Whistlinbill's Collection #6: Khukuri

Atlantia · 3rd February 2012, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whistlinbill

Gentlemen, thank you so much for your help and expertise! I did pick up a fairish amount of kukris. Since I had a company that imported them, and I was interested, I tried not to let anything interesting get away. And my partner in the game was Hank Reinhardt, who was a kukri fanatic (Hank designed a kukri that Ethan Becker is talking about resurrecting). I very much appreciate your comments--your breadth of knowledge is spectacular!
Thanks,
Bill

Happy to help Bill, my knowledge is still rather limited and to be honest I'm a recent convert to the Kukri.
They were so plentiful when I was a kid and growing up, I tended to view them as little more than a fancy billhook.
I think I linked you to an out of date version of Jonathans seminal Military Kukri thread.
This one seems to have been updated more recently.

sirupate · 3rd February 2012, 11:35 PM

Kukri numbers one and two, very nice civilian Mk3 variants, manufacture would be unknown, definitely made in India.
Kukri number three, looks like a high quality civilian kukri
Kukri number four, outstanding dui chira kukri, anywhere from late 19th century to very early 20th century.

Kukri number 9 is I would say Indian made around the WW2 era, almost sirupate in style
Kukri number 10, British Service issue, they been issued with that style of decoration from time to time, the sword of Shiva description is actually incorrect, it is just a form of decoration.
Kukri number 11 is a Budhune style kukri, potentially a tourist version
Kukri number 12 is a high quality tourist piece

Kukri number 5 is one of the IA styles of kukri issued in WW2 to Gurkhas, so whether this is one of those that has been chromed for keep sake (as many were, indeed Lt. Col. Cross had all his chromed), or whether it is a later export piece is hard to tell.
Kukri numbers 6 & 7 tourist kukri
Kukri number 8 Indian made kukri, probably WW2 era.

I hope that is of some help, Cheers Simon

whistlinbill · 4th February 2012, 04:28 AM

Simon, thank you! I really appreciate your expertise in identification!
Bill

sirupate · 4th February 2012, 10:05 AM

A pleasure Bill

Lee · 5th February 2012, 02:30 PM

Did I mention there were more? ... we are less than halfway ...

sirupate · 6th February 2012, 02:35 PM

kukri number 13, probably Nepalese Circa WW2
kukri number 14, Indian, Circa WW2
kukri number 15, as per no.13
kukri number 16, Indian, possibly military post WW2

Atlantia · 7th February 2012, 11:09 AM

Hi Bill,

#14 and #16 are also Indian made, #14 from around WW2 #16 possibly a little after. #16 seems to have something stamped on the blade. It's too small to read in the picture, but I seem to remember seeing similar types stamped 'Tempered Steel, Made in India' I'll see if I can find it.
From the similarities, it seems that these Indian firms were making various sizes and style variations of their main type.
Your #14 small Kuk has similarities with and is of the size of those often associated with private purchase by allied air crews in WW2 for use as survival knives etc.

There's a good thread over at www.IKRHS.com about the little Kukri sometimes carried by Air crew:
Private purchase Air crew Kukri

5th February 2012, 02:30 PM	#5
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 970	Did I mention there were more? ... we are less than halfway ... Attached Images

7th February 2012, 11:09 AM	#7
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Hi Bill, #14 and #16 are also Indian made, #14 from around WW2 #16 possibly a little after. #16 seems to have something stamped on the blade. It's too small to read in the picture, but I seem to remember seeing similar types stamped 'Tempered Steel, Made in India' I'll see if I can find it. From the similarities, it seems that these Indian firms were making various sizes and style variations of their main type. Your #14 small Kuk has similarities with and is of the size of those often associated with private purchase by allied air crews in WW2 for use as survival knives etc. There's a good thread over at www.IKRHS.com about the little Kukri sometimes carried by Air crew: Private purchase Air crew Kukri Attached Images Last edited by Atlantia; 7th February 2012 at 11:43 AM.

3rd February 2012, 11:35 PM	#2
sirupate Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: England Posts: 373	Kukri numbers one and two, very nice civilian Mk3 variants, manufacture would be unknown, definitely made in India. Kukri number three, looks like a high quality civilian kukri Kukri number four, outstanding dui chira kukri, anywhere from late 19th century to very early 20th century. Kukri number 9 is I would say Indian made around the WW2 era, almost sirupate in style Kukri number 10, British Service issue, they been issued with that style of decoration from time to time, the sword of Shiva description is actually incorrect, it is just a form of decoration. Kukri number 11 is a Budhune style kukri, potentially a tourist version Kukri number 12 is a high quality tourist piece Kukri number 5 is one of the IA styles of kukri issued in WW2 to Gurkhas, so whether this is one of those that has been chromed for keep sake (as many were, indeed Lt. Col. Cross had all his chromed), or whether it is a later export piece is hard to tell. Kukri numbers 6 & 7 tourist kukri Kukri number 8 Indian made kukri, probably WW2 era. I hope that is of some help, Cheers Simon

4th February 2012, 04:28 AM	#3
whistlinbill Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 24	Simon, thank you! I really appreciate your expertise in identification! Bill

4th February 2012, 10:05 AM	#4
sirupate Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: England Posts: 373	A pleasure Bill

6th February 2012, 02:35 PM	#6
sirupate Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: England Posts: 373	kukri number 13, probably Nepalese Circa WW2 kukri number 14, Indian, Circa WW2 kukri number 15, as per no.13 kukri number 16, Indian, possibly military post WW2