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#1 |
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I occasionally see this style of Kukri for sale on ePray and on dealers sites as well. I think it is a Flaklands war commemorative piece for the war's 25th anniversary. That would have been 2007, which I imagine is when these were made. Can anyone confirm this? TIA.
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#2 |
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It is true that Gurkhas were employed in the Falkland War by the British so i guess it's possible, but why do you believe this particular weapon is related to that. I can't make out any commemorative inscriptions that would tie this weapon to that conflict, but your photos are pretty small and don't show a great deal of detail.
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#3 | |
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![]() Last edited by Battara; 23rd February 2016 at 07:45 PM. |
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#4 |
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Well since this is a living tradition, and the Gurkhas are still in service in several parts of the former British Empire, the kukri in question may be contemporary, but not a fake or reproduction, but a part of a living history. One day it will be antique.
A nice piece in any case and congratulations on a piece of history! ![]() |
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#5 |
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The Gurkha unit which served in the Falklands War was the 7th Duke of Edinburgh's Own Gurkha Rifles. IF this is a commemorative Kukhri, which I personally doubt, then the badge would be that of the particular Unit. I do not see that badge on your item though the pics are rather blurred.
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#8 | |
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Harry |
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#9 |
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Oh no question that this is a presentation piece. However, the old master silver-smiths may be long gone, and so we have who is left.
Now if this were for a king................ |
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#10 |
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As far as I am aware the Gurkhas didn't do a commemorative kukri for the Falklands War, the 2nd Gurkha Rifles and the 6th Gurkha Rifles (mainly made up of Magar and Gurung) were amalgamated in to the 1st Royal Gurkha Rifles in 1994, the 7th Gurkha Rifles and the 10th Gurkha rifles (mainly made up of Rai and Limbu) were amalgamated fully in 1996 to form the 2nd Royal Gurkha Rifles
PS Kukri in the Falklands War had blades around 28cm with issue date |
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#11 |
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Well, then, Sirapate, could this piece have been commissioned by one of the particular Gurkha companies for an officer?
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#12 |
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Hello all,
The kukri Harry shows is a typical mid to late 20th century presentation kothimora. This piece does not appear to have any military association. Similar kukri readily available commercially to this day, so anybody could go and buy one, but I have seen example which either have a presentation plaque attached the front, or which have come on a ready made stand which has said plaque attached. As has already been stated, such examples usually carry a regimental badge in place of the standard crossed kukris, but not always. As similar kukri are still produced today, so dating can be difficult. However, there is no reason that this example couldn't date back as far as the Falklands conflict, but naturally without any provenance or supporting evidence then that is as far as the attribution can go. As they have been made over a long period of time, the quality can vary greatly, as can the silver content, purity and amount. As with most things, older tends to be better. More often than not I see these pieces being given FROM gurkhas, rather than to them, usually officers and men who have either been posted alongside gurkhas in the field, etc. Part of the Gurkha tradition of gift giving to ones friends. A good display piece, which will look good alongside your others, but I wouldn't attempt to chop anything with it. All the best, Chris |
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Personally I very much doubt it was a Falklands War Era kukri, here are some pics with a 1969 and 1982 service issue kukri, the 1982 issue has the brass mounts (and often mistakenly called a Mk5), its specs are; it has a 28cm long blade, with a belly of 4.5cm, with a brass mounted horn handle of 11.5cm in length, and weighs 480 grams.
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#14 |
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Also when a Kothimora kukri is presented by Gurkhas to another Gurkha or someone they like, it usually has a silver plaque on the Kothimora scabbard with the recipients name on it as in the picture below, also on older kukri made for Officers given to them by a Gurkha the kukri often had the details etched on the blade, picture below.
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#15 | ||
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Lovely MK5 examples Sirupate, not particularly relevant to Harry's kukri, but a lovely contrast between issue and private (presentation) purchase.
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All the best, Chris |
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#16 | |
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#18 | |
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#19 | ||
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Even though this has absolutely nothing to do with Harry's original question...
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I think you may be confusing it with the War Office. All the very best, Chris P.S. I think we have disrupted this thread quite enough. If you have any further questions, or seek further discussion, I will happily converse with you via PM. |
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#20 |
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Your quite correct on the War Office, however, on the Mk5, that would be correct if the current Service issue was designated as a Mk5, but it isn't Chris
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#21 |
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Back on topic, so this type of kothimora kukri would be given to whom from a Gurkha?
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#22 |
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I don't think it is a presentation Kothimora (pronounced Kotimora) of the Gurkhas Battara, I think it is more likely to be a kukri made for retail than a Kothimora kukri of the Gurkhas
The main reasons that Kothimora kukri that the Gurkhas give out are; 1. For retired Gurkha Officers 2. For someone they like or has earned their respect that has served with them 3. To another unit that has served alongside them To civilians like myself Gurkhas themselves tend to give their service issue if they like and respect you. In 2001 in Nepal with the then Royal Nepalese Army I taught one of the Close Quarter Instructors to their Para Commando Shreedhar Bhujel and he presented me with a swagger stick and a personnel kukri Last edited by sirupate; 2nd March 2016 at 09:21 AM. |
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#23 | |
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The "Mark 5" has been in service since circa 1965, to the present day. It was introduced after the failure of the Mark 4. Therefore, it is the Mark 5 Unless you can prove that the Mark 5 has never been designated as "Mark 5" at any time during its long service life, then I guess we shall just have to agree to disagree. |
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#24 | |
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Whilst Harry's kukri is not military in origin, i.e. a service weapon, it is still quite common to see such commercially available items bought by regiments, and handed out to various "friends" of the regiment. As in India, in Nepal there is a long tradition of presenting weapons as gifts. Generally Gurkha's are a canny bunch, and will tailor the quality of the gift to the importance of the recipient. I recently saw images of a ceremony in Nepal where a Gurkha regiment was presenting some of its members with very cheap Lionshead kukri, of the type commonly labelled "Tourist Pieces". If I can get permission, I shall share those images here. Perhaps if Simon still has his "Presentation" kukri he would like to share it with us, it is rather hard to see from his image. Attached is another readily available commercial kukri, given by The Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment to a friend of mine in the Parachute Regiment, shortly after their formation in 2001. Kind regards, Chris |
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#25 | |
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Potentially the earliest pictures I have seen of what the GM's in Pokhara and Winchester as well as the Gurkhas themselves call the Service number one (or ceremonial) is 1953. There were also many interim kukri issued until the various regiments for whatever reason (probably financial) decided to settle on the service number one, examples of pictures of interim issued kukri are; 1. The picture of Tulbahadur Pun in 1953 shows him holding his service number one, 2. Chan Bahadur Gurung with his service kukri 3. 63rd Gurkha Brigade 4. Lalbahadur Gurung etc. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjXEVYy4aNI Picture GM in Pokhara Last edited by sirupate; 2nd March 2016 at 11:20 PM. |
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#26 | |
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PS a Lion Head Kothimora |
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#27 | |
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Which rather puts your claim of designing this “Tiger” motif in doubt? Especially considering the example you share also shows a Tiger. Tigers and indeed Lions are a very common theme on many presentation weapons, especially kukris. You may also be interested in this Tiger example, presented in 1965…quite some time before you invented it!! http://www.abridgeover.net/kukri.htm |
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#28 | |||
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You seem to illustrate the “parade” version of the MKV. In uniform terms, a service No1 refers to a soldiers parade uniform. I believe this is where your confusion stems from. Quote:
Post WW2 most Gurkha units would have used up the vast stocks of MKII and MKIII left over from the war. Once these were gone, and the MK IV proved unsuccessful, it seems various regiments made their own arrangements until the MKV was decided upon. This took several years, and did not emerge until the mid 1960's. It has now been in production for over 50 years with some variation, but basically unchanged. Its constant characteristics are a horn handle, brass furniture, and a 10 to 11 inch blade. Not all are marked and dated as you state, but most carry the words “Ordep” or “Ordep Nepal” and a date. *Picture credit V.K.Kunwor* |
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#29 | ||
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The picture of Lieutenant Tul Bahadur Pun VC (To afford a brave man his full title) Clearly not a MKV. Obviously one of those “interim” issue kukri you mention, or perhaps a private purchase piece? Victoria Cross winners are usually cut quite a lot of leeway, especially in publicity photographs. But certainly not a MKV. Chan Bahadur Gurung isn’t holding a MKV either, and that image dates from 1962. (Image Credit Getty Images) Lalbahadur Gurung appears to be holding a MKIII. (Image Credit: Taken from "The Gurkha" by James and Small, Published 1966) And as for this: Quote:
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#30 | |
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How you magically came to the conclusion that I said that I invented the use of the 'Tiger' on Kothimora is beyond me, and fanciful me thinks! |
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