Help with kukri sheath?

sirupate · 2nd April 2009, 09:31 AM

I agree with what Berkley says, the nail holes would have been for the general housing on the kukri, which the frogs (if they were used on this kukri), would have fitted over the top.
I wonder if this kukri didn't belong to an ex Gurkha hence the ridge for the frog on his scabbard, and the possiblity of frog carry, with the ex Gurha wearing a more western style of dress, which was bought or given to a Westerner in Nepal May 1965, and then found its way to Guernsey, and onto you Richard

Pukka Bundook · 2nd April 2009, 03:32 PM

Berkley,

Thank you for your input on this.

It is a great step, learning that you have not before observed a ridge on a village scabbard.
This information is greatly appreciated, as I am just learning, and know you are far ahead of me where this is concerned!

Re. the nail-holes, Yes, there are some, and it does look like the pockets were attacked in this manner, as the stitching on the scabbard seam is not done to the same level, where it would be out of sight.

I will attach a photo with a clearer view of this in near future.

Thanks for all your help!

Simon,

This is all very interesting!
I do know that quite a lot of Gurkha officers settled on the channel islands. Though this piece isn't what an officer would probably carry, there may be some connection.
I do have one small problem with the idea that someone picked this up, and brought it home to Guernsey, and marked it as such.
For me, If I aquired something abroad, I would be much more likely to mark it with the name of the place it was aquired, rather than bring it home and mark it.
ie; If I purchased something in the Black Forest, I'd probably mark it as such, rather than mark it "Innisfail" where I live. (That is, unless I marked it with my address, in case of loss)

Your thoughts on the ex-Gurkha are rather interesting!

With the military ridge, and village design, how should we classify this?

Thank you for your time!!

Richard.

sirupate · 2nd April 2009, 04:00 PM

Hello Richard,

A lot of ex Gurkha Officers settled every where in the UK, not that many in Guernsey or the Channel Islands per say, compared to the amount of Gurkha Officers that served in WWII, of whom the percentage KIA was pretty high BTW.

It is very unlikely to have been brought back by an Officer, certainly not used by a Gurkha in WWII, that's for sure. I think the marking had a special signifigance to the person that brought it back originally?

Classification? Simply a 'Kukri of mystery'

Berkley · 2nd April 2009, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirupate

Classification? Simply a 'Kukri of mystery'

Perfect!

sirupate · 2nd April 2009, 05:49 PM

Pukka Bundook · 3rd April 2009, 05:46 AM

Hi Simon, Yes, "kukri of mystery" will do.

I had no thought whatsoever of it being carried by an officer, just trying to figure how it came to Guernsey.... and some officers do retire there....it'd only take one!

Personally, I think it quite likely that it was purchased as a momento In Guernsey by a visitor, and marked accordingly.

This doesn't answer how it Got there though!.....ebay purchase maybe?

2nd April 2009, 09:31 AM	#1
sirupate Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: England Posts: 373	I agree with what Berkley says, the nail holes would have been for the general housing on the kukri, which the frogs (if they were used on this kukri), would have fitted over the top. I wonder if this kukri didn't belong to an ex Gurkha hence the ridge for the frog on his scabbard, and the possiblity of frog carry, with the ex Gurha wearing a more western style of dress, which was bought or given to a Westerner in Nepal May 1965, and then found its way to Guernsey, and onto you Richard

2nd April 2009, 03:32 PM	#2
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	Berkley, Thank you for your input on this. It is a great step, learning that you have not before observed a ridge on a village scabbard. This information is greatly appreciated, as I am just learning, and know you are far ahead of me where this is concerned! Re. the nail-holes, Yes, there are some, and it does look like the pockets were attacked in this manner, as the stitching on the scabbard seam is not done to the same level, where it would be out of sight. I will attach a photo with a clearer view of this in near future. Thanks for all your help! Simon, This is all very interesting! I do know that quite a lot of Gurkha officers settled on the channel islands. Though this piece isn't what an officer would probably carry, there may be some connection. I do have one small problem with the idea that someone picked this up, and brought it home to Guernsey, and marked it as such. For me, If I aquired something abroad, I would be much more likely to mark it with the name of the place it was aquired, rather than bring it home and mark it. ie; If I purchased something in the Black Forest, I'd probably mark it as such, rather than mark it "Innisfail" where I live. (That is, unless I marked it with my address, in case of loss) Your thoughts on the ex-Gurkha are rather interesting! With the military ridge, and village design, how should we classify this? Thank you for your time!! Richard.

2nd April 2009, 04:00 PM	#3
sirupate Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: England Posts: 373	Hello Richard, A lot of ex Gurkha Officers settled every where in the UK, not that many in Guernsey or the Channel Islands per say, compared to the amount of Gurkha Officers that served in WWII, of whom the percentage KIA was pretty high BTW. It is very unlikely to have been brought back by an Officer, certainly not used by a Gurkha in WWII, that's for sure. I think the marking had a special signifigance to the person that brought it back originally? Classification? Simply a 'Kukri of mystery'

2nd April 2009, 05:49 PM	#5
sirupate Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: England Posts: 373

3rd April 2009, 05:46 AM	#6
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	Hi Simon, Yes, "kukri of mystery" will do. I had no thought whatsoever of it being carried by an officer, just trying to figure how it came to Guernsey.... and some officers do retire there....it'd only take one! Personally, I think it quite likely that it was purchased as a momento In Guernsey by a visitor, and marked accordingly. This doesn't answer how it Got there though!.....ebay purchase maybe?