What's your most recent HI?

crimsonfalcon07

crimsonfalcon07

Joined
Dec 27, 2010
Messages
6,852
Mine's a Spear Vala. It handles considerably better than I would have expected. Would NOT want to get stabbed with this thing.

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What's yours?
 
Mine is a Koa wood handled YCS.Beautiful knife, but has a stress fracture visible along the left side of the blade in the main bevel-looks similar to a scratch,but if you turn the knife and look along the side you can see that it has greater depth than a scratch and is possibly a structural defect.Unfortunate indeed.Hope you enjoy your Vala.
 
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What's your most recent HI? It is the Seax I did a video review on but I ordered before that a HI M43 which is being made as I type.

Have always wondered about this "Spear Vala" and have only heard of it on the forum.
Is it a real historical knife?
What is the Spear Vala used for?
How blade heavy is it?
Is it double edged?
Looks awkward, is it (I'm not trying to put you down)?

Thanks crimsonfalcon07 of Englewood
 
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sweetcostarica said:
What's your most recent HI? It is the Seax I did a video review on but I ordered before that a HI M43 which is being made as I type.

Have always wondered about this "Spear Vala" and have only heard of it on the forum.
Is it a real historical knife?
What is the Spear Vala used for?
How blade heavy is it?
Is it double edged?
Looks awkward, is it (I'm not trying to put you down)?

Thanks crimsonfalcon07 of Englewood
Click to expand...

I'm not really sure if the SV has any historic background in Nepal. However it feels a lot like the WWII smatchet. It's actually pretty neutral in the hand. However, its shorter smooth grip makes it feel a little more tip heavy than it probably is. The thick steel guard really helps to reel in the weight.
It is fully double edged and mean as a hellcat. It's not very practical but it's an incredibly formidable weapon.

I really love mine...and its actually the last HI product I have acquired:)
 
sweetcostarica said:
Have always wondered about this "Spear Vala" and have only heard of it on the forum.
Is it a real historical knife?
What is the Spear Vala used for?
How blade heavy is it?
Is it double edged?
Looks awkward, is it (I'm not trying to put you down)?

Thanks crimsonfalcon07 of Englewood
Click to expand...

It is a nepali rendition of the Fairburn-sykes smatchet design. It's 2 inches shorter and a tad bit prettier than the FS design.
 
Hi Jake, thanks for the information.
The words "WWII smatchet" put everything in context. This is what I found for the smatchet:

Smatchet.jpg
The odd looking, but very effective Smatchet was the brain child of William Fairbairn (who also co-developed the Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife) during WWII for the OSS (Office of Strategic Services) and British SAS (Special Air Service) for use on clandestine missions behind enemy lines.

Now I see were this knife fits in. More of a weapon than a tool. Could have used the Spear Vala when I was in the Navy :thumbup:.
If you can post a picture of yours Steely_Gunz for comparison to crimsonfalcon07's.

Just saw your comments Karda. I like prettier things ;).
 
My recent(and first) HI is a 20" CAK,about 40 oz,around 3/8,used but in really solid condition.Now i know what people meant by saying its massive...i love mine.
 
16 inch 33 ounce chiruwa Ang Khola by Bhakta

I've always gotten the impression that the CAK was a massive thing as seen in the pictures and people's comments...until I have it in my hand and went "oh this is smaller than I thought". But it's by far heavier than the Chitlangi knife while being shorter. One thing for sure, it is very ready to destroy any trees I lay the CAK upon.
 
sweetcostarica said:
What's your most recent HI? It is the Seax I did a video review on but I ordered before that a HI M43 which is being made as I type.

Have always wondered about this "Spear Vala" and have only heard of it on the forum.
Is it a real historical knife?
What is the Spear Vala used for?
How blade heavy is it?
Is it double edged?
Looks awkward, is it (I'm not trying to put you down)?

Thanks crimsonfalcon07 of Englewood
Click to expand...

To the best of my knowledge, it came about because there were folks looking for a smatchet/leaf blade. No historical relevance. I'm not really sure what it would be used for, other than smiting mine enemies, and drinking from their skulls. It's stabby, and slashy, and while it would probably do okay at chopping, it would do better at chopping shields. Also, it would probably do a good job at making a mugger sh*t bricks.

Balance is an inch and a half forward on the blade. The handle and pommel are actually quite hefty, so it's pretty well balanced, despite it's looks. I hadn't realized, and it REALLY doesn't look as nimble as it is. It's surprisingly quick, and not nearly as awkward as you'd think. It is indeed double-edged.

It's not exactly light in hand though, like many daggers. I've never handled a smatchet before, so I don't know it compares to those. But it's still quick and dangerous. I'll do a full writeup. Just need to borrow the wife's camera, since mine, as you can tell, is sucking right now.
 
OK, got it. There is more to the Spear Vala than I thought crimsonfalcon07. Looks like one day I will just have to buy one to satisfy my curiosity :).
 
I got on to BF solely to look for a khuk. Ended up with a HI CAK. Greatness, but I'm thinking about grinding the ridge out of the handle. May just leave it alone. Who knows.
 
Maqua, I was debating the exact same thing! It's getting annoying but then I have to stop and think "does it have a function, a purpose?" Bah..if it doesn't, it gets grinded off.
 
Maqua said:
I got on to BF solely to look for a khuk. Ended up with a HI CAK. Greatness, but I'm thinking about grinding the ridge out of the handle. May just leave it alone. Who knows.
Click to expand...

Try chopping with it first. I thought I hated the ring until I started using it and it serves its purpose.
 
My latest I received today, and what a monster, a Chitlangi bowie at 50ounce and 24 inch! I couldnt stop myself and went straight for the woods when I came home, smiling from ear to ear all the way from the post office. Something felt very right chopping with it, it cut so deep I was in awe, none of my previous blades can match the chopping power on this one.
A happy day for a knife "sword" geek :)
 
I got a WWII and a GRS in the same box.

I was way impressed how well the WWII chopped for how much lighter it was than my big blades.

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Dirtbiker said:
Try chopping with it first. I thought I hated the ring until I started using it and it serves its purpose.
Click to expand...

I chopped with it and it does great, but that ridge wore a hole in my hand. Guess I coulda worn gloves.
 
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