the picture of this beast, I have been salivating at getting my hands on it.

I don't have time to do a full review, but I had to get a couple of thoughts and pictures put down before I head out for the day. Without question, the execution on this blade is some of the finest I have seen come out of the shop. Just when I think I've seen it all, the kamis surprise me with the level of fit and finish they are able to obtain under their given their conditions. It's an incredible feat.

Here are a few specs. The Spear Vala measures almost exactly 14" from tip to the buttcap. The blade length is just a smidgen under 9.5" with a balance point of about 6.5" from the end of the buttcap. I would say it weighs in around 2lbs, and she's all fighting knife. Not light and graceful but not a chopping brute. This gal can dance, but its not to open you up with death by a thousand cuts. This knife is going to bite deep. While it lacks the nimbleness of other fighters, the SV would be very effective at getting the job done. I don't know how to explain it, but it almost WANTS to come out of your hands when you wield it. I'm not saying its slick or hard to hold onto. It's actually quite comfortable and comforting to hold onto. This particular specimen reminds me of a cat that doesn't want to be picked up...in a good way!:p It's just lively, thirsty maybe? It wants to go to work on something. It needs to be tamed. I haven't felt an HI blade with so much life in awhile. It's actually quite incredible.

Anyway, some quick pics. More later if I have some time:)

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Compared to my seax.

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Check it out. It's a faux chiruwa:) Very comfy, very secure, very strong. Bhakkta did outstanding work. I'm really, really impressed!

that's all for now. I have to run my daughter to the dr...head cold:rolleyes:

I have to thank Yangdu for providing us with such incredible blades and a HUGE pat on the back and thank you to Bhakkta. I had never handled his work before, but given some of the more technically challenging aspects to this knife, I would love to see more from him:)
 
Nice post SG.Looks like a fantastic fighter.As for Bhakta-I have an AK bowie and Super CAK by him-he is an extraordinary smith.All aspects-blade,hafting and F&F all top notch.
 
Well after running my daughter to the doctor and then rushing to the company Christmas party, I was finally able to spend a little time with the SV last night. I had lightly touched it up with a stone at work, but I couldn't find my chakma.

So after we got home and got Evelyn to bed, I started to roll the heavy monster over in my hands. The edge took a frighteningly sharp edge. It will easily shave hair it's total length. One coolest and probably the most challenging thing to shape on the knife is the pommel at the end. Here's a picture:
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I don't know if you can see it from the less than stellar phone pic, but the pommel is made out of white metal that pretty much exactly follows the contours of the angled edges of the wood under it. Then the butt plate is attached via some masterful brazing work. You almost can't see the line. It's also been peened at the bottom. Once you take into account the tight fit of the wooden grip, the 2 rivets and the exceptionally well done lanyard hole lined with a fantastically well done brass tube, you realize that this is not only one of the most bombproof handles but that a lot of care was put into the aesthetic details. This knife was not only built to do a massive amount of work, but it will flat out look good doing it;)

Another thing I have to commend Bhakkta on is the masterful blade shape. It would have been much easier to pound the blade flat then forge the edges at a 15 degree angle out to the sharp part. Basically making it a hard fullered edge. The way he shaped the leaf of this blade is astounding. Not only was he able to knead the edge out subtly, but the general termination of the edge is even on all 4 sides. To think that this level of craftsmanship was done by hand is inconceivable.

About the ONLY thing that some might find off putting is that the tip of the Spear Vala is not pointy. Some folks really want that dagger point on their fighting knives. Personally, I like the more rounded tip. It not as fragile as other designs, and the Smatchet was never a knife designed for subtle work. It's a heavy, hard hitting knife that was made to chop and slice and strike and then maybe run your target through. With a knife carrying this much mass, you could practically square the tip off and it would still penetrate given enough thrust. At any rate, the less pointy tip is there by design. Nothing of Bhakkta's work suggests that he skimps on anything.

Call me crazy. Tell me that I read too much into things, but this knife is "wild". If there ever were a knife that dripped spirit, this is it. I'm not talking about balance or liveliness in the hand. I'm not talking about spirit in the sense of appreciating its masterful craftsmanship. I'm talking about full on, "Did I just feel this thing breathe?" heebee jeebbes. It gave me a small "kiss" on my thumb knuckle when I slipped steeling the edge. Nothing major but enough to know that it was there. I spent the night dreaming of running wild and fighting off an invisible and terrifying foe. Always spurred on and one step ahead thanks to voice guiding me. I wielded no weapon, it was a bit of a surreal nightmare after all. However I felt...not alone. Armed yet unarmed. I've never had a dream quite like it. Was it the Spear Vala? I can't say for sure;)

I really hope we see more of these show up. I think a lot of you guys would get a kick out it:thumbup:
 
Great pix and review, thank you for sharing
 
Always love your reviews Jake, you have a way with words. The Spear Vala/smatchet model isn't quite my cup of tea though unfortunately (fortunately for my wallet!).
 
Thanks fellas:)

Well I don't get a chance to go out and DO much with my knives these days, sadly. When the weather is good I have not time. When I have time, I hate going out in the cold:p I still give them a few boring tests based on wacks, wraps, smacks, and a few good pries to test the durability. However, good reading those tests are not. I'm chronically longwinded, so I try to at least make it sorta interesting to slog through:D It's not Twain or Dickens, but it at least it's not, "...and then I gave the board SEVEN chops at roughly 3/4 power and the knife bit 4.23" deep 5.4" from the tip in the middle of the 2.73" sweet spot which caused a zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz":D

At any rate, that Spear Vala is certainly a purpose driven knife. It won't be what I strap to my hip to go camping. However, wearing it around the home and office, it certainly makes for a substantial piece of steel that gives one the warm and fuzzies. The functionality of this knife is heavy combat. Hefting it you can tell that it is not designed to be a showpiece. While not exactly to Fairbairn's Smatchet specs, it is quite obvious how this knife is to be used in combat. It cleaves, hacks, slashes, crushes, and pierces like a miniature war sword. It strikes me as weapon that would be frightening in the hands of an unskilled but determined user, and visceral nightmare when wielded by someone who knew how to put it to brutally efficient use.

The balance of this knife is great. However, the blade to handle ratio is quite large. This might be an issue for guys with bigger mitts. Also, unless I modify the scabbard (which is very, very, VERY well done. Seriously, kudos to the folks that made that one) to hang lower from the belt, it's a LONG draw which is quite slow. 99.9% of the time, it's fine:) However, if one were to want to use this as a SD blade, I would probably make a sheath that either hangs lower (which doesn't hide as well) or attach it to a shoulder rig. I think the shoulder rig is route I'm going to go once I pick up some more leather by the start of the new year. It's got quite a bit of width at the guard area, but I think I can design a sheath that will offset that with the cut of my shirt. Should be a really fun project in a couple weeks:)
 
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