Kukri

Tatyana Dianova · 31st January 2008, 09:15 PM

I got this Kukri from ebay. It seems to be of very good quality: the blade is pattern welded (it has really many layers) and has an inserted edge. The handle is made of steel and is beautifully chiseled. There is still a red paint present in decorative grooves and marks. The seller claimed that this kukri dates from around the mid 1850s, and the blade is stamped with the Maharaja of Nepal armory stamp, the half crescent. I would like to know more about this one, its age, its markings, etc.

spiral · 31st January 2008, 10:44 PM

Very Nice kukri Tatyana, I seem to recall I was a bidder as well! But times were hard so I didnt win.

I couldnt date it accuratley, most steel handles seem late 19th to around 1925 in manufacture. The decoration of blade is older in style & quality, but skillful kami could copy older styles. But yes it could possibly be as early as 1850/60 i think. Its definatly a good one.

its Indian made not Nepalese I am sure.

What did you use to etch it?

The crescent mark is sometimes refered to as Nepali officers or Armoury mark. They may wel have used such marks, but none have shown up in provinaced examples to date from Nepal. Personlay same as the Kaudi I think it is typical of other Hindu arms & is of Spiritual or religios significance to protect the kukri & its user from the malevolent spirits that are attracted to bloodshed & violence.

The kaudi shape is often interpreted as based on Christian cross & is seen on many British officers private purchase kukri, but I would say its actualy a Peacock kaudi which has many meanings in Hinduism including bieng symbolick of the God of war.

Congratulations on a great kukri!

Spiral

Battara · 1st February 2008, 01:19 AM

wonderful piece - congratulations and thank you for sharing this. If this weren't steel I would swear the hilt were some type of silver or white metal with that kind of detailed work - you don't see it that much in steel.

Say Spiral, are damascus pieces rarer?

ariel · 1st February 2008, 01:32 AM

Tatiana,
You have great taste! Beautiful kukri.
I am particularly intrigued by the red paint: we can see it on Japanese naginatas and I have an Afghani pulouar with it.
The easiest explanation is the imitation of blood, of course. Why is it so rare in most cultures? Any alternative explanation?

inveterate · 1st February 2008, 03:29 AM

Hi Tatyana, Thank you for sharing such a nice Kukri, a few other Steel Grips. Rod[IMG]

Ferguson · 1st February 2008, 04:29 AM

Beautiful! Now this is one of the reasons I love this place. Such beauty and workmanship. Just wonderful.
Steve

spiral · 1st February 2008, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

Say Spiral, are damascus pieces rarer?

Yes they are rarer indeed, but i think there more of them out there than we often realise. Most old kukris seem to have been cleaned with abrasives or polished & that hides laminations usualy.

Some may be shear steel rather than deliberatly patterned.

Always a nice feature though!

Spiral

Tatyana Dianova · 1st February 2008, 09:08 PM

Thank you all for the kind words! The swords (and people too) love the compliments

But we really should praise the creator(s) of this beautiful piece.
Thank you Spiral for the information, it answered many my questions. I have etched it with phosphoric acid, very lightly, so that the layers are seen only under certain angle. I didn't want that the etching mess with the kukri's beautiful geometry and fullers. Do you know, Spiral, how it could be looking originally, maybe the layers were not seen at all (not etched)? Do you know the meaning of the red paint?
I didn't knew it was a pattern welded steel until I have tested it with acid. The blade and the handle were quite dirty and rusty in some places (I have added the original seller's pictures).
The funny thing is that I was the ONLY bidder for this kukri. I gave exactly the start price on the last seconds of the auction and was VERY surprised and happy when I have won it

Well, I think I was lucky...

Tim Simmons · 1st February 2008, 09:23 PM

Tatyana your eye is very good. A handsome weapon. Seeing the before and after pictures I think Battara is right. The decorated part of the handle is a white metal, I suspect it is a zinc alloy of some kind able to take braising as there appears to be a yellow line in the handle. I also think Spiral is correct in his first opinion as to origin and age.

31st January 2008, 09:15 PM	#1
Tatyana Dianova Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 695	Kukri I got this Kukri from ebay. It seems to be of very good quality: the blade is pattern welded (it has really many layers) and has an inserted edge. The handle is made of steel and is beautifully chiseled. There is still a red paint present in decorative grooves and marks. The seller claimed that this kukri dates from around the mid 1850s, and the blade is stamped with the Maharaja of Nepal armory stamp, the half crescent. I would like to know more about this one, its age, its markings, etc. Attached Images

1st February 2008, 03:29 AM	#5
inveterate Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 58	Hi Tatyana, Thank you for sharing such a nice Kukri, a few other Steel Grips. Rod[IMG] Attached Images

1st February 2008, 09:08 PM	#8
Tatyana Dianova Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 695	Thank you all for the kind words! The swords (and people too) love the compliments But we really should praise the creator(s) of this beautiful piece. Thank you Spiral for the information, it answered many my questions. I have etched it with phosphoric acid, very lightly, so that the layers are seen only under certain angle. I didn't want that the etching mess with the kukri's beautiful geometry and fullers. Do you know, Spiral, how it could be looking originally, maybe the layers were not seen at all (not etched)? Do you know the meaning of the red paint? I didn't knew it was a pattern welded steel until I have tested it with acid. The blade and the handle were quite dirty and rusty in some places (I have added the original seller's pictures). The funny thing is that I was the ONLY bidder for this kukri. I gave exactly the start price on the last seconds of the auction and was VERY surprised and happy when I have won it Well, I think I was lucky... Attached Images

31st January 2008, 10:44 PM	#2
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Very Nice kukri Tatyana, I seem to recall I was a bidder as well! But times were hard so I didnt win. I couldnt date it accuratley, most steel handles seem late 19th to around 1925 in manufacture. The decoration of blade is older in style & quality, but skillful kami could copy older styles. But yes it could possibly be as early as 1850/60 i think. Its definatly a good one. its Indian made not Nepalese I am sure. What did you use to etch it? The crescent mark is sometimes refered to as Nepali officers or Armoury mark. They may wel have used such marks, but none have shown up in provinaced examples to date from Nepal. Personlay same as the Kaudi I think it is typical of other Hindu arms & is of Spiritual or religios significance to protect the kukri & its user from the malevolent spirits that are attracted to bloodshed & violence. The kaudi shape is often interpreted as based on Christian cross & is seen on many British officers private purchase kukri, but I would say its actualy a Peacock kaudi which has many meanings in Hinduism including bieng symbolick of the God of war. Congratulations on a great kukri! Spiral

1st February 2008, 01:19 AM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,219	wonderful piece - congratulations and thank you for sharing this. If this weren't steel I would swear the hilt were some type of silver or white metal with that kind of detailed work - you don't see it that much in steel. Say Spiral, are damascus pieces rarer?

1st February 2008, 01:32 AM	#4
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Tatiana, You have great taste! Beautiful kukri. I am particularly intrigued by the red paint: we can see it on Japanese naginatas and I have an Afghani pulouar with it. The easiest explanation is the imitation of blood, of course. Why is it so rare in most cultures? Any alternative explanation?

1st February 2008, 04:29 AM	#6
Ferguson Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kernersville, NC, USA Posts: 793	Beautiful! Now this is one of the reasons I love this place. Such beauty and workmanship. Just wonderful. Steve

1st February 2008, 09:23 PM	#9
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,806	Tatyana your eye is very good. A handsome weapon. Seeing the before and after pictures I think Battara is right. The decorated part of the handle is a white metal, I suspect it is a zinc alloy of some kind able to take braising as there appears to be a yellow line in the handle. I also think Spiral is correct in his first opinion as to origin and age.