Yvsa Cherokee Specials - A few pics

[Kismet]

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

Other than me, you mean. Right Mike?

 

[Svashtar]

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:

Wow, that is a beauty! and one of the old full tangs I was mentioning. I only have one Sanu, an M-43 (mistakenly labeled as a hanshee) that belonged to Rusty. He had smaller hands so turned the handle down very far, enough so that he actually slightly collapsed the bolster on one side, but it looks fine. Surprisingly it also feels very good in the hand, so there is a lot of size forgiveness in this style handle.

As for the scabbard, that is great. That is Terry Sisco, correct? I wish I had spent 5% of what I did on knives on some aftermarket scabbards, as (nothing against HI) many of them are lighter and very well crafted. I'm starting to get a couple now from 1 or 2 guys as funds allow.

By the way Javand, you didn't say but I'm guessing your early YCS is about 17" OAL? The closest I have to this performance is the 18" 27 oz. full tang checkerboard, and I agree it is a lot more lively in the hand!


Norm

P.S. One pic I forgot to put up is one of a DOTD knife called a "Lal Special" by Uncle Bill. I think it might have been old stock. It is 17" and 32 oz. (by older Kami Kesar, who was gone when I found the forum) and looks almost exactly like this, except it is heavier of course, and a plain blade with no sword of shiva inlay.

It's like someone started to make a YCS, and never finished. (?) It is a perfect 2 lb. kukri, although ideally for the purposes of the collection it would be closer to 25-26 oz.

Thanks again for showing us an old classic. Nice snag on your part! :thumbup:

 

[Svashtar]

Javand, by the way, you _have_ read the safety warning on these old blades right? It's not unusual for them to "explode" in a shower of sharp metal if you swing them at wood that is infested with the "nepali oak ringworm" larva!

Tell you what, I don't want to see you lose out, so I'll take it off your hands. Heck, I'll even cover shipping! Of course I can't give you too much for such a flawed piece, but we'll work something out!

Just trying to help! You can thank me later...

 

[javand]

Haha yeah, I'll get right on packaging it up and shipping it..


You're right though, it's dead on 17" OAL. I've been looking for an original with inlay so that I can turn this into my main user.. I know, crazy, but that's how I roll!


This is definitely my favorite piece, although I'm pretty fond of the monster 22.5" 54oz Durba GRS, and 18" 26oz Sher M-43i also.

 

[Svashtar]

This is definitely my favorite piece, although I'm pretty fond of the monster 22.5" 54oz Durba GRS, and 18" 26oz Sher M-43i also.

Nice! :thumbup: I've never seen a Sher M-43 as far as I know. I have them by Kumar, who made them all for a long time, Vim, and an old one by Sanu. Vim gave the lengthiest handles I think.

I know Bura made a very few and have held one of those in hill walnut (owned by Sweet), and it is very comparable to Kumar's work.

If you ever get a chance I'd love to see Sher's version.

Thanks!

Norm

 

[b.c.molin]

... I'd love to see Sher's version.

Norm

Well Norm, I was very lucky to purchase this M43 by Sher from Sweet:

It has an Antler handle, is 17.5inch oal and weighs 27ounces and came in that beautiful red leather sheaf.

It quite well matches up with this:

a recently purchased Antler handled JKM-1 does it not?

bruce

 

[Svashtar]

Well Norm, I was very lucky to purchase this M43 by Sher from Sweet:

It has an Antler handle, is 17.5inch oal and weighs 27ounces and came in that beautiful red leather sheaf.

It quite well matches up with this:

a recently purchased Antler handled JKM-1 does it not?

bruce

Bruce, I know that M-43 very well, having missed out on it by seconds to Ben!

A few days later a twin of it came up by Kumar, with the most stunning pure white antler you can imagine, also in a red scabbard, which I snagged.

When I got it I was horrified to find the blade had a pronounced "S" curve to it! Of all the knives I bought, that was the only one to ever have anything like that. What a disappointment! Just a one-off mistake I had never seen before or have seen since.

I was hoping it could be straightened and the gorgeous antler saved, so sent it back and a few months later got a different replacement (17" and 27 oz.), but the handle was not quite as exquisite. Wasn't meant to be I guess.

I'd bet this is the only M-43 Sher ever made, or one of very few. Kumar made them 12 to 1 to anyone else, until Vim anyway.

FYI, I have a Kumar Karda with the same handle I keep as a set with it, so we do have similar tastes! :thumbup:

Thanks for the great pictures Bruce.

Norm

 

[ArchAngel]

Awesome YCS collection Norm!:thumbup: The YCS is still my #1 Khuk.
I have two, the first is my old Sanu YCS and one of the later ones that weighed too much and was chirriwa. Well made but is no Sanu.
This the khuk I would keep above all others. 17 1/2" and 27oz. It chops, slices, dices and the Karda are the older large ones. If I could have only one. This is it.
Sanu was a great artist. I have a Sanu Falcata that is beyond words.

 

[javand]

Norm,

Yes, the Sher M43 I have is a variant, M-43i, which is a stick tang, M-43 shape but with a single Ang Khola style fuller. Unfortunately when I got it, the horn handle had a big crack in it from shipping.. Horn never survives the trip to NC well for some reason.


I'll try to get some pics of it tonight.

 

[b.c.molin]

FYI, I have a Kumar Karda with the same handle I keep as a set with it, so we do have similar tastes! :thumbup:

Thanks for the great pictures Bruce.

Norm

Refined similar tastes, I say Norm!

I can not take credit for the photo's of the M-43, they are the work of the also very refined and talented Sweet! My apologies for failing to acknowledge his photographic skills when I originally posted them.

 

[Bladite]

Nice! :thumbup: I've never seen a Sher M-43 as far as I know. I have them by Kumar, who made them all for a long time, Vim, and an old one by Sanu. Vim gave the lengthiest handles I think.

I know Bura made a very few and have held one of those in hill walnut (owned by Sweet), and it is very comparable to Kumar's work.

If you ever get a chance I'd love to see Sher's version.

Thanks!

Norm

no, it's not by sher but it's an old one:

17.5 inch 25.65 oz HI M43 circa 2002 by butterlamp kamis

whee