Recently acquired Kukri.

[sirupate]

Kukri inspection in 1946, for the Victory Celebrations of WW2 on the 8th June.
The photo (GM in Winchester) shows patterns on the scabbards of their issued kukri. This being only a part the original 'Official Photograph', the kukri and scabbards would have to be 'Official Kit', as they were due to take part in the parades and marches through London.
Not all military scabbards were plain, one has to remember that in WW2
96, 600.00 kukri had to be found/produced and issued for the Gurkhas alone, not including refitting and rebuilt battalions such as the 2/7th and 2/9th Gurkhas.

[mrcjgscott]

Originally Posted by sirupate

Kukri inspection in 1946, for the Victory Celebrations of WW2 on the 8th June.
The photo (GM in Winchester) shows patterns on the scabbards of their issued kukri. This being only a part the original 'Official Photograph', the kukri and scabbards would have to be 'Official Kit', as they were due to take part in the parades and marches through London.
Not all military scabbards were plain, one has to remember that in WW2
96, 600.00 kukri had to be found/produced and issued for the Gurkhas alone, not including refitting and rebuilt battalions such as the 2/7th and 2/9th Gurkhas.

Hello Simon,

I don't remember declaring that "patterns" or decorations were a no no for military kukri?

It is interesting to note however, that when one views the photograph as a whole, rather than the neatly cropped close up you provide, that only the two NCO's are holding decorated scabbards.

Perhaps senior NCO's were permitted the distinction of a "dress" scabbard whilst on parade? Whether such a scabbard would be sanctioned, or even practical during active service is quite another matter.

Either way, the style and method of decoration used on the NCO's kukri in the photograph is quite different from the one on David's kukri, which is more commonly found on the cheaper, post WW2 tourist "lionshead" variety. (Image attached)

As I said previously, scabbards are easily interchanged over a period of time, so it is best not to read too much into it.

Kind regards,

Chris

[sirupate]

Hi Chris, you haven't taken into account the reflection which even on your bottom picture of the kukri inspection (first Havildar on the left) almost blurs out the pattern, with the third Gurkha (left-right)even with the reflection you can still just about see some pattern marks, and who knows out of the 96,000 + kukri issued to the Gurkhas alone (notwithstanding other regiments entitled to kukri, replacement of kukri lost/broken and battalions having to be reformed) what was on what scabbard? All the best Simon

[mrcjgscott]

Originally Posted by sirupate

Hi Chris, you haven't taken into account the reflection which even on your bottom picture of the kukri inspection (first Havildar on the left) almost blurs out the pattern, with the third Gurkha (left-right)even with the reflection you can still just about see some pattern marks, and who knows out of the 96,000 + kukri issued to the Gurkhas alone (notwithstanding other regiments entitled to kukri, replacement of kukri lost/broken and battalions having to be reformed) what was on what scabbard? All the best Simon

Hello Simon,

Perhaps if you follow this link to a supersize version of the same image, things may become a little clearer for you:

http://www.ikrhs.com/forums/download/file.php?id=4508

Looking at the decoration on the scabbard held by the 2nd NCO from the left, once can see the decoration extends over two thirds of the way down the scabbard. Even taking into account the reflection, it is quite clear that the other two are not decorated in the same fashion.

If you wish to further discuss which kukri were carried by whom and when, I suggest you start a new thread, so that we do not detract from David's original post.

Kind regards,

Chris

[sirupate]

As I said reflection, and Jonathan and I must have the same picture from the GM Chris