Recently acquired Kukri.

[David R]

Originally Posted by mrcjgscott

Hello David,


A nice working kukri, sometimes known in the collecting community as a "villiager" as it is exactly what your average Nepali of the period would have carried during his everyday activities in and around the village.

It certainly shows evidence of sharpening, so this was not bought by somebody to hang on the wall, but rather on somebody's hip.

All in all a nice period piece, well done! (Now you'll have to show us your other kukri...)

Well I am happy with what people have said here, my real worry was that it was going to be one of souvenir pieces, a 20th C villager is all I could wish for.
My other Kukri is this one, bought for 30 bob when I was a schoolboy. 48 cm from one extremity to the other, and probably is a 19th C Nepalese Army one.

[sirupate]

Originally Posted by David R

Well I am happy with what people have said here, my real worry was that it was going to be one of souvenir pieces, a 20th C villager is all I could wish for.
My other Kukri is this one, bought for 30 bob when I was a schoolboy. 48 cm from one extremity to the other, and probably is a 19th C Nepalese Army one.

Also I said don't rule out your recent buy being potentially military, we just simply can't say whether or not it is civilian or military.
Your other kukri looks a nice piece, hard to say whether it was civilian or military mind;
Here is a late 19th Century 2/4th GR kukri

[sirupate]

Here is one, potentially from the Lushai Expedition of 1888-1889, from Brigadier Lanton's collection

[mrcjgscott]

Originally Posted by David R

Well I am happy with what people have said here, my real worry was that it was going to be one of souvenir pieces, a 20th C villager is all I could wish for.
My other Kukri is this one, bought for 30 bob when I was a schoolboy. 48 cm from one extremity to the other, and probably is a 19th C Nepalese Army one.

Hello David,

A lovely piece. Certainly no reason why it couldn't be late 19thc and military issue. Certainly of Nepalese manufacture, and the blade is reminiscent of earlier styles, known as hanshee/lambendh, as is the wide kaudi thereon.

Thanks for sharing,

Chris

[sirupate]

Originally Posted by mrcjgscott

Hello David,

A lovely piece. Certainly no reason why it couldn't be late 19thc and military issue. Certainly of Nepalese manufacture, and the blade is reminiscent of earlier styles, known as hanshee/lambendh, as is the wide kaudi thereon.

Thanks for sharing,

Chris

Hi Chris, I don't think one can be certain it was of Nepalese manufacture, especially if it was military.
Of course the Hanshee/Lambendh labels are not Nepalese but Westerners trying to label certain types of kukri, Hanshee by John Powell and Lambendh by Jonathan Sedwell.
As you say Chris reminiscent of earlier types, although the 'Hanshee' name was given to quite a distinctive type, all the best Simon
Hanshee and other 18th Century Kukri, from the National Museum in Kathmandu in Nepal;

[mrcjgscott]

Originally Posted by sirupate

As I said reflection, and Jonathan and I must have the same picture from the GM Chris

It is quite clearly not a reflection Simon, one only has to study the enlarged image to see that.

My own copy of this image came courtesy of the Imperial War Museum, Lambeth.

Originally Posted by sirupate

Hi Chris, I don't think one can be certain it was of Nepalese manufacture, especially if it was military.
Of course the Hanshee/Lambendh labels are not Nepalese but Westerners trying to label certain types of kukri, Hanshee by John Powell and Lambendh by Jonathan Sedwell.
As you say Chris reminiscent of earlier types, although the 'Hanshee' name was given to quite a distinctive type, all the best Simon
Hanshee and other 18th Century Kukri, from the National Museum in Kathmandu in Nepal;

I think one can be as certain as one can be that the kukri is Nepalese in origin, rather than Indian. What makes you think it isn't?

In regards to the typology of kukri that is rather a broad subject, again, probably best discussed elsewhere, so as not to clutter up this thread.

However, as no real terms exist in Nepal to distinguish between kukri types, in order to separate various design features and further our knowledge, such "labels" must be employed.

I believe it was Bill Martino who introduced the term "Hanshee", which was a corruption of the word "hansiya", a term used for a sickle like tool. It may be wrong, but it is still a term known and used by collectors, and as such, who am I to change it?

As "lambendh" literally translates as "long handle" it certainly makes the most sense. Different people use different terms, and in absence of any labels from the country of origin, we westerners with an interest in such things must do the best we can.

Kind regards,

Chris

[sirupate]

Originally Posted by mrcjgscott

I think one can be as certain as one can be that the kukri is Nepalese in origin, rather than Indian. What makes you think it isn't?

In regards to the typology of kukri that is rather a broad subject, again, probably best discussed elsewhere, so as not to clutter up this thread.

However, as no real terms exist in Nepal to distinguish between kukri types, in order to separate various design features and further our knowledge, such "labels" must be employed.

I believe it was Bill Martino who introduced the term "Hanshee", which was a corruption of the word "hansiya", a term used for a sickle like tool. It may be wrong, but it is still a term known and used by collectors, and as such, who am I to change it?

As "lambendh" literally translates as "long handle" it certainly makes the most sense. Different people use different terms, and in absence of any labels from the country of origin, we westerners with an interest in such things must do the best we can.

Kind regards,

Chris

Hi Chris,
Then the GM and the IWM must have the same picture, and we will have to agree to disagree, Gurkhas were not allowed to personalise issued kukri btw.
I don't think you can be certain at all, unless there is provenance with the kukri to say it was made in Nepal.
I believe you are right about Bill Martino coming up with the term Hanshee and JP adopting the term from Bill Martino.
Personally I see no need to label kukri, which the Nepalese don't have a name for, but each to their own.
All the best Simon

[mrcjgscott]

Originally Posted by sirupate

Hi Chris,
Then the GM and the IWM must have the same picture, and we will have to agree to disagree,

We certainly will, I am sure everybody here can make their own minds up.

Originally Posted by sirupate

Gurkhas were not allowed to personalise issued kukri btw.

Again, I don't remember suggesting they were, but without examining those 96,000 kukri you mentioned, I doubt you would be able to prove that.

Originally Posted by sirupate

I don't think you can be certain at all, unless there is provenance with the kukri to say it was made in Nepal.

Well, one can be as certain as one can be, in regards to style, form, construction and the experience of handling several hundred.

Like everybody else, I have been known to be wrong in the past, and am happy to be proved so, if it means we all come out learning a little more because of it. But in order for that to happen, somebody would need to say why they believe it is not Nepalese.

Originally Posted by sirupate

Personally I see no need to label kukri, which the Nepalese don't have a name for, but each to their own.

If there were Nepalese terms I would use them, I do where they are available. But where there are none, in order to produce a working lexicon to further our knowledge and discussion, such terms are essential.

Chhuri, chakku, and karda are all Nepali words for knife. Yet Karda is the one we associate with the companion knife housed in the back of the scabbard.

So long as such terms are seen for what they are, there is nothing to fear, and everything to gain.

Kind regards,

Chris

[sirupate]

Hi Chris,
Chris; 'Perhaps senior NCO's were permitted the distinction of a "dress" scabbard whilst on parade?'
Me; I think Jonathan originally used the word personalised, but either way personalised or dress scabbards, no, that would not have been allowed in the Gurkhas or in the British army strictly against regs.
The pipers were sometimes bought kothimora kukri by the CO to wear, and Mess orderlies were occasionally also given kothimora kukri to wear, as in the photo of the mess orderlies in the 10th GR in 1948 in Kuala Lumpur, who by the way were rifleman on rotation from rifle companies (obviously the mess cooks, were a different affair).
Chris; Well, one can be as certain as one can be, in regards to style, form, construction and the experience of handling several hundred.
Me; no one can tell from a picture were a kukri was made, unless the picture came with relevant info or markings on the kukri clearly showing where it was made.
All the best Simon