A working man's aftermarket karda

[Sylvrfalcn]

Have to give credit to Mindz I for putting this notion in my head. Many of us have noted that if karda blades were thinner they'd be more efficient cutters. Mindz I is looking for something to stuff in his khukuri sheath that will cut well and replace his pocketknife.

Went to Wal Mart this afternoon to get something else, and picked up two Old Hickory brand paring knives for just under five bucks for the pair. Took the one with a blade the same size as my 18" AK's karda (so I wouldn't have to cut down/re-work the blade) and very slightly "modified" it's handle. Nothing earth shaking, just shortened the handle a skosh and rounded off all sharp corners. (only tools needed were a pocketknife and some sandpaper)

This new "karda" has a thin, but strong, blade of well tempered 1095 carbon steel. The handle is American walnut that darkens nicely by just rubbing it with mineral oil. The knife fits in my khuk scabbard like it was made to go there, couldn't ask for better than that.

Cheap, readily available (so it's easily replaced if lost/damaged), and extremely simple to modify. A working man's karda indeed.

Sarge

 

[Spectre]

Nice. Should work well.

John

 

[Sylvrfalcn]

Thanks John,
IMHO a working knife for the "real world" needs to be tough, capable, but at the same time inexpensive, and if need be, expendable. I know guys are out there stuffing a mixed bag of cutlery in the karda slots of their khuks. Just wanted to offer yet another option that might be particularly useful to those of limited means. Side note, the compact size and extreme light weight of the re-worked paring knife would make for a neck knife that would hang virtually unnoticed until you needed to cut something. Time to go sew a new neck knife sheath.

Sarge

 

[hollowdweller]

Sarge,

Looks great. I had Terry Sisco make me one of his Sasquach rigs for a pen knife khuk and I bought 1 of the little 2" Bruseletto blades from Texas Knife Supply and he mounted on part of a white tail shed I sent along and it is a thin great little karda.

 

[Fiddleback]

Sarge,

Tonight I finished my po-boy knife project. I took pictures of the parts at work today, then worked on it most of the day there. The glue has set and the finishing has been done (Watco Danish Oil) and the sharpening too. Its one sharp little booger. It's got a 4.5" blade and a teak handle with a brass bolster. I'll post pics of the finished product with the in progress pics tomorrow AM! FUN project. I've got 5 more files left from the pawn shop, so I plan todo more.

 

[Howard Wallace]

Great idea, Sarge.

I use my pocketknife for most small knife work. If someone wanted they could insert a small pocketknife in the karda hole.

I think the most useful sheath accessory in this modern age is a sharpener. I find a small ceramic rod will do what a chakma will do and more. Others might prefer a diamond sharpener.

I wonder how offerings without the pockets on the sheaths for accessories would sell compared to ones with traditional sheaths. I think a lot of people don't use the accessories much or carry similar things in their pockets.

 

[Sylvrfalcn]

Andy, it goes without saying we want to see the pics. Still, sight unseen, it sounds like a good'un, well done hoss.

Howard, you make a very interesting point about the prospect of making khuks, sans accessories, available. In particular I'm thinking of the smaller khuks, who's accessories generally lack utility beyond tasks like cleaning one's fingernails. Might be one to run up the flag pole and see who salutes.

Sarge

 

[Daniel Koster]

I agree, Howard.

A nice SAK and a small fixed blade would make a great "set" behind the ole khuk handle.


Sometimes a good idea is so simple and just right in front of our noses it's difficult to see. Thanks for the reminder, Sarge & Howard.

 

[Mindz_I]

Very nice simple and accessible idea! Really a good solution for what I'm after, though a shame Walmarts are a little scarse around here

--

I think what drove me to look for a thinner karda was the fact that whilst my khuk hasn't been used extensively, I have had much more success using the softer lower section of the blade than the karda due to the thickness of the kardas blade.

What (in my mind at least) this gives you is a very small knife that offers little over your large knife except more control, where a smaller thinner knife might increase the utility of the whole 'package' for very little cost.

I guess it comes down to wanting the most functional package; If you're going to carry an item it's purpose shouldn't be one that can be accomplished better or adequately already.

I think you're exactly right in the philosophy of a work knife. I often find that whilst I have a good folder when out in the woods it's not always something I'm comfortable loaning to someone (for various reasons, even if it's not expensive). I think with something economical and easy to replace such as this (and relatively 'idiot proof') you add another benifit of an occasional loaner knife.

--

On the subject of folding knives for Karda replacement. I'd often toyed with the idea of replacing the Karda with one of the Opniel pocket knives. It had occured to me that with a little stain the wood might blend quite nicely with khuk, and the thin high carbon blade would provide a nice slicing companion for the khuk.

***EDIT***

When browsing for the opniel link I also spotted these which seem a similar idea to what Sarge has come up with

 

[Fiddleback]

I think its a keeper Sarge. Cuts great too. Pics in the cantina.