Kukri

[Tim Simmons]

Yes I keep looking. I still see no rust on the decorative part. Perhaps Tatyana could provide more pictures? the different hue is all I can see? I am not trying to say zinc is lesser the exact opposite in fact.

[Tatyana Dianova]

Tim, sorry, I have removed the red rust and cannot make its picture for you

[spiral]

Ask Inveterate Tim hes had loads of steel ones, in kukris whte metal grips are much rarer & less well made.

Steel is best in kukris & Personly if Tatyana says a magnet sticks I belive it . Perhaps you are mistaking the chemical cleaning patina for white metal?

After all nearly all grips like this are steel. I seem to recall you had a steel one with silver plate added?

Spiral

[Tim Simmons]

Fairy Nuff

[spiral]

[inveterate]

Tim, I have more than a dozen, Steel handled Kukri, White metal as a grip is somewhat rare amongst Kukri (I have seen one) strangely enough it is somewhat more common as a bolster material. Cheers Rod

[Battara]

The steel used I would think was thin soft sheet steel or at least annealed steel. Very haed on steel tools used. The act of working the steel automatically hardens tbe steel. No need for heat hardening.

Amazing work!

[Andreas Volk]

Hello Tatyana!
Sorry to be late on this amazing piece with m congratulations. I think I remember that ebay listing as well (and before christmas I'm always tight on budget ).
I'd like to second spirals opinion that this of indian make - not nepelase - something I actually believe of most of the "armoury" kukris I came accross.

While the crescent moon is a national symbol of Nepal I doubt that this mark whenever it appears points to the Armoury of the Maharaja of Nepal.

So I still search for some pointers why it apperas on so many steel handled and the decorated horn handled pieces.

Originally Posted by spiral

.... I couldnt date it accuratley, most steel handles seem late 19th to around 1925 in manufacture. The decoration of blade is older in style & quality, but skillful kami could copy older styles. But yes it could possibly be as early as 1850/60 i think.

Thanks a lot spiral; I'd also say that most of the (few) steel handled ones I handled are "arround 1900 or early 20th cent.) - but looking at the overall shape of this particular blade (slightly slimmer than those massive armouries, slight less shoulder and the curve inside the handle) I personally would think a post 1900 heritage very unlikely - otherwise this kami would have made a vry amazing "copy job".
If I recall correctly Inveterate owns an steel handled lamebendh with provenance that points to the Sepoy riots of 1857/58.
So my guess on this piece (and it is no more) would be 1860s to 1890s.

As I'm travelling at the moment I don't have my copy of Elgood's "Hindu Arms and Ritual" at hand - when back home I'll check what he has to say concerning the red paint.

Again - my congratulations on uncovering some kukri treasure. Thanks for sharing it with us !!

best regards

Andreas