Excellent kukri with, dare I say, a wootz blade

Battara · 4th December 2013, 11:54 PM

Quote:

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 · 5th December 2013, 07:21 AM

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 · 5th December 2013, 09:29 AM

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 · 5th December 2013, 11:30 AM

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 · 6th December 2013, 12:31 AM

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

ariel · 7th December 2013, 02:57 PM

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 · 7th December 2013, 04:51 PM

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

ariel · 7th December 2013, 07:34 PM

Please pay attention: it has a VERY old scabbard that fits the current blade like a glove. How would Kora fit there?

What prompted you to see re-worked Kora? Specifics, please. We see tons of Kukris with " Kora" handles; are they all, in your opinion, reworked Koras?

Where did you see Chillanum features?

It does NOT have a T-spine.

5th December 2013, 11:30 AM	#4
Oriental-Arms Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Haifa, Israel Posts: 183	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: Attached Images

7th December 2013, 02:57 PM	#6
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	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:-) Attached Images

5th December 2013, 07:21 AM	#2
russel Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Tasmania, Australia Posts: 236	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

5th December 2013, 09:29 AM	#3
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	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

6th December 2013, 12:31 AM	#5
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,272	I guess this begs the question: does the hilt style and lack of cho make this piece in question other than a kukri?

7th December 2013, 04:51 PM	#7
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	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

7th December 2013, 07:34 PM	#8
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Please pay attention: it has a VERY old scabbard that fits the current blade like a glove. How would Kora fit there? What prompted you to see re-worked Kora? Specifics, please. We see tons of Kukris with " Kora" handles; are they all, in your opinion, reworked Koras? Where did you see Chillanum features? It does NOT have a T-spine.