Questions About a Curious Kukri

derek · 23rd March 2005, 04:26 AM

Hi guys,

I've shared most of these with JP already, but would any of you please comment on any of these kukris -- especially the all metal one on the bottom of the group? Also, the one with the darjeeling stamp -- would it be a reject or just a double stamp?

JP, the military example is newly arrived, it matches number 47 on the www.kukris.net site? The cho may be different.

Thanks in advance,
-d

spiral · 23rd March 2005, 09:11 AM

Hi Derek, A nice bunch of kukris!

Well not sure what info you are looking for, but here goes. from top down.

1,
hard to be certain of shape of this one due to angle of the photograph, quite possibly a style carried in WW2 though, {alyhough made both before & after the war as well.}
would need to see an un angled photo shot, to be more confident in my oppinions.

length, weight & point of balance { when lying flat on its side on your finger, defined as a point of measured distance in front of the bolster/blade conjunction. would all assist as would any pix of grip, bolster, small knives, scabbard stitching etc. etc.

Is the handle buffalo horn ? it looks probable? but pix are tricky sometimes!

2,
A typical Darjeeling style Sirupate, civilian post ww2, although Darjeeling is In India , it has a large population of Gurkha descent & as is often the case , has a strong natnalist movement that wishes to seperate from India.

Historicaly the borders of Nepal & India have moved many times & ther have been many population shifts amongst the tribes of Nepal & not forgeting the Garhwallis & Kuamon of course, Indian tribes that used to be inlisted in the Gurkha units many years ago & who also carry the kukri, add to that the massive Gurkha garrisons stationed in many areas of India & it becomes quite a complex picture.

I dont think double stamping would mean reject, just an idiosincracy of the stamping process or individul doing the stamping.

What makes you think it may be a reject? Is ther some serious flaw within its construction?

3,
It looks like an early British Indian mk.2, Although these were made up to & during WW2, Yours definatly Appears to be WW1 style . {Actualy made untill 1920.{rather than 1918

} rather than later.

I find it hard to make out the tiny numbers on the kukri.com photo site but to me m.47 looks a later shouldered military model, without the smooth curve to the blade, with steel instead of brass rivets & single wide prounounced rounded finger projection. A totaly different beast to my eye, although obviously until the site is actualy working with the posibilitie of larger photos , it will be very hard to be totaly certain.

4,
An unusual brass Kothimara ,probably not incredibly expensive, with a one piece chape & locket combined.which I would say was post WW2. I like the Hindu sun god & crescent moon symbol, both of which of course important Nepali symbols.{Although used by other countrys as well of course.}

Hope thats of some intrest, Derek if you want any further comment from me feel free to ask either , here, or by email.

regards,
Spiral

derek · 23rd March 2005, 02:39 PM

Thanks, Spiral. I will include measurements (should have done in the first place).

The first grip is wood. Of all of them, this one feels the fastest and most balanced.

The darjeeling reject theory was just a guess based on talks w/ JP -- it shows no flaws other then the stamp.

The military feels fantastic and has a nice weight. The lines are very clean and precise on it.

This last one I am having trouble with. I am going to defer to more experienced folks like yourself, but I think if you saw this one in person you would be inclined to say military. The metal is very solid and heavy. It has a "manufactured" feel to it that is much like a solid metal canteen from the WWI or WWII era. The form and fit (note the holes for the chakmak, etc.) are very precise and polished. Note the loops for the belt strap. Again, I'm new to Kukris, but being a collector who has seen a lot of ethno & military items I would think this one would have been made to a spec.

Thanks again for the comments. I've always admired these knives, but working with JP has really turned my attention to them in a new way. Yet another collecting obsession germinating...

inveterate · 23rd March 2005, 09:12 PM

Welcome to the world of Kukris Derek. Rod.

sirupate · 24th March 2005, 05:41 PM

Nice collection Derek

be especially interested in the length and weight of the WWII kuk.
Cheers Simon

derek · 25th March 2005, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirupate

Nice collection Derek

be especially interested in the length and weight of the WWII kuk.
Cheers Simon

Hi Simon,

I don't have an accurate means to weigh it, but OAL is 17 1/2 inches, Blade is 13", and pob from base of blade is 3 3/4.

Here is another, very different, example that I would like to hear comments on. It has a mark on it that looks like eyelashes? If not for the cho, I would think it was a SEA work knife. It's about 13 1/2 OAL and well-used:

tom hyle · 25th March 2005, 06:12 AM

Interestingly, it resembles a giant version of the little knife that rides around with kukuris.

23rd March 2005, 09:11 AM	#2
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Hi Derek, A nice bunch of kukris! Well not sure what info you are looking for, but here goes. from top down. 1, hard to be certain of shape of this one due to angle of the photograph, quite possibly a style carried in WW2 though, {alyhough made both before & after the war as well.} would need to see an un angled photo shot, to be more confident in my oppinions. length, weight & point of balance { when lying flat on its side on your finger, defined as a point of measured distance in front of the bolster/blade conjunction. would all assist as would any pix of grip, bolster, small knives, scabbard stitching etc. etc. Is the handle buffalo horn ? it looks probable? but pix are tricky sometimes! 2, A typical Darjeeling style Sirupate, civilian post ww2, although Darjeeling is In India , it has a large population of Gurkha descent & as is often the case , has a strong natnalist movement that wishes to seperate from India. Historicaly the borders of Nepal & India have moved many times & ther have been many population shifts amongst the tribes of Nepal & not forgeting the Garhwallis & Kuamon of course, Indian tribes that used to be inlisted in the Gurkha units many years ago & who also carry the kukri, add to that the massive Gurkha garrisons stationed in many areas of India & it becomes quite a complex picture. I dont think double stamping would mean reject, just an idiosincracy of the stamping process or individul doing the stamping. What makes you think it may be a reject? Is ther some serious flaw within its construction? 3, It looks like an early British Indian mk.2, Although these were made up to & during WW2, Yours definatly Appears to be WW1 style . {Actualy made untill 1920.{rather than 1918 } rather than later. I find it hard to make out the tiny numbers on the kukri.com photo site but to me m.47 looks a later shouldered military model, without the smooth curve to the blade, with steel instead of brass rivets & single wide prounounced rounded finger projection. A totaly different beast to my eye, although obviously until the site is actualy working with the posibilitie of larger photos , it will be very hard to be totaly certain. 4, An unusual brass Kothimara ,probably not incredibly expensive, with a one piece chape & locket combined.which I would say was post WW2. I like the Hindu sun god & crescent moon symbol, both of which of course important Nepali symbols.{Although used by other countrys as well of course.} Hope thats of some intrest, Derek if you want any further comment from me feel free to ask either , here, or by email. regards, Spiral Last edited by spiral; 23rd March 2005 at 02:04 PM.

23rd March 2005, 04:26 AM	#1
derek Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 215	Hi guys, I've shared most of these with JP already, but would any of you please comment on any of these kukris -- especially the all metal one on the bottom of the group? Also, the one with the darjeeling stamp -- would it be a reject or just a double stamp? JP, the military example is newly arrived, it matches number 47 on the www.kukris.net site? The cho may be different. Thanks in advance, -d

23rd March 2005, 02:39 PM	#3
derek Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 215	Thanks, Spiral. I will include measurements (should have done in the first place). The first grip is wood. Of all of them, this one feels the fastest and most balanced. The darjeeling reject theory was just a guess based on talks w/ JP -- it shows no flaws other then the stamp. The military feels fantastic and has a nice weight. The lines are very clean and precise on it. This last one I am having trouble with. I am going to defer to more experienced folks like yourself, but I think if you saw this one in person you would be inclined to say military. The metal is very solid and heavy. It has a "manufactured" feel to it that is much like a solid metal canteen from the WWI or WWII era. The form and fit (note the holes for the chakmak, etc.) are very precise and polished. Note the loops for the belt strap. Again, I'm new to Kukris, but being a collector who has seen a lot of ethno & military items I would think this one would have been made to a spec. Thanks again for the comments. I've always admired these knives, but working with JP has really turned my attention to them in a new way. Yet another collecting obsession germinating...

23rd March 2005, 09:12 PM	#4
inveterate Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 58	Welcome to the world of Kukris Derek. Rod.

24th March 2005, 05:41 PM	#5
sirupate Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: England Posts: 373	Nice collection Derek be especially interested in the length and weight of the WWII kuk. Cheers Simon

25th March 2005, 06:12 AM	#7
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	Interestingly, it resembles a giant version of the little knife that rides around with kukuris.