Karam Wood?

H

hollowdweller

Joined
Sep 22, 2003
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I sent my 15" back into Yangdu that bent and she sent me another. This one is a bit lighter at only 18 oz, but I took it out last night and it seemed to chop decently for the weight, AND seems to have REALLY good tempering.

If I take my finger or a nail or something and tap along the edge, you can hear a higher tink tink when you get to the point that's tempered. I have noticed this on several is this just my imagination or real? Most of the khuks I have had that bent or rolled did not do this or only did it at a very small section of the blade, While the ones that had a high tink tinking when tapped on the edge have never bent or rolled (althogh one was maybe too hard and chipped)

Also the handle had a note on it saying Karam? wood? Does anyone really know what type this is? Is it some sort of Himalayan sassafras? The wood looks AND smells exactly like sassafras heartwood.

I used it to chop xome 4" oak limbs and it did great. Nice blade. It may be light enough with the kydex sheath to actually use for backpacking. Will try to do some pix this weekend.
 
Can't wait to see pics, bro. There was a thread recently on karam wood. Check it out.
 
Hollowdweller, I found the following information on karam wood (and some other Indian woods too):

http://www.scienceofcrafts.com/wood_snt.html

Haldu or Karam (Adina cordifolia):
Sapwood pale yellow or yellowish-white, merging into the heartwood. Heartwood deep yellow when fresh, turning, brownish or reddish-yellow on exposure. Wood moderately hard, moderately heavy, average weight 695 kg/m3 (43 lb/ft3) at 12 per cent moisture content. It is fine-textured with straight grain.
Uses : Turnery, furniture, combs, toys, carving, cigar boxes, agricultural implements.
Availability : Throughout the country.
Uses : Furniture and cabinet making, turnery articles and toys.

See also Haldu in:

http://www.woodcarving.com.np/tow.php

It seems that the preferred scientific name is Haldina cordifolia:

http://www.cabicompendium.org/NamesLists/FC/Full/ADI_CO.htm


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubiaceae

It seems that the karam tree is related to the coffee tree, while sassafras belongs to the Laurel family.
 
That doesn't even sound like this wood. As aromatic as it is this I would think that aspect would be mentioned. Also the color is wrong.

This smells and looks exactly like sassafras heartwood.
 
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