20th Century British Military Pattern Gurkha kukri

spiral · 16th February 2006, 06:24 PM

I was asked to write an article for Tora & IKRHS forums regarding military kukri patterns so I am posting it here for your guys who may just have one or two kukri as your collecting fields lay in other directions, in case it is of intrest.

I think one could argue that they are ethnographic? {British,Indian Nepali etc.}

Anyway I hope you enjoy it.

Spiral

The 20th Century British Military Pattern Gurkha Issue Kukri.

Many kukris have been used by the Nepali Gurkhas of the British army, with small purchases by various, units, regiments, & of course many private purchases by individual officers & men.

But there have only ever been 5 military pattern number kukris in official British Gurkha issue.

Other models have been issued notably military Sirupati in WW2 ,& the various kaudi less hybrid models from 1919 to 1945 , & indeed The Mahraraja of Jodhpurs kukris in WW1 although sadley any real evidence or photos of them bieng carried to date is lacking & it is possibly they date from later. I would welcome any firm evidence.

Many traditional kukris are seen in photos from WW1 & WW2 and these can be either early or more unofficial{non pattern.} kukri or private purchase or even family heirloom kukri, as according to the Brigade of Gurkhas most Gurkhas used to return from thir first leave with a traditional kukri rather than a military issue variant.

Family hierloom kukris were sometimes even brought along by the new recruits, who according to various testimonies from WW2 veterans they often only used those as their weapons while using the issue kukri for utility work.

Here are the 5 patterns. In number order Mk.1 at top.

……………………………………………………………………………

The First official numbered British Indian Gurkha military kukri the mk.1 was in production by 1903 up until at least 1915.

It was a break from the traditional hidden partial tangs to a full length rat tail tang culminating in turn nut similar in design to a rifle stock recessed into the walnut butt.

Many of them are unmarked although some later models carry manufactures stamp Co. & sometimes FW marks onm the spine occur which may be the inspection mark from Fort William.

Here are the 2 variant mk. I s, the lower longer handled one is a rarer variant. Although all mk.1s are rare most are short handled.

……………………………………………………………………………….

The mk.2 was in production by 1915 & was to stay in manufacture for the British army until at least 1944 so certainly they ran into production figures of many thousands.

It has been produced by many manufactures & armories over the years.

Commercial private purchase versions production continued after the war.

The 3 ww1 manufactures most often seen are {with years of production runs that I know off so far.}

CO. 1917, 1918, 1919, 1921 {the predominant maker by far.}

DHW 1918, 1919

RGB 1917, 1918

Rarer manufactures include,

E.boota Singh &sons, {Rawlpindi} 1917

AS & Sons Ltd. A model of which only one very high quality piece is known dating from 1916.

RFI {Rifle Factory Ishapore.} are also known to have made a small high quality batch in 1927.

In ww2 well known manufactures include.

ATD, {Army Traders Dharan} {or possibly Dehra Dun} 1942, 1943

MIL, 1941, 1942,

Pioneer, {Calcutta} 1943, 1944

Queera Bros. 1943, 1944

JNB 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944

One variant mk.2 often called the M.43 after the manufactures stamp found on it is identifiable by the mark, & sunken rivets combined with an integrally welded tang , bolster join, but as these 2 later features can be found on other mk.2s the mark is the real key. {Although some occasionally appear to have escaped marking.}

Some people refer to this as a separate model in my opinion it is just a particular manufacturers interpretation of the design as none of the differences sited only occur on m.43s other than the stamp.

Here 3 mk. 2s a typical Co. made 1917 , at top, a Queeta Bros. mk.2 in the middle, and a m.43 at the bottom.

Hers typical Co. & m.43 stamps.

……………………………………………………………………………………………..

The mk.3 kukri came into being in 1943 according to Indian sources & was certainly in mass production by 1944. It is sometimes mistakenly referred to as the K.45 design based on the date stamp present on some examples made in 1945.

16th February 2006, 06:24 PM	#1
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	20th Century British Military Pattern Gurkha kukri I was asked to write an article for Tora & IKRHS forums regarding military kukri patterns so I am posting it here for your guys who may just have one or two kukri as your collecting fields lay in other directions, in case it is of intrest. I think one could argue that they are ethnographic? {British,Indian Nepali etc.} Anyway I hope you enjoy it. Spiral The 20th Century British Military Pattern Gurkha Issue Kukri. Many kukris have been used by the Nepali Gurkhas of the British army, with small purchases by various, units, regiments, & of course many private purchases by individual officers & men. But there have only ever been 5 military pattern number kukris in official British Gurkha issue. Other models have been issued notably military Sirupati in WW2 ,& the various kaudi less hybrid models from 1919 to 1945 , & indeed The Mahraraja of Jodhpurs kukris in WW1 although sadley any real evidence or photos of them bieng carried to date is lacking & it is possibly they date from later. I would welcome any firm evidence. Many traditional kukris are seen in photos from WW1 & WW2 and these can be either early or more unofficial{non pattern.} kukri or private purchase or even family heirloom kukri, as according to the Brigade of Gurkhas most Gurkhas used to return from thir first leave with a traditional kukri rather than a military issue variant. Family hierloom kukris were sometimes even brought along by the new recruits, who according to various testimonies from WW2 veterans they often only used those as their weapons while using the issue kukri for utility work. Here are the 5 patterns. In number order Mk.1 at top. …………………………………………………………………………… The First official numbered British Indian Gurkha military kukri the mk.1 was in production by 1903 up until at least 1915. It was a break from the traditional hidden partial tangs to a full length rat tail tang culminating in turn nut similar in design to a rifle stock recessed into the walnut butt. Many of them are unmarked although some later models carry manufactures stamp Co. & sometimes FW marks onm the spine occur which may be the inspection mark from Fort William. Here are the 2 variant mk. I s, the lower longer handled one is a rarer variant. Although all mk.1s are rare most are short handled. ………………………………………………………………………………. The mk.2 was in production by 1915 & was to stay in manufacture for the British army until at least 1944 so certainly they ran into production figures of many thousands. It has been produced by many manufactures & armories over the years. Commercial private purchase versions production continued after the war. The 3 ww1 manufactures most often seen are {with years of production runs that I know off so far.} CO. 1917, 1918, 1919, 1921 {the predominant maker by far.} DHW 1918, 1919 RGB 1917, 1918 Rarer manufactures include, E.boota Singh &sons, {Rawlpindi} 1917 AS & Sons Ltd. A model of which only one very high quality piece is known dating from 1916. RFI {Rifle Factory Ishapore.} are also known to have made a small high quality batch in 1927. In ww2 well known manufactures include. ATD, {Army Traders Dharan} {or possibly Dehra Dun} 1942, 1943 MIL, 1941, 1942, Pioneer, {Calcutta} 1943, 1944 Queera Bros. 1943, 1944 JNB 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944 One variant mk.2 often called the M.43 after the manufactures stamp found on it is identifiable by the mark, & sunken rivets combined with an integrally welded tang , bolster join, but as these 2 later features can be found on other mk.2s the mark is the real key. {Although some occasionally appear to have escaped marking.} Some people refer to this as a separate model in my opinion it is just a particular manufacturers interpretation of the design as none of the differences sited only occur on m.43s other than the stamp. Here 3 mk. 2s a typical Co. made 1917 , at top, a Queeta Bros. mk.2 in the middle, and a m.43 at the bottom. Hers typical Co. & m.43 stamps. …………………………………………………………………………………………….. The mk.3 kukri came into being in 1943 according to Indian sources & was certainly in mass production by 1944. It is sometimes mistakenly referred to as the K.45 design based on the date stamp present on some examples made in 1945.