Kothimora Kukri

[Tea]

Thank you mariusgmioc for this first answer.
I am suspecting a mismatch as well.
By any chance would you have a clue as to the production period of either the scabbard or the kukri? (since the chance of a mismatch is quite high I suppose the production dates can vary as well)

[kronckew]

Definite mismatch. Kothimora would have had a scabbard made specifically fitted to a better blade. Pommel cap has a section missing. Sword of shiva is nicely done, tho. The 'eyebrow mark in front of it is possibly an armoury mark. Lack of broken spine is usually a sign of earlier mfg. but also found in more recently made ones. Looks like it has a partial tang held on by laha (himalayan epoxy') that is the norm. Probably will need a new grip in a few decades of hard use. The forward edge of the bolster being serrated is a bit odd.

Nice scabbard!


My Hanshee Kothimora khukuri for reference.

[RAMBA]

Originally Posted by kronckew

Definite mismatch. Kothimora would have had a scabbard made specifically fitted to a better blade. Pommel cap has a section missing. Sword of shiva is nicely done, tho. The 'eyebrow mark in front of it is possibly an armoury mark. Lack of broken spine is usually a sign of earlier mfg. but also found in more recently made ones. Looks like it has a partial tang held on by laha (himalayan epoxy') that is the norm. Probably will need a new grip in a few decades of hard use. The forward edge of the bolster being serrated is a bit odd.

Nice scabbard!


My Hanshee Kothimora khukuri for reference.

A very early archaic kukri from around the second half of the 18th Century. later scabbard.

[kronckew]

Originally Posted by RAMBA

A very early archaic kukri from around the second half of the 18th Century. later scabbard.

I know. The red tinfoil under the fretwork is also a later addition to the scabbard. The scabbard is still fitted to the blade. Scabbards come and go, it probably lived in a std. plain black one before being promoted, like my other salyani, without the belt frog bit tho, and would have been carried in a sash. This later one has a substantial full length tang peened over a keeper on the pommel.

[kronckew]

When the Alpacalypse comes. this is the one I'll hang on my baldric. I call her Godzilla.
I have others.

[Tea]

Thanks a lot everyone for your precious insights.

@ Ramba may I ask how you manage to date the scabbard I get that the shape of kukri's changed over time, yet it's still complex for me sometimes to Id the real deal from a well made reproduction (not those with lion heads)
I would be more than happy if you could suggest a few good books/articles

I read on the link below that the monster depicted on the scabbard is called cheppu/Kirtimukha is the decoration pattern one of the elements that helped to date my scabbard and the one from krockew?
https://kilatools.com/kukrihistory/

Also I don't know whether the use of velvet is common or not and whether it can help to specify a date?

@krockew I wouldn't mind if you'd added a few more pictures of your collection
I'm quite partial to the second one you posted.

[Tea]

Hi I just encountered a very similar kukri on a vendor's website: the kukri is almost identical:engravings, eyelash sun and moon symbol even the karda is similar,
the scabbard has the same red velvet but is in much better state and still has 3 tools: the usual plus a small toothpick, the scabbard is similarly oversized. but has a different decoration in bazaar style.

So I suppose they might be a match after all...

I would like to know if and how I may refer to the pictures? Like the saying goes "a picture is worth a ...

[RAMBA]

Originally Posted by Tea

Thank you mariusgmioc for this first answer.
I am suspecting a mismatch as well.
By any chance would you have a clue as to the production period of either the scabbard or the kukri? (since the chance of a mismatch is quite high I suppose the production dates can vary as well)

The scabbard is likely earlier than the kukri here and both somewhere around the second quarter of the 20th century or maybe a bit later.