Karda idea

[mrostov]

Well was wanting to make a new karda knife for my khuk. I made the blade out of an old Western Skinner model L66 that had a 1095 carbon steel blade. The handle was trashed and had been removed some time ago. I reground the blade to a shape that I found more practical.

I had already made one handle out of a pecan tree branch but it just didn't feel right so I ground it off the tang and looked for something else.

I noticed that the spare handles for carpenters hammers that they sold in the tool section of Home Depot were of a rather nice hickory hardwood and the claw hammer handles, especially the middle section, were already preshaped for a karda handle. I also noticed that certain hickory axe handles would make excellent khukuri handles.

So I picked out a $3 dark handle of a good grain.

Here are some pics of how it turned out. The karda blade is 3-3/4" and 3/32" thick at the spine. The handle is 3-7/8". The chakma in the pictures is the new one I made the other day and has an oak handle. I might make another one with a hickory handle to match the karda knife. The khukuri in the picture is a 16.5" WWII by Amtrack.

The top pic shows the karda with another old carbon bladed Western L66 model skinning knife.

 

[ferguson]

Those old Western blades take a wicked edge.

Nice work!

Steve

 

[Yvsa]

Those old Western blades take a wicked edge.

Nice work!

Steve

Sure enough nice work!!!!

Steve we're back into that 50 year old 1095 with the austenite all converted to martensite over time again.

 

[cliff355]

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[mrostov]

Not a bad looking frog either. What's that made out of?

The frog is made out of a tight weave 2" nylon strap of the type they make backpack straps out of. The horizontal is one layer and the vertical is 3 layers. On other frogs I've also used seat belt strap for the vertical hanger, but I prefer to always try and use the backpack strap material for the horizontal part.

I like to be able to take my knives on an off quickly, securely and easily without having to redo my belt and stuff. The frog on the pics above and the one on the pic below uses a military belt clip. I've also made them for my knives using a webbing loop and a 2" fastex buckle.

The nylon has more flex and durability during prolonged flexing than a leather frog. It makes for a more versitile and comfortable carry.

There are no laces in the front of the frog, and it is sewn to fit each scabbard. IMHO, this makes for a more secure rig for use in the bush. The pouch is tied onto the front of the frog with paracord.

 

[cliff355]

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[mrostov]

Well, I think that whole thing looks pretty good, but am wondering where you get one of those military clips. Did you have to butcher an army holster for one?

Those clips are hard to get. One of the reasons I developed the fastex buckle version of my frog.

 

[cliff355]

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[mrostov]

Sounds cool, I'd like to take a look at it when you are done.

One of the possibly upcoming things I'm pondering is to have a traditional looking scabbard made out of kydex and have kydex or leather holsters made for the small tools and mount them in the frog.

I also want to add an awl/reamer to the small tools set. I really liked that awl that was supplied with the really cool YCS khukuri some of the people here special ordered a while back. The YCS was a very cool setup and it helped some of my ideas along.

 

[Josh Muller]

Where did you get the strapping?

I've considered using nylon tow belts for similar projects, but can't get past the bright yellow color... at least, not when i have grey seatbelt sitting next to it. id love to have 200 feet of that strapping just to have it if nothing else...

 

[mrostov]

I bought it over the counter at a several places. One built backpacks, one repaired camping gear, and one sold cloth and upolstery materials. You can also scavange 2" seatbelt webbing at any junkyard.

 

[Josh Feltman]

Looks great! That really complements the multi purpose chakmah.
--Josh

 

[wildmanh]

You Butchered that poor L66. You did a good job, that's a sweet rig.

Oh and if you get any more bright ideas on changing Westerns or want to sell any, please let me know. I collect old Western brand knives.

 

[Rod Allen]

Nice rig.

 

[raghorn]

Well done!

 

[Nasty]

Nice kit! Add the flint and you just about have a perfect bug out package...

 

[mrostov]

Nice kit! Add the flint and you just about have a perfect bug out package...

It's in the pouch.

The contents of the pouch (the one in the picture on the sheath).

Fishing hooks
12 - #6
12 - #8
20 - #10

Fishing lures
3 small fly style on #10 hooks

Sewing Needles
10 assorted straight
2 curved

Water Purification
Iodine tabs - 14 in a small sealed plastic vial

Fishing line
10lb test monofilament - 1 steel sewing machine bobbin full

Sewing Thread
Heavy strength nylon (black) - 1 steel sewing machine bobbin full

Compass - small, on a nylon string neck lanyard

Tweezers - medium large, dual pattern tip

Pencil - small

Flashlight - LED micro-penlight with lithium battery, 50hr run time

Swiss Army Knife - Victorinox Classic (smallest model Victorinox makes)

Magnesium fire tool - standard type with 1/2 of the magnesium block cut off lengthwise to make it more narrow

Can opener - UGSI P38 attached by nylon string lanyard to fire tool to double as a striker

Diamond hone - DMT fine grit flat pocket hone on a small lanyard

Diamond hone - EZE-Lap collapsable rod sharpener (attached to the outside of the pouch)