A pre WWII (?) khukuri

Ferguson · 2nd March 2009, 12:24 AM

I found this old fellow on Ebay, and was intrigued by the kardas. Their curve and length was so graceful. The khukuri is 16.5" long and weighs about 12 oz. The spine is .280" (7.1mm) thick. The kardas are 7 3/4, and 8 1/2" long. There's an interesting repair behind the bolster. A band of iron or steel circles the handle, with a pin through the tang. Thought you folks might enjoy it.
Thanks for looking,
Steve

DhaDha · 2nd March 2009, 01:17 AM

The Kardas are interesting. Do you have a picture of the other side of the scabbard?

sirupate · 2nd March 2009, 09:14 AM

Hello Steve, I would say pre-WWI, the handle looks to be partial tang? with the pin put in to strengthen it. Its not issue, my guess is that it was made for an Officer either British or Nepali. Anyway its a very nice peice to have

I would say the pin was probably done by one of the regimental armourers.

Ferguson · 2nd March 2009, 10:38 AM

Dhadha, I'll snap a pic tonight. There are just 2 leather tubes sewn on to the back of the scabbard for the karda. In poor condition, I'm afraid. There was a thin leather band around the scabbard probably with 2 buttons on front, now gone.

Thanks Simon. Pre WWI? That's great. Better than I hoped. Yes, it's partial tang.

Steve

DhaDha · 2nd March 2009, 05:25 PM

Hey Steve. No hurry for the pic. The Kardas are of a style I've seen on some very early Kukris. So I was wondering if it might have been a later marriage. But the wood looks the similar, if not the same as the Kukri's hilt. And the kukri seems to be of a high quality as well as the Kardas. Besides another, more informed, member has already confirmed the early date of the piece.

I'd still like to see more pics if you get them though.

Ferguson · 5th March 2009, 02:51 AM

Almost forgot. Here's the back of the scabbard.
Steve

DhaDha · 5th March 2009, 04:08 AM

Thanks. Great old Kukri, I think.

inveterate · 5th March 2009, 04:17 AM

A very nice and EARLY piece. congratulations. Rod

Ferguson · 5th March 2009, 09:43 AM

Great news! Thanks gentlemen.

Steve

spiral · 9th March 2009, 03:32 PM

Great old kukri Steve, could be late Victorean or even very early 20th century I think, The karda blades are in a very old style though.

The fat rivet looks very western repair to me, Armourers & Kami normaly just whittle a new handle, rather than drilling through the rat tail tang such a large diameter hole.

I think someone loved this one enough to repair it once it had been picked up from its original keeper.

But of course we will never realy know.

Thanks for sharing this old warhorse with us! I am sure it deserves its well earned retirment.

Spiral

2nd March 2009, 12:24 AM	#1
Ferguson Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kernersville, NC, USA Posts: 793	A pre WWII (?) khukuri I found this old fellow on Ebay, and was intrigued by the kardas. Their curve and length was so graceful. The khukuri is 16.5" long and weighs about 12 oz. The spine is .280" (7.1mm) thick. The kardas are 7 3/4, and 8 1/2" long. There's an interesting repair behind the bolster. A band of iron or steel circles the handle, with a pin through the tang. Thought you folks might enjoy it. Thanks for looking, Steve

2nd March 2009, 01:17 AM	#2
DhaDha Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 165	The Kardas are interesting. Do you have a picture of the other side of the scabbard?

2nd March 2009, 09:14 AM	#3
sirupate Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: England Posts: 373	Hello Steve, I would say pre-WWI, the handle looks to be partial tang? with the pin put in to strengthen it. Its not issue, my guess is that it was made for an Officer either British or Nepali. Anyway its a very nice peice to have I would say the pin was probably done by one of the regimental armourers.

2nd March 2009, 10:38 AM	#4
Ferguson Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kernersville, NC, USA Posts: 793	Dhadha, I'll snap a pic tonight. There are just 2 leather tubes sewn on to the back of the scabbard for the karda. In poor condition, I'm afraid. There was a thin leather band around the scabbard probably with 2 buttons on front, now gone. Thanks Simon. Pre WWI? That's great. Better than I hoped. Yes, it's partial tang. Steve

2nd March 2009, 05:25 PM	#5
DhaDha Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 165	Hey Steve. No hurry for the pic. The Kardas are of a style I've seen on some very early Kukris. So I was wondering if it might have been a later marriage. But the wood looks the similar, if not the same as the Kukri's hilt. And the kukri seems to be of a high quality as well as the Kardas. Besides another, more informed, member has already confirmed the early date of the piece. I'd still like to see more pics if you get them though.

5th March 2009, 02:51 AM	#6
Ferguson Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kernersville, NC, USA Posts: 793	Almost forgot. Here's the back of the scabbard. Steve

5th March 2009, 04:08 AM	#7
DhaDha Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 165	Thanks. Great old Kukri, I think.

5th March 2009, 04:17 AM	#8
inveterate Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 58	A very nice and EARLY piece. congratulations. Rod

5th March 2009, 09:43 AM	#9
Ferguson Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kernersville, NC, USA Posts: 793	Great news! Thanks gentlemen. Steve

9th March 2009, 03:32 PM	#10
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Great old kukri Steve, could be late Victorean or even very early 20th century I think, The karda blades are in a very old style though. The fat rivet looks very western repair to me, Armourers & Kami normaly just whittle a new handle, rather than drilling through the rat tail tang such a large diameter hole. I think someone loved this one enough to repair it once it had been picked up from its original keeper. But of course we will never realy know. Thanks for sharing this old warhorse with us! I am sure it deserves its well earned retirment. Spiral