Excellent kukri with, dare I say, a wootz blade

[Gavin Nugent]

Originally Posted by russel

youngbladerunner: While superficially similar, this isn't a kukri. It is (IMHO) an extremely good yataghan or, as mentioned above, Sossun Pata. Congratulations, it is truly beautiful!

Cheers - Russel

I too wouldn't call it a Kukri but more a Kukri Hybrid as there are a couple of Kukri elements. What it lacks to be a proper Kukri is the Cho/Kaudi.

Of particular interest is the fine multi fuller arrangement along the spine. They are very nice. Something seen on higher end Rajasthan Sosun Patta.

I'd place it in the Northern Sindh areas at a glance with the blade perhaps from further East.

Gavin

[youngbladerunner]

Thanks for the info guys. From the tip to the bolster is 16 inches and overall length in 21.5 inches.

[Richard Furrer]

I would say wootz yes.
Could the blade have been altered from original? It may have been a sossun-patta at one time and then altered.

Good piece indeed regardless.

Ric

[Emanuel]

Hello,

The handle construction seems to be of Bukharan style no? (http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=14093)

Emanuel

Originally Posted by youngbladerunner

Thanks for the info guys. From the tip to the bolster is 16 inches and overall length in 21.5 inches.

[Battara]

I don't know......it could be a little lower south, like say north India? The blade style I have seen from there. The handle - reminds me somewhat like a khanjarli from the side view (as I now think of it).......

[Gavin Nugent]

Originally Posted by Emanuel

Hello,

The handle construction seems to be of Bukharan style no? (http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=14093)

Emanuel

Originally Posted by Battara

I don't know......it could be a little lower south, like say north India? The blade style I have seen from there. The handle - reminds me somewhat like a khanjarli from the side view (as I now think of it).......

Personally I see the handle as the hybrid aspect. The grip ring is that of one present on a Kukri and in about the same place and the protruding ears is more like the longer Afghan/Sindh swords but the presence of the grip strap is in line with North west India, Bukhara and other regions further removed.

Gavin

[Battara]

Originally Posted by SwordsAntiqueWeapons

I too wouldn't call it a Kukri but more a Kukri Hybrid as there are a couple of Kukri elements. What it lacks to be a proper Kukri is the Cho/Kaudi.

I do see your point with the larger pictures - no cho.

Not sure what to do with it. Nice in any case.

[russel]

It may well be some form of hybrid. The lack of Cho wasn't my only reason to doubt it being a Kukri, occasionally one finds Kukri without a Cho (I don't have one but I have seen images of very old Kukri without a Cho). What got me was the form of the hilt. It seems very much like a Balkan Yataghan.

Spiral or one of the other IKRHS guys would be able to make a better judgement that me.

Whatever it is, it's beautiful!

Russel

[spiral]

To me its not a kukri although it has some similarities, To me Id say its more of an Indian or Afghan yataghan.

Interesting piece though!

Spiral

[Oriental-Arms]

I probably missed this thread when originally posted and seen it only now.
I have encountered several good Khukuri with wootz blade. I managed to pull out from our archive two examples with close ups on the blades:

[Battara]

I guess this begs the question: does the hilt style and lack of cho make this piece in question other than a kukri?

[ariel]

I was intrigued by the argument about definitions: kukri or sosun pata. AFAIK, kukri ( or proto-kukri) was brought to Nepal by the Rajputs who had sosun patas galore.

Both are just Kopis-type blades. Perhaps, kukri in its classical form was just adapted to the landscape and the size of the inhabitants?


Here is something I wanted to ask your question about: would you define it as a kukri or as sosun pata? It ain't no Afghanistan or India, for sure:-)

[spiral]

Good one Ariel!

Id guess Its a worn out kora, given a second life.

To me the splayed hilt kukri grip ring looks more Chillanum style than kukri style.

But whats in a definition, some kukris don't have a grip ring, some don't kaudi. Generaly I think a full length T spine means its not a kukri, but that's just my opinion. I think a Hindu could want a kaudi on any weapon its both practical & symbolic.

Some kukri have kora or khanda style grips.

These hybridised mix & match designs are great but truly defining them will probably come down to personal opinion, when they have mixed features.

Spiral