Kumar Karda - question

[Pan Tau]

Hello,
I plan to get a Kumar Karda as a belt knife for medieval reenactment. When I did a search on the forum I found, that there were/are(?) Kumar Kardas with plain horn handles and the carved ones.

It would be fine if some of you could give me the specs of their Kumar Kardas and maybe post pics as I never have seen one with a plain horn handle and do not know if the carving always shows the same motifs or not. (The floral ornament on the Kumar Karda shown on the HI shop site is nice and would be medieval-compatible, but maybe there are others).

Thanks in advance,
Andreas

 

[mamav]

Pan Tau,

I have a Kumar Karda that I use regularily in the kitchen. I love it. My carved horn handle is of fish. Can't post a pic so I hope that gives you another idea.

 

[BruiseLeee]

You can just e-mail the design that you want to Uncle Bill. He'll pick one out with the proper design. Mine's 10.25" (28.5cm) overall with a 6" (15.5 cm) blade.

 

[Sylvrfalcn]

Pan, the Kumar Karda makes a great knife for what you have in mind. Big enough to have "presence", but not so big as to be a burden to wear/carry. They do come with plain handles in wood or horn (I've had both), but, IMHO, the carved handles are the way to go. The craftsmanship is exquisite, and the carving seems to give a better grip when your hands are slippery. I really lucked out in a trade with Dan (Pendentive) and got one with the horn handle carved in a very nice pattern of three fleur de lis ensonced in Gothic arches (don't know what the Newari fellow was thinking, but wish I had a camera nice enough to show you the detail, it's extraordinary).

A very worthy knife, with or without the carving. If you do order one, I'd recommend you ask for one made by Sher or Kumar, as they both tend to be more generous with handle proportions on the smaller knives than the other kamis.

What medieval reenactment group are you participating with? At first I assumed the SCA's kingdom of Drachenwald, but then I remembered there are quite a few reenactment groups in Europe. Anyhow, it's great fun ain't it, and in Germany the castles are real (not to mention the beer!).

Sarge

 

[mamav]

Anyhow, it's great fun ain't it, and in Germany the castles are real (not to mention the beer!).


The beer and wine are real and after you've been spoiled with the real stuff American is just..... yuck.
They don't even import the real stuff because to pass US regulations it has to go thru more processes and .....

 

[Pan Tau]

Thanks for the great info so far, sounds wonderful.

...and got one with the horn handle carved in a very nice pattern of three fleur de lis ensonced in Gothic arches

Sylvrfalcn, I do not belong to one of the large reenactment groups, we are a small group of about 12 that visit various markets and join conventions - there are quite a few opportunities in the summertime (the next one tomorrow in Hohenberg a city in the neigborhood, at the end of the month Kronach, the city where I teach will celebrate its 1000-year anniversary) - if you like you can enter the medieval times every weekend at various castles.
The "hard core" of the group are two "fulltime knights", one of them is a close friend of mine. He is a specialist for high and late medieval shoes and belts, but he also produces helmets, fibula and what he wants to try out, everything handmade and replica of archeological finds. His soon to be wife (the wedding will be medieval and a real big event) is a fellow teacher for "Hauswirtschaft" (sewing, cooking etc.) and can sew wonderful medieval clothes - also authentic and without a sewing machine - they are "purists" and freaks of course...

and in Germany the castles are real (not to mention the beer!).

... right - just cannot imagine artificial castles (?). The met and the dark and strong beer is sure a speciality of its own

bye, Andreas

 

[mamav]

I'll have you know that Hoghead andMy first date was at the castle ruins in Traben-Traubach and it was a totally clear night (something somewhat unusual for Germany at that time)and even a full moon. And the beer.........

 

[Pan Tau]

Hoghead andMy first date was at the castle ruins in Traben-Traubach

thats near Trier I think? In August my wife and me will fly to Rome and start at Frankfurt/Hahn - a former military airfield quite near Traben Trarbach. - From my hometown it is about 450km west.

Just hear from Uncle there are no Kardas with carved handles in stock - will wait a bit - and maybe then the money probably will be enough to afford a Kumar Karda and a Pen knife

But to all the others: Do not hesitate to post pics of your Kumar Karda - it is good to have something to look at...

Bye,
Andreas

 

[mamav]

Flugplatz Hahn was the base we were stationed at. It no longer is in service as is the base my boys were both born at.

I think I've done every volksmarche in that area. It was great, although the walk at Enkirch went up and up and never down (I'm sure)and we still ended up where we started That was the highlight of every weekend I was in the country. I went all over Europe while I was there mostly on weekends.

So I take it they have turned the old runway and bunkers into an airport? I always wondered what had happened to it.

Hope you enjoy your trip.

 

[Pan Tau]

So I take it they have turned the old runway and bunkers into an airport? I always wondered what had happened to it.

It is now a small airport that Ryanair uses - a cheap but secure airline. It will be hot in Rome and I guess we will meet no Romans there in august - if it is too hot we will visit the catacombs on the traces of early christianhood I think. After three days in Rome we will drive the Costa Amalfitana, visit Naples, the Vesuvio, Pompeji, Capri, Sorrent - all those wonderful places - and even more for someone who studied history (hope my wife will not suffer too much because of my interest )

good night (past midnight here...)

Andreas