Please hire Sgt. Karka to do handles full time

[mPisi]

I received my Sgt. Karka WWII today, from the 12/2 specials. Great knife. Blade is very pointy for a WWII, fairly shallow but thick. Good edge on it already. Only problem is the big rust spot at the bolster, one of the more extensive I've seen. So I was planning on removing that, giving a satin finish, and putting the knife into heavy rotation among my users.

But the handle, oh wow. What looked like wood in the sale pictures turns out to be half-translucent horn. The polish is amazing, there is a real depth to it, looks almost like some well-polished jade. I can't stop looking at it, changes shades as you look at it, especially in the sun. The handle itself is very well made, blanding perfectly with the tang and bolster. The edges of the buttcap are even smoothed over.

So I ask Uncle Bill to make Sgt. Karka the boss of the handle department, or at least in chage of horn procurement. I was trending back toward woodchuck status with my latest purchases and all the fancy wood that has been coming out lately, but this amazing piece puts me back in the 100% horndog column. Bravo Sgt. Karka!

Poor attempts to do it justice:

 

[Thomas Linton]

My Sgt. Karka's have no markings on them. To do justice to his work, he should have a mark (not initials!), yes?

Tom

How about three, stacked chevrons?

 

[Bill Martino]

We call it gray horn adn the Nepali experts tell me it's a one in 6000 handle.

If Sgt. Karka continued to bring us the best samples of his work we'll give him a mark of some kind. He will resist but will agree to mark his knives before it's all over.

 

[Steely_Gunz]

That's about as perfect as i've seen 'em. I hope more of his work shows up in the summer months...when i have money I agree, Thomas. Sgt Karka deserves his own mark.


Jake

 

[Ad Astra]

That really is a unique khuk, between the blade shape, the white metal bolster and of course that neat lusturous horn... almost like.. carmel or something. Smooth look.

Great idea for Sgt. Karka's mark, Thomas.
<<<

Maybe because the Sgt. wasn't a kami his whole life, he is more prone to "bust a move" in khuk finishing? More open-minded?

AA

 

[hollowdweller]

I LOVE the handle he put on the first on the lineup of specials today! It even has that little curve in it the best handles (in my opinion) have. Also his handles seem to be the right diameter. Not too big!

 

[namaarie]

UB, could you tell us when it is gray horn? I love it but it is hard to tell from pic.

Just wondering.

Namaarie

 

[BruiseLeee]

You can usually bring out some of the greyness in the horn with "goop" lightly melted in with a hairdrier.

 

[Tohatchi NM]

I thought that one looked like horn. Very, very nice khuk. Glad to hear it's as nice in person as it is in pics. Great snag!

 

[Bill Martino]

We would hire Sgt. Karka in a second but he found his home in the Nepal Army and that's where he will stay until he gets so old it's ridiculous. He is pushing 40 years service and pretty much writes his own ticket.

 

[ddean]

A beautiful grip.

BTW, others have previously noted,
& I found an explanation
(melanin color particles strengthen the keratin matrix
?cement vs concrete?)

that darker horn is stronger than lighter horn.
By what degree I don't know.

All the same,
to me, the mixed horn shades are often the most beautiful.


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[Thomas Linton]

Where does "green" horn fit in the strength department? I've only handled WWII military khukuris with such handles, and anything can happen in tome of war.

Tom

 

[raghorn]

I think "green" horn is horn that has not been cured.

 

[Thomas Linton]

I think "green" horn is horn that has not been cured.

OK. That fits the usual meaning of "Greenhorn" (untested/no experience). But what is the significance after 50+ years? Does it tend to shrink as it cures? (Have not seen that yet.)

Tom

 

[Yvsa]

OK. That fits the usual meaning of "Greenhorn" (untested/no experience). But what is the significance after 50+ years? Does it tend to shrink as it cures? (Have not seen that yet.)

Tom

The *Green Horn* is actually a green color compared to the *Greenhorn* as Tom mentioned.
I love the Green Horn and would pay a premium to get it!
It *will* shrink over time if left alone and never, or seldom, handled, that is unless some form of treatment isn't administered. Anyway that's been my experience with it and from seeing very old Green Horn that wasn't taken care of.

 

[Thomas Linton]

One of the two I have in "green horn" is a M43. It didn't shrink, but the insects liked it some.