Info on Old Military kukri

Tim Simmons · 14th December 2005, 07:54 PM

I still question your assumptions, especially that more care was taken in the manufacture of steel bolster kukri. If you look at the so called thumb spike on Andys you can see that it is rather crude. It would be very helpful is you could post other examples. I am most interested as I live only 2 miles from the old Queen Elizabeth barracks in Church Crookham were untill 2? years ago the Gurkha's were stationed and my town has had a long association with the Gurkha's. I have a Kukri with a brass bolster which is rather fine and said to be very old by Gurkha's themselves not that means a lot. I feel you need to illustrate your statements with more verifiable information before they can be taken as the sum of accrued knowledge. Tim

spiral · 14th December 2005, 08:22 PM

OK Tim, first off , I suggest you reread what I actualy wrote, & not imagine the assumptions you say I have made!

I didnt make them.

They are your assumptions not mine.

But of course the interpritations of written word can be tricky as we all know.

I am sorry that the clarity I though I used, was obviously missing.

I said steel bolsters took longer to make. {"a sign that more time was taken making the kukri than brass ones."} That is pure fact.

Brass is softer & easiyer to work. Thats why most modern kukri have brass bolsters.

If you go to Dharan & watch them making them & ask the kami thier opinion, It is a straight forward open & shut case.

I didnt say they took more care, steel or brass bolsters come in all quality. From tourist scrap to top quality pieces.

I gave sources of verifiable information including 2 museams. Go to Winchester & veiw there collection & speak to the curator.

I wont suggest you fly to Nepal, to thier National museam , even though thats what I did to satisfy my curiosity about this questian & others.

A gurkhas opinion of the age of a kukri is generaly worthless unfortuantly.
They are mainly boys from the hills with very littkle knowledge of thie own history even. There are of course occasional exceptions.

They make good soldiers though.

Whether you wish to accept what I say is up to you.

But I spoke of facts, & also stated my opinions, which are derived from those facts.

I cant realy give photos to illustrate that steel bolsters are better than brass, because I never said that.

I have some very high quality brass bolstered pieces.

Pictures of your kukri would be interesting & I will tell you as much as I can about dating it if I can.

I am glad you like your kukri.

I like mine as well.

Spiral

Tim Simmons · 14th December 2005, 08:43 PM

I do beg your pardon, you did not say care, but in manufacture time can be equated to care. I am sure you must of amassed much knowledge, what with trips to Nepal. Even your Nepal museum experience is still not what I would call enough knowledge to pass judgement on the methods used by the countless workshops there must have been and probably still are, not just in Nepal but Northern India and as discussed in the past Indian areas far away from Nepal. I find it a little sweeping. I will post a picture of my Kukri for your opinion. Thanks Tim

Ian · 14th December 2005, 09:34 PM

This is a fascinating thread and discussion. I'm interested to see the examples from Tim and spiral. Let's stick to the kukhris guys.

Ian.

spiral · 14th December 2005, 09:41 PM

Thankyou Ian, Its a subject I warm too.

I agree Tim, time can equal care in manufacture & see why you took that deduction.

But high carbon steel does take longer to work than brass, that is a pure fact of physics.

Any metalergists{?} here I am sure could explain it in great detail.

Thier are also some poor quality steel bolstered pieces. So sometimes other varibles seem to be playing thier part. {supply of materials, tradition,meeting the customers demands etc.}

Theres far more about the history of kukri I dont know than that I do.

I become more aware of that all the time. Many questians I will never know the answear to. But thats part of the beuty of them & why I enjoy finding & reserching about them as much as possible.

But I havent even been to Dehra dun!

But I still do ok .

Sorry if my statements sounded sweeping, I tried to be as factual & concise as I could to advoid confusian.

I Look forward to your photos, could you give the length , weight spec, & point of balance distance in front of bolster, as well please?

Thankyou
Spiral

inveterate · 14th December 2005, 10:58 PM

Spiral, whilst you mention a museum having a brass bolstered Khukuri dating around 1915 I personally have come to the conclusion that this Khukuri will be an exception a more general rule would say brass bolstered Khukuri are post 1920 , I have yet to see a provenanced Khukuri with a brass bolster made prior to that time nor has (I believe) any other dedicated Khukuri collectors. Thanks all interesting post. Rod

spiral · 14th December 2005, 11:08 PM

I tottally agree Rod,

But They did exist in 1915 & probably back to 1910. So thats what I state as definate fact. {Which people seem to want.}

But sure most are post 1920, Thats the opinion most of us have come to accept I think?

I think I may have even said the same to Mark & Andreas before?

I always wonder if the artilary shell cases from WW1 prompted the growth in the post war use of the brass bolster?

Spiral

Battara · 15th December 2005, 06:33 AM

Spiral that was helpful. I thought they stopped making steel bolsters by the turn of the century.

Oh well..

14th December 2005, 07:54 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,855	I still question your assumptions, especially that more care was taken in the manufacture of steel bolster kukri. If you look at the so called thumb spike on Andys you can see that it is rather crude. It would be very helpful is you could post other examples. I am most interested as I live only 2 miles from the old Queen Elizabeth barracks in Church Crookham were untill 2? years ago the Gurkha's were stationed and my town has had a long association with the Gurkha's. I have a Kukri with a brass bolster which is rather fine and said to be very old by Gurkha's themselves not that means a lot. I feel you need to illustrate your statements with more verifiable information before they can be taken as the sum of accrued knowledge. Tim

14th December 2005, 08:22 PM	#2
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	OK Tim, first off , I suggest you reread what I actualy wrote, & not imagine the assumptions you say I have made! I didnt make them. They are your assumptions not mine. But of course the interpritations of written word can be tricky as we all know. I am sorry that the clarity I though I used, was obviously missing. I said steel bolsters took longer to make. {"a sign that more time was taken making the kukri than brass ones."} That is pure fact. Brass is softer & easiyer to work. Thats why most modern kukri have brass bolsters. If you go to Dharan & watch them making them & ask the kami thier opinion, It is a straight forward open & shut case. I didnt say they took more care, steel or brass bolsters come in all quality. From tourist scrap to top quality pieces. I gave sources of verifiable information including 2 museams. Go to Winchester & veiw there collection & speak to the curator. I wont suggest you fly to Nepal, to thier National museam , even though thats what I did to satisfy my curiosity about this questian & others. A gurkhas opinion of the age of a kukri is generaly worthless unfortuantly. They are mainly boys from the hills with very littkle knowledge of thie own history even. There are of course occasional exceptions. They make good soldiers though. Whether you wish to accept what I say is up to you. But I spoke of facts, & also stated my opinions, which are derived from those facts. I cant realy give photos to illustrate that steel bolsters are better than brass, because I never said that. I have some very high quality brass bolstered pieces. Pictures of your kukri would be interesting & I will tell you as much as I can about dating it if I can. I am glad you like your kukri. I like mine as well. Spiral

14th December 2005, 08:43 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,855	I do beg your pardon, you did not say care, but in manufacture time can be equated to care. I am sure you must of amassed much knowledge, what with trips to Nepal. Even your Nepal museum experience is still not what I would call enough knowledge to pass judgement on the methods used by the countless workshops there must have been and probably still are, not just in Nepal but Northern India and as discussed in the past Indian areas far away from Nepal. I find it a little sweeping. I will post a picture of my Kukri for your opinion. Thanks Tim

14th December 2005, 09:34 PM	#4
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,397	This is a fascinating thread and discussion. I'm interested to see the examples from Tim and spiral. Let's stick to the kukhris guys. Ian.

14th December 2005, 09:41 PM	#5
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Thankyou Ian, Its a subject I warm too. I agree Tim, time can equal care in manufacture & see why you took that deduction. But high carbon steel does take longer to work than brass, that is a pure fact of physics. Any metalergists{?} here I am sure could explain it in great detail. Thier are also some poor quality steel bolstered pieces. So sometimes other varibles seem to be playing thier part. {supply of materials, tradition,meeting the customers demands etc.} Theres far more about the history of kukri I dont know than that I do. I become more aware of that all the time. Many questians I will never know the answear to. But thats part of the beuty of them & why I enjoy finding & reserching about them as much as possible. But I havent even been to Dehra dun! But I still do ok . Sorry if my statements sounded sweeping, I tried to be as factual & concise as I could to advoid confusian. I Look forward to your photos, could you give the length , weight spec, & point of balance distance in front of bolster, as well please? Thankyou Spiral

14th December 2005, 10:58 PM	#6
inveterate Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 58	Spiral, whilst you mention a museum having a brass bolstered Khukuri dating around 1915 I personally have come to the conclusion that this Khukuri will be an exception a more general rule would say brass bolstered Khukuri are post 1920 , I have yet to see a provenanced Khukuri with a brass bolster made prior to that time nor has (I believe) any other dedicated Khukuri collectors. Thanks all interesting post. Rod

14th December 2005, 11:08 PM	#7
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	I tottally agree Rod, But They did exist in 1915 & probably back to 1910. So thats what I state as definate fact. {Which people seem to want.} But sure most are post 1920, Thats the opinion most of us have come to accept I think? I think I may have even said the same to Mark & Andreas before? I always wonder if the artilary shell cases from WW1 prompted the growth in the post war use of the brass bolster? Spiral

15th December 2005, 06:33 AM	#8
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	Spiral that was helpful. I thought they stopped making steel bolsters by the turn of the century. Oh well..