- Joined
- May 9, 2002
- Messages
- 12,682
The khukuri is an exotic blade, as we all know. For many of us, our first foray into the beloved world of H.I. was most likely due to the siren-song of the khukuri's sweeping sensual blade and unbridled chopping power. The almost tangible and mystic feel of a nearly 2lb monster crashing through wood with nearly effortless ease. Alien and intoxicating to even the staunchest bowie aficionados with its brutal efficiency processing a chunk of wood into mere splinters at an alarming rate. These are things a man lusts for when he think about a knife from Nepal.
I know I was the same way. I started exactly like that. My first blade was sold to me COD by Uncle Bill back in 2002. It was a villager model made by Kumar. 15.5", 3/8" thick, fine edge, villager grade handle, steel furniture. Once I had it in my hands...I was hooked. After that, AKs and WWIIs and Bowies and Swords and the YCS, etc etc etc. Over my time here, I have tried nearly every flavor of khuk and knife HI has had to offer. Except one.
The Kumar Karda. Not a very "sexy" knife. It has a rather straight blade with a good belly. It's well built and capable, for sure. For all intense and purposes, a fine belt knife. However, for me, it always seemed a bit, well, boring. What could it possible do that my more exotic and flashy HI knives couldn't do? Then I actually gave it a good long thought.
My wife and daughter and I are going on a light hiking trip to the Smokey Mountains in a few weeks. We're not humping it into the wilds. My little girl still complains about her legs getting tired
However, we do plan on making our way along a few miles of trails. I've already got my gear down to a mental list:
I plan on wearing my utility/camera vest. I learned a long time ago that having pockets of "stuff" can come in handy. From bits of string to a first aid kit to a 9v battery/steel wool fire starter, I probably have it in my pockets.
I've got my multitool for those times when something needs to be fixed in the field. I can't tell you how many times a medium pliers-based tool has saved my bacon
I've got my trusty SP101 .357 for my hip. A little heavy but reliable and stout enough to offer some trail protection. I'm on the fence about not procuring a bit of a lighter .38 +p 3" revolver, though. I do love my SP101, but she's a boat anchor to lug around even in a heavy duty hip holster...but that's a different story.
Then I started thinking about my belt knife. This is actually the knife I would use more than anything else while hiking around. More often than not, it ends up being a pointer for sorts. A tool to show my daughter how to spot poison ivy or peeling back a bit or bark to peek in at a beetle or explaining the body parts of a spider scurrying along a tree. I don't like damaging nature or harming her citizens, but I also don't like to be fanged or stung, so I feel that a minimum of 5" of steel better a my delicate fingers and a critter's bitey parts is prudent.
My belt knife is also the tool I would use to open lunch packages and cut the plastic wrapping off our drink bottles. It would be nice if it were fairly robust yet not overly heavy. A plus would be if it looked more like a tool than a weapon when pass other folks on the trail.
I have a dozen knives that could work for that role, but they all seemed to fall a bit short in one field or another. Too big, too small, too heavy, too scary, too thick, too "nice", etc. I decided that I was going to settle on something that was no longer than 10" in length, had a fine edge (no need for something to chop down trees in a state park), was well under an ounce an inch, and was a knife that I could sort of ride hard and put away wet (not literally but you know what I mean). Hiking, horseback riding, maybe even rafting (we haven't planned it all yet). I wanted something capable yet "friendly". Something that I honestly COULD stake my life on but wouldn't cry buckets if I lost it to the murky depths. Time for a new knife
I fired off an email to Yangdu asking for thoughts on the subject, and in no time there was a nice triangle package waiting for me on my desk
When I opened it, I first pulled out a baby Foxy Folly. 9" of cuteness. A kind gift that is very much appreciated and will most likely end up on my wife's belt on this trip. I'll work up a review for it sooner than later. It does so many things right in the realm of the micro-khuk, but that's a story for another day
Next, I unwrapped pretty much what may be the perfect hard use belt knife I have ever owned (when you compare balance, fit, finish, balance, value, and intended purpose). It was a villager finish Kumar Karda crafted by the namesake himself. 10", about 8oz, and sporting a rough village wooden handle and a scale-on finish with a satin edge and spine. It's beautifully basic and ruggedly attractive. With it's simple brass bolster and generous yet not obtrusive palm swell, the KK is obviously meant to be a comfortable "user" knife that lends itself to a lot of different holds but won't fatigue your hand.
The edge came toothy with just enough polish to pop the hair off my arm. With just a bit of work, this thing is going to be a lightsaber.
The through tang construction paired with the 1/4 thick stock means that this KK is going to be game for some serious work. Cutting, digging, light prying, etc. I can't imagine this knife failing under any reasonable (and quite a few UNreasonable) circumstances. It is a very well balanced and loaded for bear belt knife that fits the niche of a blade that can handle a wide variety of chores without pulling down your pants.
In short, I find the village finished Kumar Karda to be the belt knife version of the fan-favorite KLVUK. Like it, the KK is built for some serious use at a very affordable price. Also like the KLVUK, the expected performance will probably outpace the cost of the knife by three-fold. Certainly a bang for your buck belt knife.
I'm actually kinda surprised it's taken me nearly a decade and a half to try one of these little gems out. They've always been a great value in terms of cost, but I suppose the allure of the exotic always called to me a little louder. Even still, the KK is no slouch in the looks department. My mind is already turning over ideas of putting a nice rich patina on the blade, browning up the brass with a bit of acid, and giving the rough handle a basic polish and oil soak (she looks mighty thirsty).
As always, a big thank you goes out to Yangdu and Pala. I'm also incredibly happy that Kumar made this knife. It is classic Kumar in all the right places.
Here's a parting shot for scale of the KK, BF, and my little edc Pico
I know I was the same way. I started exactly like that. My first blade was sold to me COD by Uncle Bill back in 2002. It was a villager model made by Kumar. 15.5", 3/8" thick, fine edge, villager grade handle, steel furniture. Once I had it in my hands...I was hooked. After that, AKs and WWIIs and Bowies and Swords and the YCS, etc etc etc. Over my time here, I have tried nearly every flavor of khuk and knife HI has had to offer. Except one.
The Kumar Karda. Not a very "sexy" knife. It has a rather straight blade with a good belly. It's well built and capable, for sure. For all intense and purposes, a fine belt knife. However, for me, it always seemed a bit, well, boring. What could it possible do that my more exotic and flashy HI knives couldn't do? Then I actually gave it a good long thought.
My wife and daughter and I are going on a light hiking trip to the Smokey Mountains in a few weeks. We're not humping it into the wilds. My little girl still complains about her legs getting tired
However, we do plan on making our way along a few miles of trails. I've already got my gear down to a mental list:I plan on wearing my utility/camera vest. I learned a long time ago that having pockets of "stuff" can come in handy. From bits of string to a first aid kit to a 9v battery/steel wool fire starter, I probably have it in my pockets.
I've got my multitool for those times when something needs to be fixed in the field. I can't tell you how many times a medium pliers-based tool has saved my bacon
I've got my trusty SP101 .357 for my hip. A little heavy but reliable and stout enough to offer some trail protection. I'm on the fence about not procuring a bit of a lighter .38 +p 3" revolver, though. I do love my SP101, but she's a boat anchor to lug around even in a heavy duty hip holster...but that's a different story.
Then I started thinking about my belt knife. This is actually the knife I would use more than anything else while hiking around. More often than not, it ends up being a pointer for sorts. A tool to show my daughter how to spot poison ivy or peeling back a bit or bark to peek in at a beetle or explaining the body parts of a spider scurrying along a tree. I don't like damaging nature or harming her citizens, but I also don't like to be fanged or stung, so I feel that a minimum of 5" of steel better a my delicate fingers and a critter's bitey parts is prudent.
My belt knife is also the tool I would use to open lunch packages and cut the plastic wrapping off our drink bottles. It would be nice if it were fairly robust yet not overly heavy. A plus would be if it looked more like a tool than a weapon when pass other folks on the trail.
I have a dozen knives that could work for that role, but they all seemed to fall a bit short in one field or another. Too big, too small, too heavy, too scary, too thick, too "nice", etc. I decided that I was going to settle on something that was no longer than 10" in length, had a fine edge (no need for something to chop down trees in a state park), was well under an ounce an inch, and was a knife that I could sort of ride hard and put away wet (not literally but you know what I mean). Hiking, horseback riding, maybe even rafting (we haven't planned it all yet). I wanted something capable yet "friendly". Something that I honestly COULD stake my life on but wouldn't cry buckets if I lost it to the murky depths. Time for a new knife
I fired off an email to Yangdu asking for thoughts on the subject, and in no time there was a nice triangle package waiting for me on my desk
When I opened it, I first pulled out a baby Foxy Folly. 9" of cuteness. A kind gift that is very much appreciated and will most likely end up on my wife's belt on this trip. I'll work up a review for it sooner than later. It does so many things right in the realm of the micro-khuk, but that's a story for another day
Next, I unwrapped pretty much what may be the perfect hard use belt knife I have ever owned (when you compare balance, fit, finish, balance, value, and intended purpose). It was a villager finish Kumar Karda crafted by the namesake himself. 10", about 8oz, and sporting a rough village wooden handle and a scale-on finish with a satin edge and spine. It's beautifully basic and ruggedly attractive. With it's simple brass bolster and generous yet not obtrusive palm swell, the KK is obviously meant to be a comfortable "user" knife that lends itself to a lot of different holds but won't fatigue your hand.
The edge came toothy with just enough polish to pop the hair off my arm. With just a bit of work, this thing is going to be a lightsaber.
The through tang construction paired with the 1/4 thick stock means that this KK is going to be game for some serious work. Cutting, digging, light prying, etc. I can't imagine this knife failing under any reasonable (and quite a few UNreasonable) circumstances. It is a very well balanced and loaded for bear belt knife that fits the niche of a blade that can handle a wide variety of chores without pulling down your pants.
In short, I find the village finished Kumar Karda to be the belt knife version of the fan-favorite KLVUK. Like it, the KK is built for some serious use at a very affordable price. Also like the KLVUK, the expected performance will probably outpace the cost of the knife by three-fold. Certainly a bang for your buck belt knife.
I'm actually kinda surprised it's taken me nearly a decade and a half to try one of these little gems out. They've always been a great value in terms of cost, but I suppose the allure of the exotic always called to me a little louder. Even still, the KK is no slouch in the looks department. My mind is already turning over ideas of putting a nice rich patina on the blade, browning up the brass with a bit of acid, and giving the rough handle a basic polish and oil soak (she looks mighty thirsty).
As always, a big thank you goes out to Yangdu and Pala. I'm also incredibly happy that Kumar made this knife. It is classic Kumar in all the right places.
Here's a parting shot for scale of the KK, BF, and my little edc Pico
