Whistlinbill's Collection #6: Khukuri

VANDOO · 1st February 2012, 07:34 PM

I DON'T COLLECT OR HAVE MUCH KNOWLEGE OF THESE MOSTLY JUST TALES OF THE GURKA'S FIGHTING ABLILTYS VERY GOOD FOLKS TO HAVE WATCHING OUT FOR YOU.

#4 IS A BEAUTY AND MY FAVORITE. I AM SURE THOSE MEMBERS WHO COLLECT IN THIS FIELD WOULD LOVE TO ADD SOME OF THESE TO THEIR COLLECTIONS. NO DOUBT KEYBOARDS SOMEWHERE ARE BEING RUINED AS THEY DROOL ON THEM.

HOPEFULLY THESE MEMBERS WILL SEE THIS THREAD AND ENLIGHTEN US AS TO WHAT WE ARE SEEING.

Atlantia · 1st February 2012, 08:33 PM

Nice selection Bill. I like the two 'Mk3' private purchase. I've got a similar one myself.
The two Steel hilted ones are really nice too.

Atlantia · 1st February 2012, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VANDOO

I DON'T COLLECT OR HAVE MUCH KNOWLEGE OF THESE MOSTLY JUST TALES OF THE GURKA'S FIGHTING ABLILTYS VERY GOOD FOLKS TO HAVE WATCHING OUT FOR YOU.

#4 IS A BEAUTY AND MY FAVORITE. I AM SURE THOSE MEMBERS WHO COLLECT IN THIS FIELD WOULD LOVE TO ADD SOME OF THESE TO THEIR COLLECTIONS. NO DOUBT KEYBOARDS SOMEWHERE ARE BEING RUINED AS THEY DROOL ON THEM.

HOPEFULLY THESE MEMBERS WILL SEE THIS THREAD AND ENLIGHTEN US AS TO WHAT WE ARE SEEING.

I'll have a bash!

1 & 2 are both Indian made Kukris following the Mark 3 general form but with Ivory hilts, made for private purchase. They date to the war or just after and there are various slight varitions of the hilt slabs using Ivory and horn.
I attach a pic (borrowed from Berkley).

There's a whole thread showing a lot of variations over at www.ikrhs.com
If memory serves, I think Jonathan said these were made by a firm in Calcutta.

3 & 4 I'd date both to the early part of the last century. 1910-30. #3 looks like it might be a silver hilt, or silvered steel and the silvering is still in good condition. #4 seems to be a cut steel hilt, possibly once silvered.
Both very good pieces, possibly presentation pieces to officers.

#9 a good standard Nepali non military type, a 'villager'. I'm thinking that the scabbard with frog and the Karda and Chakmak have been married to it and are not original to it. (if anything, they look better quality).

#10/#11/#12 getting later touristy types. #10 follows the current military shape with non military decoration on the blade.

Have a look at Jonathans 'bible' thread for some clarification:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=8490

DhaDha · 2nd February 2012, 05:07 PM

Thanks for sharing your collection. Love to see 5-8 as well.

whistlinbill · 3rd February 2012, 09:46 AM

Gentlemen, thank you so much for your help and expertise! I did pick up a fairish amount of kukris. Since I had a company that imported them, and I was interested, I tried not to let anything interesting get away. And my partner in the game was Hank Reinhardt, who was a kukri fanatic (Hank designed a kukri that Ethan Becker is talking about resurrecting). I very much appreciate your comments--your breadth of knowledge is spectacular!
Thanks,
Bill

Lee · 3rd February 2012, 02:20 PM

Sorry, DhaDha; I've been stepping through by file name and not watching the labels. Here are the missing:

DhaDha · 3rd February 2012, 03:44 PM

There they are! Thanks again...

Atlantia · 3rd February 2012, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whistlinbill

Gentlemen, thank you so much for your help and expertise! I did pick up a fairish amount of kukris. Since I had a company that imported them, and I was interested, I tried not to let anything interesting get away. And my partner in the game was Hank Reinhardt, who was a kukri fanatic (Hank designed a kukri that Ethan Becker is talking about resurrecting). I very much appreciate your comments--your breadth of knowledge is spectacular!
Thanks,
Bill

Happy to help Bill, my knowledge is still rather limited and to be honest I'm a recent convert to the Kukri.
They were so plentiful when I was a kid and growing up, I tended to view them as little more than a fancy billhook.
I think I linked you to an out of date version of Jonathans seminal Military Kukri thread.
This one seems to have been updated more recently.

sirupate · 3rd February 2012, 10:35 PM

Kukri numbers one and two, very nice civilian Mk3 variants, manufacture would be unknown, definitely made in India.
Kukri number three, looks like a high quality civilian kukri
Kukri number four, outstanding dui chira kukri, anywhere from late 19th century to very early 20th century.

Kukri number 9 is I would say Indian made around the WW2 era, almost sirupate in style
Kukri number 10, British Service issue, they been issued with that style of decoration from time to time, the sword of Shiva description is actually incorrect, it is just a form of decoration.
Kukri number 11 is a Budhune style kukri, potentially a tourist version
Kukri number 12 is a high quality tourist piece

Kukri number 5 is one of the IA styles of kukri issued in WW2 to Gurkhas, so whether this is one of those that has been chromed for keep sake (as many were, indeed Lt. Col. Cross had all his chromed), or whether it is a later export piece is hard to tell.
Kukri numbers 6 & 7 tourist kukri
Kukri number 8 Indian made kukri, probably WW2 era.

I hope that is of some help, Cheers Simon

whistlinbill · 4th February 2012, 03:28 AM

Simon, thank you! I really appreciate your expertise in identification!
Bill

1st February 2012, 07:34 PM	#1
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	I DON'T COLLECT OR HAVE MUCH KNOWLEGE OF THESE MOSTLY JUST TALES OF THE GURKA'S FIGHTING ABLILTYS VERY GOOD FOLKS TO HAVE WATCHING OUT FOR YOU. #4 IS A BEAUTY AND MY FAVORITE. I AM SURE THOSE MEMBERS WHO COLLECT IN THIS FIELD WOULD LOVE TO ADD SOME OF THESE TO THEIR COLLECTIONS. NO DOUBT KEYBOARDS SOMEWHERE ARE BEING RUINED AS THEY DROOL ON THEM. HOPEFULLY THESE MEMBERS WILL SEE THIS THREAD AND ENLIGHTEN US AS TO WHAT WE ARE SEEING.

1st February 2012, 08:33 PM	#2
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Nice selection Bill. I like the two 'Mk3' private purchase. I've got a similar one myself. The two Steel hilted ones are really nice too.

2nd February 2012, 05:07 PM	#4
DhaDha Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 178	Thanks for sharing your collection. Love to see 5-8 as well.

3rd February 2012, 09:46 AM	#5
whistlinbill Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 24	Gentlemen, thank you so much for your help and expertise! I did pick up a fairish amount of kukris. Since I had a company that imported them, and I was interested, I tried not to let anything interesting get away. And my partner in the game was Hank Reinhardt, who was a kukri fanatic (Hank designed a kukri that Ethan Becker is talking about resurrecting). I very much appreciate your comments--your breadth of knowledge is spectacular! Thanks, Bill

3rd February 2012, 02:20 PM	#6
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 937	Sorry, DhaDha; I've been stepping through by file name and not watching the labels. Here are the missing: Attached Images

3rd February 2012, 03:44 PM	#7
DhaDha Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 178	There they are! Thanks again...

3rd February 2012, 10:35 PM	#9
sirupate Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: England Posts: 373	Kukri numbers one and two, very nice civilian Mk3 variants, manufacture would be unknown, definitely made in India. Kukri number three, looks like a high quality civilian kukri Kukri number four, outstanding dui chira kukri, anywhere from late 19th century to very early 20th century. Kukri number 9 is I would say Indian made around the WW2 era, almost sirupate in style Kukri number 10, British Service issue, they been issued with that style of decoration from time to time, the sword of Shiva description is actually incorrect, it is just a form of decoration. Kukri number 11 is a Budhune style kukri, potentially a tourist version Kukri number 12 is a high quality tourist piece Kukri number 5 is one of the IA styles of kukri issued in WW2 to Gurkhas, so whether this is one of those that has been chromed for keep sake (as many were, indeed Lt. Col. Cross had all his chromed), or whether it is a later export piece is hard to tell. Kukri numbers 6 & 7 tourist kukri Kukri number 8 Indian made kukri, probably WW2 era. I hope that is of some help, Cheers Simon

4th February 2012, 03:28 AM	#10
whistlinbill Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 24	Simon, thank you! I really appreciate your expertise in identification! Bill