Special order: 20" Kumar Kobra, horn

A

Amko

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http://yhst-7333098713883.stores.yahoo.net/20inchkobra.html

Auntie informed me that she was out of Kobras so after scoring 3 DOTDs I decided that it was time to do my bit, send some PayPal $ her way. In any case I was suffering from a particularly virulent strain of HIKV so in the immortal worlds of Oscar Wilde "The only way to resist temptation is to give in to it".

India has snakes and there are apparently a couple cobras slithering around our neighborhood as I speak. A few years ago I eliminated a krait with a hockey stick, after checking with a herpetologist that it was poisonous based on my description. This time I decided to take no chances.

I specified one between 18 and 20 ounces (no real way to tell if it'll actually come in at around that weight, though?) The knife is expected later this month in an upcoming Kumar consignment.

I've also gone through recent search results on the forum regarding the Kobra and believe I have a reasonable idea about what to expect. I won't be whaling on any trees.

Judging from knowledgeable members I understand the Kobra is a difficult model to make and the skill of the kami regarding differential heat treatment plays a critical role.

A question: So is a Kobra made from leaf spring or a file? This is unclear. Yet to check with Auntie.

If I get one around the holy grail of under an ounce per inch I will be delirious.

(Oh yeah, a friend is kindly carrying the knife home to India in checked in luggage on an international flight, so this may raise a few eyebrows with the odd zealous customs official or two. Wish me luck.)

Members of the Kobra club, do share. Thanks.
 
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From Rudyard Kipling's short story "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi":

But just as Teddy was stooping, something flinched a little in the dust, and a tiny voice said: "Be careful. I am death!'' It was Karait, the dusty brown snakeling that lies for choice on the dusty earth; and his bite is as dangerous as the cobra's. But he is so small that nobody thinks of him, and so he does the more harm to people.​

I believe that the Kobra model is made from 5160 leaf spring steel, like most HI blades. The Retis, made from old files, are an exception. The Retis are also Kobras, probably because the files are pretty slim and wouldn't forge well into the broader blades of other HI models.

I'm not sure a Kobra (or any khukuri) is the best blade for dealing with poisonous snakes. A Kobra is light and fast compared with other HI models, but a good machete would probably be lighter, faster and longer than a 20" Kobra. Also straighter. If you have to swing downward at a fast moving snake, the bent shape of the Kobra could betray you. The tip might hit the ground, leaving an open space under the rest of the edge, through which the snake could either escape or strike at you.

You can't go wrong adding a 20" Kobra to your growing collection, but maybe invest in a cheap machete for the snakes.

This is my 20" 18 oz Kumar Kobra, by Kumar himself, with a nice walnut handle:

KumarKobra20in-Kumar18oz-walnut-01cr.JPG
 
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Dave, very grateful for your thoughts. Said machete is in place and well sharpened with the Lansky Puck. Happy to know you too enjoy Kipling, it was standard fare at our school curriculum. From the archives I learned you have an 18 ounce Kobra. Have you tried putting it to work on vines, narrow branches etc.? I may post a bamboo vs. Kobra report once it arrives.
 
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I have a 25'' Kobra and a 25'' Sirupati, neither is long enough for me to deal with snakes. I don't like snakes.....I think a 12 gauge shotgun is the ticket for snakes....all snakes.

FYI-Yangdu also hates snakes so with respect to her, no snake pictures please.

Going after a poisonous snake with any knife is plumb manly. My hates off to ya.

Had a friend roping down from a Helicopter when he was in the Marines. They set him down right into a rattlesnake nest. He had an M16 and started shooting full auto. The guys in the helicopter apparently realized what was happening and pulled him back up while he was still shooting. He didn't like snakes neither I guess.
 
My city, Pune, is known for its snake park with over a hundred varieties. They unfailingly creep me out but I return out of fascination. I do number a few herpetologists among my friends. I used to have a zero tolerance policy to 'em (snakes, not herpetologists) but now chase them off my property, all in a day's work. Dave suggested a machete and I do have one handy for such an occasion, although I have been known to use a longer stick. If you read my earlier post you know I despatched the snake using my field hockey stick but I'm sure some luck was involved. A lot will depend on whether the Kobra comes in under 20 Oz.
Sadly there is no Rikki Tikki Ravi equivalent currently in my garden. Did have one and left tidbits for him but he moved on to happier hunting grounds.
Per local superstition snakes, cobras included, are offered milk, but my 'milk of human kindness' ran out a ways ago vis-a-vis these pests.
 
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A hockey stick is longer, therefore better to me. Longer and further away I am from the snake the better.
 
The shotgun is an excellent idea. To use a knife, i would want it to be attached to an 8' pole . Or even a 10' pole.
 
My answer to snakes tend to be a really long shovel. We have Copperheads and Rattlesnakes around my parts(though I've only seen one of each around my property).

The shovel helps to stop them in their tracks by basically burying whichever section I end up hitting into the ground, giving me time to get my bearings and mount a more deliberate attack to behead the buggers.
 
I like stamping them down between my big toe and index toe! Kinda like a forked stick. They cant bite you in the leg that way:D Then all you got to do is pull out the Reti and start skinning them from the backside!
 
davidf99 said:
I'm not sure a Kobra (or any khukuri) is the best blade for dealing with poisonous snakes. A Kobra is light and fast compared with other HI models, but a good machete would probably be lighter, faster and longer than a 20" Kobra. Also straighter. If you have to swing downward at a fast moving snake, the bent shape of the Kobra could betray you. The tip might hit the ground, leaving an open space under the rest of the edge, through which the snake could either escape or strike at you.

You can't go wrong adding a 20" Kobra to your growing collection, but maybe invest in a cheap machete for the snakes.

This is my 20" 18 oz Kumar Kobra, by Kumar himself, with a nice walnut handle:

View attachment 901281
Click to expand...

I have no idea what I'm talking about in regards to Kobras or Cobras :rolleyes: BUT - davidf99 expressed my near exact thought when I read your intention. I always listen to my little voice - perhaps you night do well to listen to our little voices this time too.

Hey any excuse to get a new Khuk is a good one :thumbsup: Good luck with it all.

Ray
 
Happy dance! The 20" Kumar Kobra finally arrived at my home in Pune, India from Sunnyvale, CA. Yet another wandering knife!

Weighs a glorious 20 Oz. One ounce per inch. As always I am hypnotized by the mirror finish, and spend time giving thanks to HI for this wicked, wicked katana-like blade. I've wanted a Kobra for nearly a year now, and I'm thrilled it's finally here.

As is my habit, initially it will grace my bedside where I'll drool over it admittedly, but soon it should be out and about in the field.

Kumar worked his usual sorcery, I don't get how he achieves a near machine made finish for his khukuris. This one came with zero scratches or dings, blade and horn handle...a bonus was that the edge is paper cutting sharp out of the box.

This is an initial reaction, a review will follow. Thanks Mme Yangdu, Punam, Kumar and Mr Sarki.

Edit: forgot to mention, the Kobra and my 12" 5 Oz Reti - both by Kumar - are a match made in heaven.
 
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