Bill: Replacement Kardas and Chakma's ?

There have been more than a few substitutions for knives ordered from AC and usually with happy results. There are 2 listed as WW I vintage: C which is a Nepali MK II or D which is actually a Nepali Army issue from 1880-1900/10. Some have ordered C and gotten nice Indian made M43s. can't beat that for $99.

Maybe all these kardas will inspire today's kamis to start copying what their ancestors were making.
 
Originally posted by JDP
Some have ordered C and gotten nice Indian made M43s. can't beat that for $99.

Maybe all these kardas will inspire today's kamis to start copying what their ancestors were making.
Click to expand...

John I wish I had of known that before I ordered, but I may get lucky and get an Indian made M43. That wouldn't piss me off at all.:)

And that's a nice thought on the kardas, but I doubt that will ever happen.
The karda and chakma have went the way of the little pouch with the advent of the SAK.:(
I have a couple of kardas that are half way decent, but the majority of them are just little knife shaped pieces of steel. The chakmas are even less than useless, but at least when it's removed there's a place to put something that's actually useful. Or you can be like Sarge, Dan, me and maybe a few others that make our own replacements.:D ;)
 
Don't know how many of you have actually tried to make a spark with a new chakmak, but they're useless polished. They are meant to be rough, crude pieces of steel unless attached to a kukri just for tradition. Even some of the best kothimoras have a true chakmak albeit with a better handle.

Both the karda and chakmak seemed to have become these non-descript, worthless additions as they were needed less and less. I'd say this trend started in the 60s with the military issue but traditional kukris may have taken longer. Every kukri manufacturer in Nepal currently makes exactly the same pieces. I think it's a pity with an eye to tradition and pride of craftmanship. Even the large kardas, unless specially ordered, are mediocre at best. The examples from AC show what could be done even when mass produced, but different times and budgetary constraints are bringing us what we get today.
 
If chakmaks are supposed to be rough, I may have the all-time champ. It came with a villager, is vaguely fish-shaped, and appears to have forging slag right in there wiuth the steel. Rough? You bet!

TAL
 
Here are some chakmaks starting with one "fish shaped" down thru the years to about 1950. I haven't included the stout and well made Indian issue piece since I have been told it was never even thought of a striker, but as a blade honer and other uses.
chakmaks.jpg
 
These all metal chakmaks are really brilliant and I think many of them were tossed aside and replaced with gripped models. These 'fish' feel better and I have to think are more efficient. They're certainly cheaper and easier to make.

All you talented blacksmiths should be able to knock these things out with a minimal of fuss. You can tell I have never attempted to make one, but if you do please let me know. I would like to put some back in the right scabbards.

The other interesting thing about the chakmaks pictured is the early use of the checkered butt. This design seems to have been carried on since the earliest days although not with this much curve or details.
 
Originally posted by JDP
the early use of the checkered butt.
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I think I'll avoid some of the potential comments on this. :)

2nd chakma from the top is quite nice.

I especially like the little 'hook' at the base of the blade.
Nice profile.
The big butt is not the most attractive,
but it sure looks like you could keep a good grip--
so very practical.
 
Hi Folks,
Here is my non original chakma!



I cut & ground it from a Victorian parralell {rather than tapered} plane iron, that has a piece of "Best cast cruicible steel" inset {laminated} into what I understand is a wrought iron body, which I use as my chakma. It works perfectly, very comfertable to use. The The cast steel eats the grind wheel pretty fast though!
The bright part is the inset.It only takes half an hour to cut,grind & diamond to shape. It is 3/8in. thick, & rather large at just shy of 8in. with a 2.5in. inset.

I was lucky to find a pile of these old parallel plane blades a few years ago in the cellar of a disused shipyard.

I wonder JDP, if kardas were ever made in this style as well? With a chisel type edge ,they would certainly work!

Spiral
 
Jonathon,
I doubt kardas were ever made w/o grips. They were considered small knives and therefore finished as such. As you know many early ones were quite large and had the stag antler grips meaning they were considered quite important. That is important enough to be made with care and an eye toward the practical and aethestic. The ones shown here give you some idea of size and quality. The bottom karda could be considered more of a "standard" size if there is such a thing in the varied kukri lexicon.
kardas.jpg
 
Yvsa
"originally posted by spiraltwista
with a 2.5in. inset."

spiral what do you mean by "inset?""
Yvsa

Hi Folks,

Yvsa, I meant the piece of crucible cast steel was set in or laminated into one face of the wrought iron blank for two & a half inches.

JDP
"I doubt kardas were ever made w/o grips."
John,

John, Thats a shame this one feels better in my hand than any other karda or chakma I have come across to date! Guess I can develop one into a karda for my own use though!

Cheers,
Jonathan
 
Yvsa, I just realised my description of inset may still not be clear so here goes again!

The wrought iron blank has a rebate hammered into one face of it, into which a plate of crucible cast steel is dropped into.
It is fire or forge welded into place, so that the laminated piece of cast steel is still flush with the remaining wrought iron body.

Some Expensive Japanese plain irons are still made this way.

I Hope thats clearer!
Jonathan
 
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