Hello Tim,
Years of reserch & study. Its my hobby!
The earliest brass bolster the Gurkha museam has ever come across was picked up in 1915 & obviously hadnt been around that long at that date.
There are also non earlier than that in the Kathamando national museam.
Non of the worlds leading collectors have come across a provenaced one pre.1910
Occasionaly dealers & collectors wish to belive ther kukri are all rather older than seems likely.
But most of us who have truly studied them have separetly come to the same conclusian.
I also have yet to see any unprovenced brass kukri that appears likely to me to pre.date 1910. Based on its design features. {I have bought just on 400 over the years, & handled thousands in both in England & Nepal.}
So thats why I state,"Brass bolsters are probably post 1910."
Why are you surprised or confused about this statement? Do you know of an older one? If so would love to hear of it.
I stated probably because one day one may turn up.
But thats the extent of factual knowledge within the kukri collecting community to date.
If one does turn up it will be an exception to the rule.
The main Military issue pattern kukris didnt have brass bolsters till after ww2. {Although occasionaly some private purchase kukri carried by officers & other ranks did.}
Hope that clarifys the "brass bolster" issue for you.
Spiral