Monstrous Kukri for comment

Valjhun · 31st October 2010, 06:53 PM

Hello!

Today I've came across that big Kukri I've bohught some time ago.

The hilt is made from aluminuim and brass. Steel massive and heavy blade measures 50 cm (20 inch) in lenght. Quality made.

Leather covered scabbard with deterioratins suggesting its age.

In fact, it does feel old. Atl least 19th century.

But I just cannot imaging it as a battle piece.

Am I wrong? A tourist piece?

kronckew · 31st October 2010, 08:11 PM

usually the larger ones like this were and are ceremonial, still used for beheading a bullock at religious festivals, as noted too heavy for battle use. the tradition is that the bullock must be beheaded humanely with one blow, and it is bad luck for the whole next year on the wielder and his family and village if he does not. he is shunned till the next year.

they of course do sell touristy ones to the gullible foreigners. this doesn't look like one of those tho.

they are referred to as Janawar katne/katnu = animal cutter. Also known as maar hani, meaning something like "sacrificial killing".

a search here on janawar will bring up more info.

Battara · 31st October 2010, 10:35 PM

Hilts like this I think indicate WWII. The kukri kuks will have more to say on this type.......you guys out there?

Gonzalo G · 1st November 2010, 06:18 AM

I am the less idicated to answer, but it seems a Chainpure. Scabbard indicates military and handle maybe from a military musician, but not necessarily.
Better to wait for the experts. Meanwhile, you can search "chainpure" or "chainpuri" on the web. I agree with Battara.
Regards

Gonzalo

spiral · 1st November 2010, 10:23 AM

These are interesting pieces Valijun, Ive had a few of them, I agree with Kronckew & Battara its a ww2 era piece sold as a sacrificial kukri for maar etc.

This style seems prevelant in the Darjeeling/Assam area & many of all sizes were bought by British & American service personel during ww2. Some of the smaller ones were carried some were for mementoes. The frog indicates it was marketed towards ww2 era soldiers rather than locals as Gonzalo indicates.

The grips are usualy a white metal mixture including large amounts of zinc, rather than aluminium, The blade spines are usualy flat rather than rounded.

I would be interested to know its weight & how far the point of balance is in front of the bolster.

spiral

laEspadaAncha · 1st November 2010, 05:15 PM

One of my kukris is very similar to Valjun's in the presence of a large, flared pommel, cross-hatching at both the (brass) bolster and mid-grip (though the grip on my example is made of is horn), similarly slender blade, and most importantly, in the styling of the closed, heart-shaped cho (which is more-or-less an exact match to Valjun's).

But a 20-inch blade?

I thought my own example was large, but it falls far short of that monster!

While it is the youngest of my kukri brood, I like it immensely for the large and long double fullered blade, which is signed in Devanagari and monogrammed in Latin alphabet at the choil. Poorly balanced as a weapon IMO, but distinct among my kukris.

My understanding is these come from Chitlange, in Nepal. A couple of the Nepalese production houses still offer this style kukri (click here) - and it seems they are produced with an aluminum handle and brass bolster. A quick search for "Chitlange kukri" will turn up other examples. While the cho is not an exact match on these contemporary examples, it is IMHO similar in that it is closed off... I also agree with others and think the example shown here has a little age.

Valjhun · 1st November 2010, 06:06 PM

Hi,

Thank you everybody fror your helpfull comments.

The balance point is as showed on the nex photo.

The kukri weights 1.430 gramms, withot scabbard.

spiral · 3rd November 2010, 02:43 PM

Thanks for the measurments!

Chitlange come with a full length fuller & untill the last few years a bell shaped hilt/pommel. This kukri exhibits none of those features.

6 years ago when I watched these bieng made in Dharan & marketed in Kathmamndo by the various factors, they were still made of white metal then not aluminium.

Perhaps they have changed the alloy recently? or perhaps they got the word Alloy & Aluminium confused. Many westerners also seem to have id problems with alloys after all. With the featured kukri the balance point with an Aluminium handle would be much further forward.

An alloy handle & nearly closed cho do not a chitlange make.

But as they say "whats in a name"

It is definatly a kukri though! {or is that khukri,kookery,khukuri etc.etc.

}

spiral

laEspadaAncha · 3rd November 2010, 08:23 PM

Thanks Spiral for the correction & the information...

Any suggestions for a good resource - online or otherwise - that would serve as a solid reference point for determining a kukri's origin?

Regards,

Chris

31st October 2010, 06:53 PM	#1
Valjhun Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 692	Monstrous Kukri for comment Hello! Today I've came across that big Kukri I've bohught some time ago. The hilt is made from aluminuim and brass. Steel massive and heavy blade measures 50 cm (20 inch) in lenght. Quality made. Leather covered scabbard with deterioratins suggesting its age. In fact, it does feel old. Atl least 19th century. But I just cannot imaging it as a battle piece. Am I wrong? A tourist piece? Attached Images

31st October 2010, 08:11 PM	#2
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,183	usually the larger ones like this were and are ceremonial, still used for beheading a bullock at religious festivals, as noted too heavy for battle use. the tradition is that the bullock must be beheaded humanely with one blow, and it is bad luck for the whole next year on the wielder and his family and village if he does not. he is shunned till the next year. they of course do sell touristy ones to the gullible foreigners. this doesn't look like one of those tho. they are referred to as Janawar katne/katnu = animal cutter. Also known as maar hani, meaning something like "sacrificial killing". a search here on janawar will bring up more info. Last edited by kronckew; 31st October 2010 at 08:22 PM.

1st November 2010, 06:18 AM	#4
Gonzalo G Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Nothern Mexico Posts: 458	I am the less idicated to answer, but it seems a Chainpure. Scabbard indicates military and handle maybe from a military musician, but not necessarily. Better to wait for the experts. Meanwhile, you can search "chainpure" or "chainpuri" on the web. I agree with Battara. Regards Gonzalo Last edited by Gonzalo G; 1st November 2010 at 06:53 AM.

1st November 2010, 06:06 PM	#7
Valjhun Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 692	Hi, Thank you everybody fror your helpfull comments. The balance point is as showed on the nex photo. The kukri weights 1.430 gramms, withot scabbard. Attached Images

31st October 2010, 10:35 PM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,219	Hilts like this I think indicate WWII. The kukri kuks will have more to say on this type.......you guys out there?

1st November 2010, 10:23 AM	#5
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	These are interesting pieces Valijun, Ive had a few of them, I agree with Kronckew & Battara its a ww2 era piece sold as a sacrificial kukri for maar etc. This style seems prevelant in the Darjeeling/Assam area & many of all sizes were bought by British & American service personel during ww2. Some of the smaller ones were carried some were for mementoes. The frog indicates it was marketed towards ww2 era soldiers rather than locals as Gonzalo indicates. The grips are usualy a white metal mixture including large amounts of zinc, rather than aluminium, The blade spines are usualy flat rather than rounded. I would be interested to know its weight & how far the point of balance is in front of the bolster. spiral

1st November 2010, 05:15 PM	#6
laEspadaAncha Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 608	One of my kukris is very similar to Valjun's in the presence of a large, flared pommel, cross-hatching at both the (brass) bolster and mid-grip (though the grip on my example is made of is horn), similarly slender blade, and most importantly, in the styling of the closed, heart-shaped cho (which is more-or-less an exact match to Valjun's). But a 20-inch blade? I thought my own example was large, but it falls far short of that monster! While it is the youngest of my kukri brood, I like it immensely for the large and long double fullered blade, which is signed in Devanagari and monogrammed in Latin alphabet at the choil. Poorly balanced as a weapon IMO, but distinct among my kukris. My understanding is these come from Chitlange, in Nepal. A couple of the Nepalese production houses still offer this style kukri (click here) - and it seems they are produced with an aluminum handle and brass bolster. A quick search for "Chitlange kukri" will turn up other examples. While the cho is not an exact match on these contemporary examples, it is IMHO similar in that it is closed off... I also agree with others and think the example shown here has a little age.

3rd November 2010, 02:43 PM	#8
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Thanks for the measurments! Chitlange come with a full length fuller & untill the last few years a bell shaped hilt/pommel. This kukri exhibits none of those features. 6 years ago when I watched these bieng made in Dharan & marketed in Kathmamndo by the various factors, they were still made of white metal then not aluminium. Perhaps they have changed the alloy recently? or perhaps they got the word Alloy & Aluminium confused. Many westerners also seem to have id problems with alloys after all. With the featured kukri the balance point with an Aluminium handle would be much further forward. An alloy handle & nearly closed cho do not a chitlange make. But as they say "whats in a name" It is definatly a kukri though! {or is that khukri,kookery,khukuri etc.etc. } spiral

3rd November 2010, 08:23 PM	#9
laEspadaAncha Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 608	Thanks Spiral for the correction & the information... Any suggestions for a good resource - online or otherwise - that would serve as a solid reference point for determining a kukri's origin? Regards, Chris