Questions About a Curious Kukri

[JPSF]

Still in the working stages, but there are lots of kukris to look at. Eventually when an image is selected it will "open". Try the first one in each category and it will give you an idea of what I'm trying to accomplish.
www.kukris.net

[spiral]

Good stuf JP, thats a needed site.{IMHO}, I hope as a hard core kukri enthusiast, you will include some hard tecnical data, such as weight, & point of balance, as well as the fascinating history side?

That makes the kukri 3 dimesional to my mind rather than a flat one dimesional picture, which although looking nice has no meat on its bones.

In other words It makes it a lot easier to "see" the kukri, if I know whether a 25in. long kukri weights 24 oz or 40oz. for example. And wheter tha balance pont is 6 or 9 inches in front of the bolster.


I am sure this must be true for other serious enthusiasts as well.

I Look forward to your sites further development.

Regards.
Spiral

[sirupate]

Nice one JP I agree Spiral, that info will enhance the picture, enabling one to understand what the kukri in picture is truly all about

Cheers Simon

[derek]

Hi guys,

I've shared most of these with JP already, but would any of you please comment on any of these kukris -- especially the all metal one on the bottom of the group? Also, the one with the darjeeling stamp -- would it be a reject or just a double stamp?

JP, the military example is newly arrived, it matches number 47 on the www.kukris.net site? The cho may be different.

Thanks in advance,
-d

[spiral]

Hi Derek, A nice bunch of kukris!

Well not sure what info you are looking for, but here goes. from top down.

1,
hard to be certain of shape of this one due to angle of the photograph, quite possibly a style carried in WW2 though, {alyhough made both before & after the war as well.}
would need to see an un angled photo shot, to be more confident in my oppinions.

length, weight & point of balance { when lying flat on its side on your finger, defined as a point of measured distance in front of the bolster/blade conjunction. would all assist as would any pix of grip, bolster, small knives, scabbard stitching etc. etc.

Is the handle buffalo horn ? it looks probable? but pix are tricky sometimes!



2,
A typical Darjeeling style Sirupate, civilian post ww2, although Darjeeling is In India , it has a large population of Gurkha descent & as is often the case , has a strong natnalist movement that wishes to seperate from India.

Historicaly the borders of Nepal & India have moved many times & ther have been many population shifts amongst the tribes of Nepal & not forgeting the Garhwallis & Kuamon of course, Indian tribes that used to be inlisted in the Gurkha units many years ago & who also carry the kukri, add to that the massive Gurkha garrisons stationed in many areas of India & it becomes quite a complex picture.

I dont think double stamping would mean reject, just an idiosincracy of the stamping process or individul doing the stamping.

What makes you think it may be a reject? Is ther some serious flaw within its construction?



3,
It looks like an early British Indian mk.2, Although these were made up to & during WW2, Yours definatly Appears to be WW1 style . {Actualy made untill 1920.{rather than 1918 } rather than later.

I find it hard to make out the tiny numbers on the kukri.com photo site but to me m.47 looks a later shouldered military model, without the smooth curve to the blade, with steel instead of brass rivets & single wide prounounced rounded finger projection. A totaly different beast to my eye, although obviously until the site is actualy working with the posibilitie of larger photos , it will be very hard to be totaly certain.



4,
An unusual brass Kothimara ,probably not incredibly expensive, with a one piece chape & locket combined.which I would say was post WW2. I like the Hindu sun god & crescent moon symbol, both of which of course important Nepali symbols.{Although used by other countrys as well of course.}


Hope thats of some intrest, Derek if you want any further comment from me feel free to ask either , here, or by email.

regards,
Spiral

[derek]

Thanks, Spiral. I will include measurements (should have done in the first place).

The first grip is wood. Of all of them, this one feels the fastest and most balanced.

The darjeeling reject theory was just a guess based on talks w/ JP -- it shows no flaws other then the stamp.

The military feels fantastic and has a nice weight. The lines are very clean and precise on it.

This last one I am having trouble with. I am going to defer to more experienced folks like yourself, but I think if you saw this one in person you would be inclined to say military. The metal is very solid and heavy. It has a "manufactured" feel to it that is much like a solid metal canteen from the WWI or WWII era. The form and fit (note the holes for the chakmak, etc.) are very precise and polished. Note the loops for the belt strap. Again, I'm new to Kukris, but being a collector who has seen a lot of ethno & military items I would think this one would have been made to a spec.

Thanks again for the comments. I've always admired these knives, but working with JP has really turned my attention to them in a new way. Yet another collecting obsession germinating...

[inveterate]

Welcome to the world of Kukris Derek. Rod.