Steel Mounted Kumar Karda & Some Misc. Karda Pics

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Brian C

Joined
Jan 22, 1999
Messages
2,414
I just thought I'd share a couple of pics that I think folks will enjoy. The first is a Kumar Karda variant -- steel mounted with chiruwa style handle, and buffalo horn scales.
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I apologize for the quality of the picture but the knife & scabbard are nothing but top quality -- a 10 out of 10 effort by Kumar.

The knife was able to shave a few stray hairs upon arrival but after just a short session with my 204 Sharpmaker it now has what Yvsa would call a "full body shiver" edge. To say I am impressed with this rig would be a vast understatement. I will be surprised if this version doesn't end up as a standard offering.

And now for some other "kardas" of sort, here are most of my goodies from the recent NY Custom Knife show:
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Top to bottom, they are: RJ Martin Handiman,
Fred Perrin Large La Griffe, Bob Dozier Pro Skinner, Arno Bernard Persian, &
Al Polkowski Kasper Companion. The Handiman La Griffe, and Companion all have G-10 scales. The Bernard has black ivory (an African hardwood, not animal ivory) and the Dozier has a butterscotch colored form of micarta. (Bob has been trying some different handle materials.) I realize that they're not from Nepal, but we do have the US, Africa & France represented.
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Those of you vying for the UBDOTDs can breath a little easier. I'll be out of the hunt for a while until my wallet recovers.
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Cheers,
Brian

He who finishes with the most toys wins.

18-Nov-00: Replaced the Kumar Karda pic with a slightly better one.

[This message has been edited by bcaffrey (edited 11-18-2000).]
 
Thanks, Spectre. The blade on the Kumar Karda is 6" from the front of the habaki to the tip. OAL is 10 1/4".

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Cheers,
Brian

He who finishes with the most toys wins.
 
:
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Full body shiver!
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A very impressive collection indeed!!!

I like 'em all, but I really like that steel mounted Kumar Karda!!!!
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>>>>---¥vsa---->®

Each person's work is always a portrait of himself.

---- Samuel Butler.

Khukuri FAQ
Himalayan Imports Website
 
:
Bro I wouldn't mind having one of those myself to match the little JKM-1 I was lucky enough to get out of the first batch. And I know how tough one of these can be.
I believe it would be the epitome of all the Kumar Karda's.
It may not be as pretty as the carved handled ones but there would be Absolutley No chance of breaking one of these!!!


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>>>>---¥vsa---->®

Each person's work is always a portrait of himself.

---- Samuel Butler.

Khukuri FAQ
Himalayan Imports Website
 
Hehe, and so it starts.
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Get your order pad ready, Uncle.
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I agree completely, Yvsa. It is an excellent match for the JKM-1.

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Cheers,
Brian

He who finishes with the most toys wins.
 
OK, Uncle Bill, now that Brian has stirred things up, will you order more of the steel-mounted Kumar kardas if we get five takers? And what kinda price would we be looking at? I feel quite certain that we'll get at least five folks to sign on.
 
You can count me in for one. Of course then I'll need a steel mounted Chiruwa khuk of some sort to keep it company!
 
I replaced the Kumar Karda pic with a slightly better one. BTW, I also updated my photo album w/individual pics of my new toys.
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Cheers,
Brian

He who finishes with the most toys wins.
 
Brian, can you give us a blade or overall length on any of those fixed blade 'kinda kardas'? They're really cool looking, and while I've heard of some of the makers I don't know those knives and could use some perspective. I'm guessing the top two are designed specifically as neck knives?
--Jance
 
I'm glad you like them, Jance. I failed to mention earlier that these are all handmade. You're right about the top two being basically neck knives. The Handiman has a 3" blade and is designed to handle a variety of tasks. The Perrin is hand forged 1095-carbon steel, has a 3 1/2" blade (measured from the front of the finger hole), and a visible temper line. The La Griffes are designed predominantly for social situations, come in a variety of blade shapes, and the finger hole makes retention almost failsafe. I find that they are also useful for utility work since your hand can be used for other tasks while still holding on to the knife.

The Dozier is one of Bob's many fine hunting knives & has a 4" blade of D2 at 60-61Rc. Arno Bernard is a South African knifemaker whose work is just recently becoming known in the US. The knife shown has a 4" flat ground blade of 440C. Arno doesn't have his own Web site but BladeArt offers a number of his pieces. Al Polkowski is a custom maker who specializes in tactical knives. He makes several of Bob Kasper's fighting knife designs, the Companion being the smallest of the "full size" fixed blades with its 4" blade.*

Please let me know if you have any other questions.

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Cheers,
Brian

He who finishes with the most toys wins.

* Correction: There are Kasper designed neck knives & folders, made by Polkowski & others, with shorter blades.

[This message has been edited by bcaffrey (edited 11-20-2000).]
 
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