unique scabbard and amazing karda

John Powell

John Powell

Joined
Mar 9, 1999
Messages
1,440
Here's another picture especially for all of you who are always searching for the best scabbard material.

The scabbard is tightly woven and well formed bamboo wicker and has two very sturdy belt loops worked onto the back. It is fitted over the original leather scabbard and has a very old and unique karda stuck into it. The knife itself is quite crude and unexceptional. The bone grip is polished, has a tiny brass washer where the tang has been peened. It also has a small steel pin driven through the tang to add more security.

I would put this piece around 1890 to 1920 although the large karda with the ricasso detail is much earlier. I have no clue when or where the wicker was added, but I would hazzard a guess that the work was done in Assam or Burma.

View


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JP
 
Man, that is kind of unusual. That is really neat. This is precisely why I love this forum. It gives us youngins' the benefit of learning about the old and the new in the world of Khuks. Great post--Keep them coming!

-Craig
 
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I will get Barb over here to look at this and see if she thinks she could do a scabbard like that.
Barb makes the Cherokee Double Wall Baskets from commercial reed.
It's too much work to gather the honeysuckle and process it, a long tedious job, needed for the original baskets.

Barb says she doen't know why she couldn't do one or at least try.
And now Barb is asking about what color I would like it trimmed in.
Barb's baskets have one or more lines of colored reed around them to break up the austerity of the tan reed.

Barb also says the khukuris would need to be fairly loose in the scabbard after the initial little pull or it could cause problems with the reed pulling loose.

But bear in mind that although Barb is non-ndn she has lived with one for several years and very much knows what ndn time is and she runs on ndn time as well as I do.
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It may be a little while before she attempts this.
Perhaps I will have the computer by then and can scan a pic for all to see.
biggrin.gif

Now to pick out a khukuri for a woven cover, perhaps the little "balance" model to start with since it doesn't get much use.
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Yvsa.

"VEGETARIAN".............
Indin word for lousy hunter.
 
Yvsa, keep us posted. If this works out, Barb may find herself to be quite popular...

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Harry
 
John,
Is it my imagination, or does that karda bear a strong resemblance to the unusual cho on an old village khukuri I acquired some time back from a prominent West Coast collector
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who was thinning his herd?
Berk

[This message has been edited by Berkley (edited 06-23-2001).]
 
Tom
If your wife needs more detail for the scabbard please let me know. The back has some interesting features for the hanging straps.

Berk
They look similar and I have seen other kukris with the two drilled holes, but never a karda that has the holes and matching indentations on either side.

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JP
 
John,
You must really have a stong dislike for me! Just when I think you have shown me your best, you do this to me! Why don't you get it over with, show me the best you have,drive me nuts & be done with it!!
jim
 
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John Barb would like to see a pic of the back of the scabbard.
That was one of her 1st questions; how is it held onto a belt or what?
When you post the pic I will run off copies that Barb wants for study.
Many thanks.
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Yvsa.

"VEGETARIAN".............
Indin word for lousy hunter.
 
:
Thanks John, got 'em printed off.
biggrin.gif


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Yvsa.

"VEGETARIAN".............
Indin word for lousy hunter.
 
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