thanks for the info. yali it is. will examine the blade a bit closer for dimensions and markings when it arrives. especially the ricasso or lack thereof. may be a re-hilted blade from elsewhere and elsewhen.
i have another recently made grip in need of a blade that i'll eventually fit. it was full of cutler's cement, brick dust & resin/wax & was a SOB to clean:
edited:
oops. just had another look at the vendor's description again. he did in fact say 'yali head' in it.

my bad.