Kumar Karda by Sher

[Fiddleback]

Well Yangdu has surpassed my expectations again. I receltly e-mailed her to ask if she had a Kumar Karda with an unusable handle, blem-style, that I could get to do a rehandle project. Instead, she sent me a gorgeous Karda by Sher that has a perfect handle. I cannot bring myself to knock the handle off and try one for myself. Its got an antler handle that is curved and the tang isn't a through tang, but the knive is solid as hell. I was wondering how the kardas are hardened. Do they use the same method as on khuks? What zones are normally hardened? If I wanted to drill and pin this partial tang what is the process and where do I get the parts?

I've seen some pics of hardened edges that weren't where they should be once etched on another forum, so I'm kinda scared to etch. Just rather be in the dark, because the one knife I sent back to Yangdu I felt real bad about. Any of you guys etch your knives and are the hardened zones where you thought they would be? I think it looks cool, and I want to know more about my knives, but I don't want to be disapointed with them.

Andy

 

[bigjim]

DO IT!!! etching is fun. Makes the blades look WAY cooler. And don't freak out if the heat treat does not show up like it should... Does not mean the knife is bad. I have one that after etching look way strange but the edge is absolutley hard where it needs to be. Do it and post pics...before and after please. DO IT!! DO IT!! DO IT!! Yeah baby..... yeah!

 

[ferguson]

Hi Andy,
On a non-chopper like a KK, it's not usually needed to pin the handle. But it's never a bad idea. Your son or grandson might be glad you pinned it. Get a piece of 1/8" bronze (or brass) welding rod. Drill a 1/8" hole through the handle about 1/2 - 3/4" behind the bolster. Wobble the drill bit a little to make the hole slightly oversize. (Just enough for the pin to slip through easily) Mix a small amount of Devcon 2-ton epoxy, coat the pin and insert in the hole. Wipe off the excess epoxy. Next day file off the pin flush with the handle.

Steve

 

[Andrew Taylor]

Hi Andy,
On a non-chopper like a KK, it's not usually needed to pin the handle. But it's never a bad idea. Your son or grandson might be glad you pinned it. Get a piece of 1/8" bronze (or brass) welding rod. Drill a 1/8" hole through the handle about 1/2 - 3/4" behind the bolster. Wobble the drill bit a little to make the hole slightly oversize. (Just enough for the pin to slip through easily) Mix a small amount of Devcon 2-ton epoxy, coat the pin and insert in the hole. Wipe off the excess epoxy. Next day file off the pin flush with the handle.

Steve

I saw a little tip over in the Makers forum which said to file a couple of little notches in the pins to hold the epoxy rather than rub it off.

 

[ferguson]

I saw a little tip over in the Makers forum which said to file a couple of little notches in the pins to hold the epoxy rather than rub it off.

You are absolutely correct. I had forgotten that. Thanks.

Steve

 

[Fiddleback]

Thanks guys I may do that. I'll tell you that knife is NICE. I haven't gotten over how it feels in the hand. I'd like to make a new scabbard for my foxy folly when it comes in and include that knife as the karda.

Andy