A pre WWII (?) khukuri

[sirupate]

A pleasure to help Richard, personely I think full tang, especially on kukri is rather overated, and stick tang gives a much better balance.

Steve many thanks

[Billman]

Hi

Recently joined the forum, and trawling through some old blogs... My area of expertise is the billhook, and as a working tool, as well as a weapon, I class a khukri as a form of billhook (note many other types of curved billhooks and sickles also exist in Nepal as well as the more commonly known 'military' khukri).

The terms full and partial tang occur above as well as tapered tang... For billhooks the most common method of fitting is the full length, tapered tang, with the end bent over at the butt of the handle, or better still rivetted over a washer. Socketed handles, for a wooden insert, and scale tang handles are also found - as are socket handles where no wooden insert is used - and materials other than wood, e.g. antler, horn, bone, leather, are used.

In Japan the common method is a partial tang, about half the length of the handle with one or two lateral rivets, and an iron ferrule... Cheap imported billhooks, from India and China, often have a short tang with a lateral rivet passing through the ferrule.

In most countries the use of a metal ferrule to prevent the handle splitting is common when a tang is used - handles without are less common, and khukris (with a knife type of bolster on the shoulder of the blade) would appear to be an exception. In other countries when a ferrule is not fitted, the handle often thickens at the entry point to strengthen it..

If there is no tang passing through the handle, there must me some method of preventing the handle coming off in use - sometimes they are glued on with resin, occasionally barbed to dig into the wood - but a lateral rivet is most common.

The fitting of a ferrule and a rivet is thus a common method of fitting a handle, and although uncommon on a khukri, would seem an original feature, rather than a later repair. I guess as in most other countries, regional variations in blade profile, thickness, type of handle etc of nepalese khukris, especially pre standardisation of manufacture would not be as uncommon as it seems...

Note in the UK, France and Italy hundreds of regional variations in shape of billhook blades are found, often available in range of sizes - in a 1930's
catalogue, one French maker, Talabot, boasted they held patterns for over 3000 shapes, and would make any other upon receipt of a paper template...

[spiral]

Thanks for your wisdom on Billhooks Billman.

I agree some kukris have a single rivet through the ferrule generaly termed a bolster, but I am sure that If the ferrule on the featured kukri was originaly part of the kukri it would match the size of the bolster for a start.

Also In India & Nepal if they wished to support the handle further they would just make a longer bolster {Which is just a capped ferrule after all.} with that where the strength would lie after all not an illmatched double ferrule construction.

As an aside but perhaps slighty related. I should also point out to anyone thinking of repairing a kukri that a single rivet can also break a rosewood or similar handle on a partial tang handle if placed outside of a ferrule, after all it creates a pressure point where the force is concentrated as the rivit operates as a pivot point.

Spiral

[Billman]

Thanks for your response Spiral - khukri are not my area of expertise, so I always bow to greater knowledge - but my experience of billhooks from many lands has shown me nothing is set in stone, and there are always variations and exceptions to rules....

Since posting the previous reply I have found a little more on the Nepaese sickle, or aansi. The same name refers to both a light small rice sickle and also a heavier billhook for wood. It is a more common, and more widespread, tool in Nepal than the celberated khukri - and there are many regional variations...

I would argue that a capped ferrule is not the same as a bolster - the bolster is integral with the blade, the ferrule - capped or open - is part of the handle, to prevent it splitting when pressure is put on the tang.. The bolster acts as a shoulder to stop the handle progressing up the blade - on the sickles, a shoulder is sometimes formed by bending the blade at right angles..

[spiral]

Originally Posted by Billman

Thanks for your response Spiral - khukri are not my area of expertise, so I always bow to greater knowledge - but my experience of billhooks from many lands has shown me nothing is set in stone, and there are always variations and exceptions to rules.....

No problem Billman,I am just a student of khukri, but I know what I know, & while I certanly agree vaiations & exceptions are always possible, I was merly pointing out the that the ferrule on this was clearly a replacment, not original as you stated. After all the man who made that handle & bolster was skilled, the man who fitted that miss sized ferrule & rivet clearly wasnt.

Originally Posted by Billman

Since posting the previous reply I have found a little more on the Nepaese sickle, or aansi. The same name refers to both a light small rice sickle and also a heavier billhook for wood. It is a more common, and more widespread, tool in Nepal than the celberated khukri - and there are many regional variations........

I like that! Funny that your research includes feature the first picture, One I took 6 years ago during a visit to Nepal to research kukri, kora & other bladed items, some of which I also watched bieng made. There are many variations both in the design of all these tools & also thier names, Hansiya is another common name for Sickle also.
in the last decade they are probably seen in Nepal more than kukri as since the most violent part of the recent insurgency/revolution kukri were banned from carry in many areas. Traditionaly though many poor housholds would only own one tool & it was the kukri which will do the job of a sickle or billhook after all.

Originally Posted by Billman

I would argue that a capped ferrule is not the same as a bolster - the bolster is integral with the blade, the ferrule - capped or open - is part of the handle, to prevent it splitting when pressure is put on the tang.. The bolster acts as a shoulder to stop the handle progressing up the blade - on the sickles, a shoulder is sometimes formed by bending the blade at right angles..

Interesting argument but mistaken in many areas I feel..

1, ferrules & bolsters are both used to strengthen the handle/hilt, although the bolster also protects the end grain & provides a smooth junction between hilt & blade.

2, Some ww2 era kukri did have an integral welded bolster together with a full width tang double riveted, but this is unusual most bolsters are a rolled single piece of sheet metal folded & filed to form the bolster.

3, partial & rat tail tangs on kuhukri a built with a stepped shoulder so it is impossible for the hilt to proggress up the blade.After all The word bolster mans to add support & strength, not to prevent movement.

4, Also as an aside both this hook. {from my photo....}



& this one, are actualy capped ferrules{ Otherwise known as bolsters.}




Possibly some of the others are as well.

I suggest you buy a few kukri & hansiya & dismantle them where neccasary if you realy want to see what kukri tangs & bolsters are like. Its an intersting study I am sure you would enjoy. I cartanly have & Ive only ever owned around 700 kukri although Ive seen & handled thousands more off course. Mostly from around c.1800 to 1945 both military,traditional & presentation pieces.

Spiral