Karda: Flat or Convex edge?

A

Acenes

Joined
Dec 24, 2006
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I'm just wondering, historically which has the karda been? Does either one make a difference in the performance of a small knife like that?

I admit I have no experience with convex bevels, would a flat be better for a small sharp knife?
 
I asked about the Khukuri's edges a while back and was told that they all get convexes put on them, so I'll be the kardas are too. The ones on my kardas from HI look to be convex, FWIW.

This is from Dan Koster's website, a fellow forumite (designer of the HI Pen Knife). It's the low down on convex edges. He makes a great point that the task at hand ultimately decides what's "best" as far a edges go. It's very informative, check it out.
http://www.kosterknives.com/convexedge.htm
 
The kardas as they get shipped are very thick - I've found that a fair bit of edge reworking is needed to make one as useful as it could be. A convex edge that doesn't carry the convex-ing back quite far on the blade, removing a lot of metal, may give a sharp edge ... but one that's still more likely to split an apple than to slice it.

The best karda I have was ground down to full convex by Sarge, and the amount of arc is pretty small ... it's close to being flat ground. Still ends up being a very hefty blade for a knife so small, but now it can do the tasks that you'd want a small knife to do.

I find that even so, it's not so useful for small-knife tasks either as a well designed, relatively short belt knife, or a swiss army knife. Coupled with that, frequently the steel on kardas isn't as good as one would want. The Kamis know that essentially, these knives aren't the real meal, and quite properly invest their time and expertise in the khuk instead.

t.
 
TomFetter said:
...one that's still more likely to split an apple than to slice it.
Click to expand...

Well said, Tom. The grind does play an important part of the knife's cutting ability.


One of the best karda-sized knives is the puukko which is a flat grind. I really think that thinner knives cut better...but take less abuse. TThicker knives are sturdier but don't slice as well...but do chop better.

So, really....for me....it's just a matter of taste.

Dan
 
I'd like to see the karda be very thin and good at slicing, since, IMHO, the khuks themselves are the best heavy duty chopping smacking around knives out there and you don't need another heavy duty small knife in the package, but rather a small slicer.

They are generally thick and dull, I don't think I've had any great luck sharpening them up, either. You know its bad when you have trouble telling the karda from the chakma! (just kidding, but barely)
 
The 100 year old kardas that I bought from Atlanta Cutlery were pretty much flat ground (like a puukko), and much thinner than the HI kardas.

Steve
 
Steve did you kardas have huge forging cracks after you cleaned them off? Just finished cleaning one off and it has three cracks on the spine and two more on the edge. I just squared it off and turned it into chakma (hope i spelled that right)
 
aliloff said:
Steve did you kardas have huge forging cracks after you cleaned them off? Just finished cleaning one off and it has three cracks on the spine and two more on the edge. I just squared it off and turned it into chakma (hope i spelled that right)
Click to expand...

Yep lots of the old karda are laminated steel, {& some kukri,} if there forged enough to hang together. {they will be.} dont woory about the forge faults, ther not "cracks" per say.they dont matter to strenght in karda length.

wouldnt fault them much myself, they are genersly very good high carbon, laminated steel, well tempered & flat ground,, convex is good for kukri, kardas are best flat ground,

The 100 year old Nepali army kardas work better than anything made to go with a kukri since. No doubt.

Use them & see.

There old chakmak worked as well. ;)

Spiral
 
aliloff said:
Steve did you kardas have huge forging cracks after you cleaned them off? Just finished cleaning one off and it has three cracks on the spine and two more on the edge. I just squared it off and turned it into chakma (hope i spelled that right)
Click to expand...

No forging flaws, but some were rusted nearly away. Good hard steel though.
Steve
 
To be honest I havn't even used my karda yet and I've had it for months. Then again I'm the sort that always has a good quality, sharp knife in my pants pocket.

The khuk gets a different sort of workout.
 
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