British (primarily British Indian) manufacture of kukris in large quantities was a 20th century phenomenon necessitated by the large number of Gurkhas who served in both World Wars. The extremely rare "kukri" bayonets were genuine Nepalese ethnographic weapons produced in the 19th century.
From
Guns of the Gurkhas by John Walter:
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[T]he chupi bayonets (the so-called 'kukri bayonets')...have attained a notoriety that was completely disproportionate to their numbers.... Variations in detail suggest that the bayonets were made individually, over a considerable period of time.... Most have the suggestion of a 'T'-back, occasionally with narrow fullers immediately beneath the back. The sockets have 'L'-slots and East India Company-type springs...that enabled most of the bayonets to fit a selection of Nepalese-made...barrels. This reveals that they date from the flintlock era. However, the socket diameters varied...and it would have been necessary to match individual bayonets to individual muskets...
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When Jang Bahadur left to visit Britain late in 1850, at least one witness testified that the prime minister had 'stepped into the verandah overlooking the garden [of his lodgings in Calcutta], on the broad path of which a long line of bright and terrible bayonets (shaped like the Kookree, or Nepaulese knife - a very handsome carved [sic] weapon glittered in the sun...' This confirms that the men of the escort were carrying Windus-type flintlock muskets and chupi bayonets, but it is believed that only a handful of battalions were equipped with them.
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