Kharga, sacrificial kora,...or what?

shastardhari · 24th January 2018, 10:46 AM

Haven't seen a kora with a handle like that....possibly reproduction piece

kronckew · 24th January 2018, 08:47 PM

The typical grip is cylindrical with a flat disk above and below, i have found one like that with a knuckle bow, and you see the occasional one with a tulwar hilt with or without a knuckle bow. The photos below include the typical scabbard used for these unusual weapons. They were primarily weapons too, rather than sacrificial, tho, like the khukuri, were occasionally used for that purpose.

shayde78 · 16th February 2018, 02:37 AM

Thanks for the thoughts so far.

I've been thinking about this, and still feel there is a type represented here (although rarely seen) that is worth considering as a distinct form of Kora.

For starters, the Gurkha Museum has the example below labeled as a 'Sacrificial Kora'. Is this a valid attribution? I have learned since lurking on here that museum labels are known to be fallible, but I would suspect a museum dedicated to Nepalese warfare might be somewhat accurate. Maybe?

shayde78 · 16th February 2018, 02:39 AM

We also have this example. The picture is of an item no longer being offered for sale, so I hope it doesn't violate the rules to post here. This, too, is listed as a 'sacrificial' kora.

shayde78 · 16th February 2018, 02:40 AM

From Atkinson is this example. Not as nice as the others, but a tier above the original item shown in this thread.

shayde78 · 16th February 2018, 02:43 AM

And, finally, this example that was posted on our very own swap forum . Again, this sale is ended, so I hope it is OK to post the link. There are a number of additional photos in the swap thread, but the image below shows it to be VERY similar to Atkinson's example above.

So, more thoughts on this being a true form...or did someone make a handful of reproductions, of which a few exist?

24th January 2018, 08:47 PM	#2
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,152	The typical grip is cylindrical with a flat disk above and below, i have found one like that with a knuckle bow, and you see the occasional one with a tulwar hilt with or without a knuckle bow. The photos below include the typical scabbard used for these unusual weapons. They were primarily weapons too, rather than sacrificial, tho, like the khukuri, were occasionally used for that purpose. Attached Images

16th February 2018, 02:37 AM	#3
shayde78 Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 443	Thanks for the thoughts so far. I've been thinking about this, and still feel there is a type represented here (although rarely seen) that is worth considering as a distinct form of Kora. For starters, the Gurkha Museum has the example below labeled as a 'Sacrificial Kora'. Is this a valid attribution? I have learned since lurking on here that museum labels are known to be fallible, but I would suspect a museum dedicated to Nepalese warfare might be somewhat accurate. Maybe? Attached Images

16th February 2018, 02:39 AM	#4
shayde78 Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 443	We also have this example. The picture is of an item no longer being offered for sale, so I hope it doesn't violate the rules to post here. This, too, is listed as a 'sacrificial' kora. Attached Images

16th February 2018, 02:40 AM	#5
shayde78 Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 443	From Atkinson is this example. Not as nice as the others, but a tier above the original item shown in this thread. Attached Images

16th February 2018, 02:43 AM	#6
shayde78 Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 443	And, finally, this example that was posted on our very own swap forum . Again, this sale is ended, so I hope it is OK to post the link. There are a number of additional photos in the swap thread, but the image below shows it to be VERY similar to Atkinson's example above. So, more thoughts on this being a true form...or did someone make a handful of reproductions, of which a few exist? Attached Images

24th January 2018, 10:46 AM	#1
shastardhari Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Posts: 27	Haven't seen a kora with a handle like that....possibly reproduction piece