Opinions?-Himalayan Imports JKM and Kumar Karda.

Triquetra

Triquetra

Joined
Mar 7, 2002
Messages
759
Just wondering if anyone on this forum has experience with the JKM or Kumar Karda models from Himalayan Imports. I know the quality and customer service is second to none, I just want to know how they compare (pros and cons) to similiar sized knives for overall camping, survival, and backwoods uses.

Sorry, forgot to introduce myself I am usually on the HI forum. I've been lurking around here lately getting advice and tips on survival and equipment for the outdoors.
 
Might I suggest that you post this question on the Himalayan Import's Forum here at BF? Lots of owners of those two knives over there.
 
We'll actually I did post a couple of similiar questions over the last couple of weeks but didn't get a lot or response there either. I acually went ahead and searched the HI forum for info and just ordered a new JKM from Uncle so I'll just do some comparison on my own. Found a couple of good websites on the Helle knives also if I decide to venture away from HI. Right now I guess I'll stick to what I know will be top quality at least.
 
Depending on what you're looking to do with the knife, that JKM may be a pretty blunt instrument. It is quite thick, and fairly heavy, not a slicer at all. The JKM is more for heavy duty survival, perhaps. The Kumar Karda is on a par with the JKM.

Helle makes excellent knives, great ergonomic grips, lightweight wooden handles, but razor sharp laminated blades. For woodcraft and hunting, they are hard to beat.

I do agree your question belongs here because it's about use in camping, survival, and backwoods situations. But even that can vary. Are you thinking about winter or summer use, and what kind of environment do you have in mind, desert, jungle, or hardwood forest?
 
The only JKM I have can be described as follows.

The 3.75" (cutting lenght) 5160 blade has a silhouette like the blade in the "sodbuster" slipjoint - blade curves up rather bluntly to meet a straight back. Ken Warner's "plain blade."

The width of the blade is the same as a Bark River North Star - just under 3/16".

Only 3" handle.

Scandi pouch sheath.

While originally saber ground, I fully convexed it to improve cutting ability after adding a 3/4" half-round choil.

It is not a "bushcraft" knife. It is not "pointly" enough for convenient boring of holes. It would make a better skinner than the North Star. It cuts just fine as modified. I did not use it much before, but it came sharp enough to cut paper.

The Kumar Karda is thicker (almost 1/4") and longer (5.25" cutting length). It comes in a mini version of a khukuri scabbard. Mine has an antler handle and has not been used for any work.

(I never meant to suggest that this was the "wrong" forum for your question, merely that most users of the knives in questiion are found elsewhere.)
 
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