KORA

Unclebob · 2nd January 2018, 10:53 PM

I'd been looking for one of these for quite awhile and this one turned up a couple of months ago. I've posted this on IKRHS, but I thought you chaps might like to have a look.
Any comments welcome!

Battara · 3rd January 2018, 02:35 AM

This looks to be a Nepalese kora used for sacrificing animals, though I guess it also be used for combat as well.

ariel · 6th January 2018, 05:14 PM

It is not" could be" :-) It was .
Here is a picture of native Nepalese soldiers carrying Koras.
Couple of them in the first row show Koras in their easily recognizable scabbards, and in the rest of them we can see Kora's handles.
Try to enlarge the pic.

Ian · 6th January 2018, 05:30 PM

Ariel,

The use of the kora as a weapon is well documented, as you point out. However, Bob's example seems to be of heavy construction and not easily wielded in combat. I have several antique examples, 18-19th C, that were definitely weapons and were actually quite light in the hand.

Bob, like Jose I think your kora more likely had a sacrificial/ceremonial purpose than a combat purpose. Decorative/ceremonial/sacrificial examples have probably persisted more frequently in collections than the "no frills" combat versions, and many of what we see today seem to be of better quality than ordinary fighting examples.

Ian.

Battara · 6th January 2018, 10:18 PM

Not only does this seem heavy, but the eye off Durga is on the blade as well, which was usually reserved for sacrificial koras.

Ian · 6th January 2018, 11:32 PM

Good point about the eye of Durga, Jose.

There were some heavy kora used for fighting, but I understand these were mainly for rampart defense, and rather specialized in their use. I have some examples of heavy, combat kora that I will try to find and post pics.

Ian.

2nd January 2018, 10:53 PM	#1
Unclebob Member Join Date: Dec 2017 Posts: 21	KORA I'd been looking for one of these for quite awhile and this one turned up a couple of months ago. I've posted this on IKRHS, but I thought you chaps might like to have a look. Any comments welcome! Attached Images

6th January 2018, 05:14 PM	#3
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	It is not" could be" :-) It was . Here is a picture of native Nepalese soldiers carrying Koras. Couple of them in the first row show Koras in their easily recognizable scabbards, and in the rest of them we can see Kora's handles. Try to enlarge the pic. Attached Images

3rd January 2018, 02:35 AM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,220	This looks to be a Nepalese kora used for sacrificing animals, though I guess it also be used for combat as well.

6th January 2018, 05:30 PM	#4
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,200	Ariel, The use of the kora as a weapon is well documented, as you point out. However, Bob's example seems to be of heavy construction and not easily wielded in combat. I have several antique examples, 18-19th C, that were definitely weapons and were actually quite light in the hand. Bob, like Jose I think your kora more likely had a sacrificial/ceremonial purpose than a combat purpose. Decorative/ceremonial/sacrificial examples have probably persisted more frequently in collections than the "no frills" combat versions, and many of what we see today seem to be of better quality than ordinary fighting examples. Ian.

6th January 2018, 10:18 PM	#5
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,220	Not only does this seem heavy, but the eye off Durga is on the blade as well, which was usually reserved for sacrificial koras.

6th January 2018, 11:32 PM	#6
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,200	Good point about the eye of Durga, Jose. There were some heavy kora used for fighting, but I understand these were mainly for rampart defense, and rather specialized in their use. I have some examples of heavy, combat kora that I will try to find and post pics. Ian.