Old Kukri

Rick · 30th May 2009, 09:18 PM

I found this at a barn sale today and after derusting the blade found what I think is a pretty old Kuk . See pictures .
The blade is beautifully forged !
Steel butt plate secured by square cut nail .
Blade is 13 inches, 2 1/8" wide at the belly .
Overall length 16 3/4 "

Age ?
Comments ?

scratch · 30th May 2009, 10:52 PM

G'day Rick

A nice find. American barns seem packed to the rafters with odd finds?
I would guess a good quality WW1 era military orientated kukri, possibly as late as 1930's. I may of course be mistaken.
Thank you for sharing a nice example of this type.

Best regards,

Dan

Rick · 30th May 2009, 11:08 PM

Thanks Dan .
A sirupate ?
I love the way the cheeks of the blade go concave and then thicken again right at the edge . It has a nicely dished feel .

Nepali perhaps ?

A shame the edge is beat and rolled, but I guess it is a user not a play pretty .

scratch · 31st May 2009, 03:20 AM

G,day Rick
To me not a sirupati/slender grass style. I will post what I believe to be a sirupati type blade. To me it seems terms such as sirupati, lambendh, budhume are used in a descriptive sense rather than rigid application.
I have attached a similiar, to me, type/era kukri that also exhibits the lovely hollow forge and beveled edge that you mention Rick.
I believe both kukris would be consider Nepalese. Hopefully the knowledgeable collecters will comment with research rather than my speculation.
Thanks again for sharing, These old kukri seem well made to me.

Kind regards,

Daniel

Rick · 31st May 2009, 04:17 AM

Yes, in a way the entire blade is forged into one wide fuller .

I think my example has a bit different shape than what you show .

Wonder if this one is shear steel .
How to tell ?

It's all good though .

Thanks Dan

sirupate · 31st May 2009, 08:55 AM

A very nice kukri Rick, I would say a post WWI and a pre-WWII military kukri, although hollow forged military issue kukri were definately in use in WWII, but the decoration grooves look pre-WWII.
I would certainley agree with scratch that it is not a sirupate style, I will post what a lot of collectors would consider a WWII sirupate style a bit later.
I also doubt it is made of Shear steel, and it was probably made somewhere in pre-partition India, either by an IA contractor, or in some cases by the Regimental kami themselves.

Another nice kukri Scratch

WWII style sirupate (although slightly to angled and broad to be a true sirupate shape)

Rick · 31st May 2009, 12:12 PM

Thanks for helping nail this one down a bit Gents !

Interesting input .

Pukka Bundook · 2nd June 2009, 02:02 PM

Nice kukri Rick.

Do you have a pic. of the butt-cap, square on?

If you lay the blade edge on a vise, or anvil, you may be able to tap the rolled parts back with a very light ball-peen hammer. If you do it right it shouldn't show that you had to "operate" on it!

Thanks for showing it Rick.

Richard.

Rick · 2nd June 2009, 03:22 PM

Thank you Richard .
I have a small chasing hammer that I will try on the rolled edge parts .

A picture of the butt .
The handle seems quite diminuitive .
I have small hands and it feels a bit small when gripped .

30th May 2009, 09:18 PM	#1
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,290	Old Kukri I found this at a barn sale today and after derusting the blade found what I think is a pretty old Kuk . See pictures . The blade is beautifully forged ! Steel butt plate secured by square cut nail . Blade is 13 inches, 2 1/8" wide at the belly . Overall length 16 3/4 " Age ? Comments ? Attached Images Last edited by Rick; 30th May 2009 at 09:37 PM.

31st May 2009, 03:20 AM	#4
scratch Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 96	G,day Rick To me not a sirupati/slender grass style. I will post what I believe to be a sirupati type blade. To me it seems terms such as sirupati, lambendh, budhume are used in a descriptive sense rather than rigid application. I have attached a similiar, to me, type/era kukri that also exhibits the lovely hollow forge and beveled edge that you mention Rick. I believe both kukris would be consider Nepalese. Hopefully the knowledgeable collecters will comment with research rather than my speculation. Thanks again for sharing, These old kukri seem well made to me. Kind regards, Daniel Attached Images

31st May 2009, 08:55 AM	#6
sirupate Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: England Posts: 373	A very nice kukri Rick, I would say a post WWI and a pre-WWII military kukri, although hollow forged military issue kukri were definately in use in WWII, but the decoration grooves look pre-WWII. I would certainley agree with scratch that it is not a sirupate style, I will post what a lot of collectors would consider a WWII sirupate style a bit later. I also doubt it is made of Shear steel, and it was probably made somewhere in pre-partition India, either by an IA contractor, or in some cases by the Regimental kami themselves. Another nice kukri Scratch WWII style sirupate (although slightly to angled and broad to be a true sirupate shape) Last edited by sirupate; 31st May 2009 at 11:44 AM.

2nd June 2009, 03:22 PM	#9
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,290	Thank you Richard . I have a small chasing hammer that I will try on the rolled edge parts . A picture of the butt . The handle seems quite diminuitive . I have small hands and it feels a bit small when gripped . Attached Images

30th May 2009, 10:52 PM	#2
scratch Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 96	G'day Rick A nice find. American barns seem packed to the rafters with odd finds? I would guess a good quality WW1 era military orientated kukri, possibly as late as 1930's. I may of course be mistaken. Thank you for sharing a nice example of this type. Best regards, Dan

30th May 2009, 11:08 PM	#3
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,290	Thanks Dan . A sirupate ? I love the way the cheeks of the blade go concave and then thicken again right at the edge . It has a nicely dished feel . Nepali perhaps ? A shame the edge is beat and rolled, but I guess it is a user not a play pretty .

31st May 2009, 04:17 AM	#5
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,290	Yes, in a way the entire blade is forged into one wide fuller . I think my example has a bit different shape than what you show . Wonder if this one is shear steel . How to tell ? It's all good though . Thanks Dan

31st May 2009, 12:12 PM	#7
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,290	Thanks for helping nail this one down a bit Gents ! Interesting input .

2nd June 2009, 02:02 PM	#8
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	Nice kukri Rick. Do you have a pic. of the butt-cap, square on? If you lay the blade edge on a vise, or anvil, you may be able to tap the rolled parts back with a very light ball-peen hammer. If you do it right it shouldn't show that you had to "operate" on it! Thanks for showing it Rick. Richard.