Yvsa Cherokee Specials - A few pics

Svashtar

Svashtar

Joined
Dec 28, 2003
Messages
4,793
Hi Guys,

I did a terrible job for several years taking pictures and showing great HI knives on the forum; can't explain why, probably was more obsessed with collecting than showing! Anyway, been going through cases and closets (looking for stuff to part with), and thought I would post pics of a few I plan on keeping! :D

Wish I could take better pics, but this is about as good as it gets. :rolleyes:

Here's some nice stuff that was the brainchild of long-time kukri collector and forumite Yvsa:

From top to bottom

1) 20.5" 33 oz. Custom by Bura - Carved Chandan handle

2) 18.5" 33 oz. by Sher - Carved Chandan

3) 18.5" 32 oz. by Kumar - Osage Orange w/ inlay

4) 18" 27 oz. by Sher - Satisal / Horn checkerboard - original full tang (non-chiruwa)

5) 18" 38 oz. by Kumar - Red Chandan w/ inlay


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Carved handle closeup:

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Thanks for looking!

Norm
 

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And one more close-up of three handles:

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Just a few thoughts on this subject as an aside (and obviously due to something I missed in the 3 years I've been AWOL.) Evidently HI changed their warranty a bit, which makes sense as I know of several incidents where Uncle Bill and Aunt Yangdu were taken advantage of by people who thought they could cut down a eucalyptus tree and limb it with their light Kobra, ruin it and then get a new knife. Uncle Bill was so inherently decent that he often just ate it in situations like this, and I know Yangdu tried to continue that heritage of good will.

ANYWAY, evidently as an offshoot of this new policy, the full tang has fallen out of favor somewhat? That's what I'm picking up anyway, and I don't get it. We're not talking about a skimpy hidden rattail tang here, we're talking about a full steel tang that runs clear through the handle and is peened at the pommel. Not plugging a sale, but I've had two people disdain knives for sale over the past few weeks because they weren't chiruwa tangs!

FYI, the first YCS's, (and I wish I had one), were full tangs, which allowed for a lighter, faster knife, and the full range of the art on the handle to be viewed. I've never heard of one failing.

Chiruwa tangs are great, and of course very strong, but that doesn't necessarily mean "better" in all circumstances and in all size knives. They add weight, and they add some shock and vibration to your hand when you chop. For a fighter such as the Foxes Folly you don't want one.

FYI, I have one of the original 15 FF that I got from Spiral in the UK, and even without the Chiruwa handle it weighs 49 oz. Too heavy, but like the Samsher I picked up the other day at 48 oz., (from the 11/8 DOTD) I wanted one to complete the series. But the point being in that particular case you have a massive 21" 49 oz. knife with a "standard" full tang, and it chops just fine thank you very much.

For a "crowbar" knife, a 16" CAK can't be beat, but please don't tell me that an HI full tang knife (of the proper size and weight) can't do rough work because they have for years.

I'm not speaking for HI of course, but as long as the knife is the right config for the work, you will be fine. That said, I would never use a Kobra, Sirupati, Chainpuri, Chitlangi, or Malla (the ones I can think of offhand) to do heavy chopping work. I have used Kobras in several sizes to clear tall weeds and heavy vines and brush with great results though, and those are about as light and whippy a blade as you will get, with the 25 inchers coming in at only 2 pounds or so. All the others will run heavier.

As always, YMMV, but that's my .02¢ for what it's worth. (The only reason this isn't in a separate thread is because we have examples of both types here as YCS's, so it kind of made sense to add this as an addendum.) :cool:

Regards,

Norm
 
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Norm I want to thank you for your posting these pictures and your thoughts regarding the YCS. I feel the same about the full tang models...I waited until an Amar Singh Thapa came available that was full tang for the lighter weight. My first chiruwa handled khuk was a CAK by the Sgt. made available on the Exchange and while I have no intention of getting shed of it, I noticed that the metal caused a blackening on my hands while using it.

Back to the YCS. While reading the Archives last year I came to the realization that I wanted one of Yvsa's creations. And I wanted one as close to his original specs as I could find. I put an order in with Yangdu and have been waiting. I am hoping that Bura may be able to come back and help guide the new kamis on the nuances of the various blades. It will definitely be a full tang version though. Heck, I picked up a Jange a while back and even without it being a full tang I wouldn't be shy about using it.

I've noticed an increase in the output of chiruwa handled models and if that is what the buyers want then I can understand. Don't get me wrong you fellow brothers out there that prefer the chiruwa. There's nothing wrong with your preference. From my point of view, the full tang existed for hundreds of years and has proved itself a sturdy tool.

Well this late night blathering has gone on long enough. I had to respond to your post since it covered both my desire for an original spec YCS and the full tang matter. All the best to all of you.

Peace

Rick
 
I, for one, am a huge fan on the chiruwa handles. Yes, they make the khuks heaver, but it also provides better balance so they're not so tip heavy. Also, a thread a few weeks back featured a broken hidden tang. Rare as that may be, I've never even heard of a broken chiruwa tang. Of course everyone is entitled to their own opinions -- I just wanted to provide perspective from the other end.
 
moogoogaidan said:
I, for one, am a huge fan on the chiruwa handles. Yes, they make the khuks heaver, but it also provides better balance so they're not so tip heavy. Also, a thread a few weeks back featured a broken hidden tang. Rare as that may be, I've never even heard of a broken chiruwa tang. Of course everyone is entitled to their own opinions -- I just wanted to provide perspective from the other end.
Click to expand...

Hi moogoogaidan, and thanks for your input, but I wasn't talking about hidden tangs but full tangs. I've taken these knives apart and the difference in most case between the amount of metal on a chiruwa tang and a full tang is minimal. The difference is one has pins and one doesn't.

Also, with a kukri I'm going to use for chopping, I _want_ it to be blade heavy. I'm not interested in a heavy handle. And chop with a 16" CAK and a 16" full tang and tell me which one works out your hand & arm more.

Frankly, I'm trying to figure out how I could have been here every day for nearly 3 years and never heard about a broken full tang, and now that the warranty has (understandably to protect HI) been modified, all of a sudden everybody has heard that full tangs are somehow not as durable! :confused:

(Must be that new cheaper metal the kamis are using...;))

Best,

Norm
 
There can be no doubt why Bura is called "The Master!" The entire collection is incredible. I'm not sure what your pictures were like before but, these look great!

Bill
Virginia
 
It goes without saying that you have one of the most envy inducing collections out there, Norm:)
 
They're not using cheaper metal Norm, the failures are a result of Dasien(sp?) anticipation. The kamis get all excited about the upcoming celebration and get a little sloppy when quenching and quench the tang which should be totally soft. It had happened in the past and we just had one pop up this year. The same thing could happen to a chiruwa handled khuk.

Rick
 
Beautiful knives, Norm, thank you for sharing.

My favorite user khuks are all hidden tang, not chiruwa style. I agree with your opinion 100%.

Andy
 
moogoogaidan said:
Hey Norm, I think the term we've been using on here lately for the non-chiruwa tangs are "hidden tangs" as to not confuse people who will simply call chiruwa handles "full tang." It's all semantics though. :thumbup:

Here's the thread to which I was referring:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=811197
Click to expand...

Moogoogaidan,

Got it, and thanks for clarifying! I was trying to draw a distinction between a full tang that runs all the way through the handle and is peened at the pommel, and one that ends inside the handle, like on the original Jange's, and Berk Special's ,etc.

Best regards,

Norm
 
I was trying to draw a distinction between a full tang that runs all the way through the handle and is peened at the pommel, and one that ends inside the handle, like on the original Jange's, and Berk Special's ,etc.
Click to expand...

I went from favoring Chiruwa tang to stick tang and now trying out partial tang.
I guess after swinging the chiruwa tang for a while i felt i'd like something with equal strength but lighter (another plus of stick tang is that my sweaty palms will never cause rust on the exposed tang on chiruwa) and i've got a custom Berk's Special in partial tang with one rivet on the handle.

Having tried a partial tang before for chopping it feels extremely agile,sorta like an extension of arm with sharp edge (T-1000) but not advisable for seasoned wood. At times i doubt about my chopping skills but for hard wood i rather use axe.
 
I'm definitely in the same boat in my love for stick tang HI models. I love the older lighter faster pieces.


I really don't see tangs breaking on these unless there is a flaw in the metal or something else. In the cases where they have broken, I feel pretty confident that's the culprit, maybe however, the nature of stick tang makes it more likely to fully fail in that circumstance as opposed to chiruwa.


Gotta agree also, that my perception is that the amount of metal is pretty much in line on both models. Having just spent the past two days forging knives from 5160 from 1/4" flat stock, it's pretty amazing how much metal there is once you start drawing it out. A 3-4" long piece of 1/4x1" can make a huge knife.




Here's my recent prized acquisition, a old Sanu YCS with plain handle, and Sarki Shop scabbard. 23.5oz as I recall, ultra lively, very choppy, and drop dead gorgeous:
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I'm jealous javand. That is exactly what I'm looking for-17-18" and about 24oz. And yours is by Sanu to boot. That is a real beauty. Looks like it may have a Terry Sisco sheath, too. Congratulations!!:thumbup:
 
Very cool, Norm. :thumbup: Great to see you posting again.

To me, when I started collecting these things in 2004, the YCS was the ultimate HI model. I remember the first batch. There's nothing prettier, IMHO.


Mike
 
Beautiful Knives and pictures, thank you for sharing
 
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