Uncle Bill Memorial Salyan Special

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I got the Uncle Bill Memorial Salyan Special offered on 11/1. The stats Yangdu posted are as such:

"15 inch 18 ounce UB memorial Salyan special by Bura. Great work by Bura. The thing that keeps this from being a 10/10 rig is a hairline crack in the Chandan wood handle that will never develop in to anything."

The shape of the blade, the pommel, and the kami Bura set this knife apart for me. I also ordered the Badune special by Bura offered on 10/26 and found this blade to be wonderful for a small blade. So light and quick! I can see why one would like Bura's work.

My issue now is the same as when I ordered the Badune. There is nowhere I can find to read up on a Salyan Special. Generally I like to read and re-read about a knife while I wait for its delivery. Can anyone tell me more about this type of Khuk?

I am also having trouble finding Tru Oil. I checked Wal-Mart and Ace Hardware so far. Hints?

Thanks in advance.

Andy
 
Andy, the Uncle Bill Memorial Salyan has been a knife in the works for a LONG time. Longer than many of us have been around the Cantina. From what i remember, the Salyan is the type of khuk displayed as the logo khuk on the HI site. It was one of Uncle Bill's favorites. They TRIED to have a run made several years ago (before my time), and they came out almost comical. WAY too thick and heavy. These new Salyans were made in honor of Uncle Bill upon his passing. They were made to spec and are probably the finest example of what Bura can make. I have one here with me right now in my office. They typically come in 12 and 15" versions although i think i remember one coming in at 18". I think you'll be very happy with the knife. Use it well. There is a lot of love poured into that blade.

Jake
edit to add. You might try any place that sells rifles and shtoguns like a sporting goods store for your Tru Oil.
 
Thanks Jake!!! I really appreciat the good 411.:p Does yours have a pommell that looks like the latest that I ordered? Is that solid brass? :eek: I hope it is. I also appreciate the help on the Tru Oil.

Andy
 
Try a gunshop or sporting goods store. Or one of the online gunsmith supply sources - but the postage will be more than the cost.
 
There have been normal salyans come through....the problem was that a few select forumites wanted a Super Salyan - a beefed up version of the little salyan that Bill got long ago.

Salyan is a town in Nepal. The khukuri is named after the pattern that was (and still is) produced there.

I think Bill always wanted the Salyan to return, but just not "under his watch". He really liked the old model....a lot. I think the Super Salyan took the wind out of his sails on it.

The 12", 15", and 18" versions we are seeing now are amazing. They are ten times better than any version before. I think Bill would have been very proud. Proves that the kamis can indeed "hit the nail on the head".

Try woodcraft.com for oils and such. Also, leevalley.com might have some.
 
Thanks Dan. Any idea whether that thick looking pommel is solid brass?

Theres a woodcraft here in Atlanta on my way home, and as a woodworker I use them a lot. There is also a pretty large gun store near my work (40 miles from home) so I'll probably visit one or the other soon.

Really thanks for the help.:D

Andy
 
aproy1101 said:
Thanks Dan. Any idea whether that thick looking pommel is solid brass?

Andy
Click to expand...

Andy the butt cap is just the same old butt cap with a tooled brass skirt brazed onto it.
All of the butt caps used to be made that way.
Yep, they're pretty, but a *Major* painintheass!!!:( :grumpy: ;) :D
 
Dayum!! Oh well.;) That doesn't damnpen my enthusiasm for the knife. I want a Khuk that isn't as heavy as my Chiruwa AK. And one that wont give my arm the blisters and shivers the CAK delivers. This one will fit the bill. I cannot imagine needing one bigger than my 16.5 CAK. I think I'll own a bigger knife, but I'm not sure I need it. Hey HIKV isn't about need. Its about overstretching your budgeted money and wifley patience.

Andy
 
crazy part is....even though it's only a "skirt" of brass 'round the buttplate...it makes the handle feel twice as strong and solid. And I bet it won't rotate accidentally....
 
I have one each - 12" 15" and 18" Overall, they're a really nice style with great blade shape and balance, a nifty cho and perfect handle/bolster/buttcap workmanship.

Two are Mountain Elk handled and the other is an 18" Chandan Blem (guess what the blem is :)).

My only dislike is that on the 12 and 15, the inlay of the lettering seems to be incomplete/flawed or fell out in places leaving a black unfinished area (or it's a heck of a resistant case of the black mystery gunks) and the blood grooves are a little messy which is a visually unappealing.

The 18" is pefect in that regard. Despite the Blem (split handle if you hadn't guessed - it's flawless otherwise), the 18" is a favorite. It's got a really wonderful blade.

As for the larger sizes, you can train into them.... Get a ~20" ~36 oz. model and work out with it doing 10-50 controlled strokes in each of the ways you use the light one. It'll get to be easy.
 
AKA the Sword of Shiva... Just looks more like a pair of grooves on those than the sword shape of some and the detailed swords on the chitlangis and such...

http://www.himalayan-imports.com/faq/Construction.html

Aunlo Bal - the small fuller or groove often found along part of the upper spine. sometimes also known as a 'blood-groove' or 'the Sword of Shiva' (origin uncertain).
 
SASSAS said:
AKA the Sword of Shiva... Just looks more like a pair of grooves on those than the sword shape of some and the detailed swords on the chitlangis and such...

http://www.himalayan-imports.com/faq/Construction.html

Aunlo Bal - the small fuller or groove often found along part of the upper spine. sometimes also known as a 'blood-groove' or 'the Sword of Shiva' (origin uncertain).
Click to expand...

Aaaah, okay, we're back to that again.
SASSAS the term blood grooves is misleading as it's been determined that the fullers on such knives as the Kabar don't serve any useful purpose as a blood groove but is there for lightening the blade as well as making it stronger.
The only thing possibly remotely pertaining to an application of blood control on a khukuri is the cho or kauri. The kamis say it is there to help prevent blood from running down your hand when encountering bloody conditions, could be combat or just slaughtering an animal like the water buffalo calves that are sometimes killed for Dasien.
Blood groove may be easier to spell but no one will know what you're talking about in relation to khukuris.

Aunlo Bal - the small fuller or groove often found along part of the upper spine. sometimes also known as a 'blood-groove' or 'the Sword of Shiva' (origin uncertain). [SIZE=-1] Other terms used include: "pwankh (the 'feather'), rato karang ('red rib'...from when they used lac to highlight a design rather than using a real fuller), aunlo bal ('finger of strength/force/energy') and others I couldn't even get them to translate". -John Powell[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1] "If the scrollwork and inlay in the Sword of Shiva had any meaning it has been lost in time. The scrollwork and inlay are the "khukuri system" which has been around forever". -Kami Sherpa
"Years ago the scrollwork was etched in by the kamis before the blade was hardened. Later some smart kami made a die so he could punch in the scrollwork and that's how it is done today. It is usually done after the blade is hardened. The brass inlay would not hold up to the heat". -Bill Martino [/SIZE]
 
Yvsa said:
Blood groove may be easier to spell but no one will know what you're talking about in relation to khukuris.[/SIZE]
Click to expand...

Did this evolve over time? It seems to have been somewhat common in the archives (what is left of them). And not from new people...

I'm not arguing the point. I'm interested in how the vocabulary has changed over time.

(edited for clarity and gramer ;))
 
Oh, and a question if anyone knows - these and the Jange and Dui Chirra have
Aunlo Bal :thumbup: that are wider and polished. Are these added during the forging process as in the old style or made like this another way (e.g. just a wider section done the same as the narrow lines that can be polished).
 
SASSAS said:
Did this evolve over time? It seems to have been somewhat common in the archives (what is left of them). And not from new people...

I'm not arguing the point. I'm interested in how the vocabulary has changed over time.

(edited for clarity and gramer ;))
Click to expand...

SASSAS it may have although I don't remember anytime the Sword of Shiva was refered to as a blood groove in the HI Forum.
Some folks mistakenly called the fullers blood grooves but soon learned that wasn't their function ever.

SASSAS said:
Oh, and a question if anyone knows - these and the Jange and Dui Chirra have
Aunlo Bal :thumbup: that are wider and polished. Are these added during the forging process as in the old style or made like this another way (e.g. just a wider section done the same as the narrow lines that can be polished).
Click to expand...

SASSAS the fullers are at least partially forged in as evident on my, as forged Hanuman blade, I have. Dan Koster said recently that the kamis were putting the fullers in with die grinders.
And I know that's true because of the evidence shown in the fullers themselves.
The top fuller on the AKs is sharp and ugly and too well defined these days IMO.:barf:
They used to be gentle, well defined but not sharp and each fuller conformed and blended in with the one next to it each and every time.
Dayumed kamis are getting lazy with all the modern equipement and it shows.:grumpy:
There is nary a doubt in my mind that the old and slow ways are the best when making museum quality khukuris.:thumbup: :)
 
Yvsa,

Thanks for all the help. Your insights here were particularly good reading!;) There is no better way to learn than in this type of question and answer format. Thanks. Thanks also to Dan for reassuring me about the decorative brass skirt around the handle. As usual I am waiting with baited breath in case the knife happens to show up today, but more than likely I'll have to wait until Monday. It was mailed on Wednesday, so it would have to be real efficient postal work to get it here today. Stranger things have happened, and I'll wait anxiously for the post today, then be a little disapointed when it has no large packages.:(

As a new HIKV victim the knowledge/Khuk wisdom of ye with more time in the cantina is ultra valuable and appreciated.

Andy
 
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