- Joined
- May 9, 2002
- Messages
- 12,676
One of the most joyful constants in my life is that even after a decade of collecting and handling, HI still finds ways to surprise me. For the longest time, there have been a handful of HI blades that have eluded me. My great white whale is the Falcata. I have the cash, one is no where to be found. I'm the first shark to view a deal of the day, and I am two nickles shy of having ten cents to rub together. I digress
One item that I have always been fascinated with is the Uddha Sword. I'm not really sure what the term means, how you pronounce it (OO-Duh or YU-Dah), or what the design is based on. However, the simple and graceful lines of the guardless sword have always intrigued me. I have often said that I have basically no training with edged weapons, and that is true. Nonetheless, like so many HI blades, the Uddha feels like a natural extension of your arm. Your will seems to guide it. Unlike many of the more traditional light fighter khuks, the Uddha feels almost pure in ethereal in balance. There is no forward momentum that you do no enact upon it. Changing directions mid swing is as simple as thinking about it. The amount of mass on target is less than its forward leaning khukuri brothers, but it makes up for power with finesse. It quite honestly feels like a Nepali Lightsabre.
Here's a picture of the Uddha next to my 15" Siru and 18" Manakanama for size comparison.
One thing about the Uddha is that it is LIGHT. 23" and 22 oz. The spine is 1/4" thick and rounded the entire length. There isn't a hard edge on the whole sword. The balance is about 3.5" from the bolster which puts it a tad over 9.5" from the end of the grip. It's very, very lively in hand. Lachhu's fit and finish are perfect. Short of a few normal hammer waves here and there, the sword is impeccable. The blade's edge is true and very keen as well as quite sharp. The slight up sweep of the tip is both subtly aesthetically appealing and may serve some sort of combat function the blade hasn't told me about yet.
Oh yes, this sword does talk. It has a very centered and positive spirit to it. It quietly teaches you how to wield it. It's an instinctual blade that would be ill served by a thoughtless bruiser. It feels as if it were built to evade, counter, and then if need be strike with lethal efficiency. The smooth Asare wood grip feels worn smooth even though it is a new sword. There is quite a bit of "old soul" seeping from blade.
I can't quite put my finger on it.
Another curious aspect of the Uddha is that it actually inspired me to take 45 minutes and type out one of the several silly action scenes in a book my wife is trying to get me to write. Once I hefted the blade, I couldn't help myself. I HAD to write about it. I had to include it in some way. It has a story to tell, and I still don't know much of it. I'm hoping in time it grants me a little more to write about.
Thank you so much, Yangdu and Pala. Lachhu has once again done incredible work. His level of fit and finish are incredible. Please give him my sincere and humble thanks. It's an incredible blade.
One item that I have always been fascinated with is the Uddha Sword. I'm not really sure what the term means, how you pronounce it (OO-Duh or YU-Dah), or what the design is based on. However, the simple and graceful lines of the guardless sword have always intrigued me. I have often said that I have basically no training with edged weapons, and that is true. Nonetheless, like so many HI blades, the Uddha feels like a natural extension of your arm. Your will seems to guide it. Unlike many of the more traditional light fighter khuks, the Uddha feels almost pure in ethereal in balance. There is no forward momentum that you do no enact upon it. Changing directions mid swing is as simple as thinking about it. The amount of mass on target is less than its forward leaning khukuri brothers, but it makes up for power with finesse. It quite honestly feels like a Nepali Lightsabre.
Here's a picture of the Uddha next to my 15" Siru and 18" Manakanama for size comparison.
One thing about the Uddha is that it is LIGHT. 23" and 22 oz. The spine is 1/4" thick and rounded the entire length. There isn't a hard edge on the whole sword. The balance is about 3.5" from the bolster which puts it a tad over 9.5" from the end of the grip. It's very, very lively in hand. Lachhu's fit and finish are perfect. Short of a few normal hammer waves here and there, the sword is impeccable. The blade's edge is true and very keen as well as quite sharp. The slight up sweep of the tip is both subtly aesthetically appealing and may serve some sort of combat function the blade hasn't told me about yet.
Oh yes, this sword does talk. It has a very centered and positive spirit to it. It quietly teaches you how to wield it. It's an instinctual blade that would be ill served by a thoughtless bruiser. It feels as if it were built to evade, counter, and then if need be strike with lethal efficiency. The smooth Asare wood grip feels worn smooth even though it is a new sword. There is quite a bit of "old soul" seeping from blade.
I can't quite put my finger on it.
Another curious aspect of the Uddha is that it actually inspired me to take 45 minutes and type out one of the several silly action scenes in a book my wife is trying to get me to write. Once I hefted the blade, I couldn't help myself. I HAD to write about it. I had to include it in some way. It has a story to tell, and I still don't know much of it. I'm hoping in time it grants me a little more to write about.
Thank you so much, Yangdu and Pala. Lachhu has once again done incredible work. His level of fit and finish are incredible. Please give him my sincere and humble thanks. It's an incredible blade.
