A kukri - good or no good ?

Freddy · 15th January 2006, 09:24 PM

Not really my thing, but I couldn't resist

I found this kukri, but I'm not sure it's a good one. It's a heavy piece weighing approx. 600 grs. What attrackted me most to this piece was the handle and the decoration on the blade.

The handle is made of aluminium ? Anyway, it's not iron (I tested it with a magnet). The scrollwork on both sides of the blade seems to be made of the same material. There's also a small amount of decoration on the back of the blade. The blade itself is pretty sharp and 7 mm thick.

The scabbard is made of wood, covered with leather. It's has an unusual shape an can be hanged from a belt. On the front two small pockets are provided for the small knives (which are missing). In my oppinion, a cheaply made thing.

Total length : 40 cm.

What do our kukri-experts think of this one ?

Rick · 15th January 2006, 09:31 PM

Freddy , would you add one more picture please ?
One of the entire hilt and blade .
Thanks .

Andrew · 15th January 2006, 09:44 PM

Hi Freddy,

This is a Burmese-made kukhri. Probably not made for use.

The handle demonstrates the same decoration seen on "Temple Dha", and is usually made of white metal. The koftgari on the blade is also a very typical Burmese decoration.

Best,
Andrew

Freddy · 15th January 2006, 09:50 PM

I didn't know they made kukhri in Burma.

Here comes the pic of the entire piece :

Seems to me that it's better made than the tourist kukhri with 'India' stamped in the blade.

Tim Simmons · 15th January 2006, 09:51 PM

Hi Freddy,

This looks like a strange Burmese version of a Kukri. To me the scabbard looks as if it could be ww2 but the strap with the press stud that goes around the handle does not look that old. The knife does not look that used either. I have seen Kukri style/type knives that are said to have been used or made for the "Burma Boys" some clearly made in India. Could this be something inspired by the knives of the many nations involved in the jungle fighting in Burma or just after? Tim

Andrew · 15th January 2006, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddy

I didn't know they made kukhri in Burma.

Here comes the pic of the entire piece :

Seems to me that it's better made than the tourist kukhri with 'India' stamped in the blade.

They do but, in my experience, not very good quality.

Some forms of the Burmese martial art Bando do use the kukhri in their systems, however.

I've had a couple of these, but never held on to them for long. The handle material/deocoration and that particular type of koftgari are not typically indicative of a weapon made for heavy use. Your example may, indeed, be better quality as individual results may vary.

JPSF · 16th January 2006, 05:23 PM

Definitely not a true kukri, but either a copy of the design from Burma or Indonesia. As Andrew said, not for use and probably a pure tourist piece. The scabbard doesn't sem to fit, but one never knows what to expect with "bazaar" pieces.

spiral · 17th January 2006, 03:07 PM

Definatly one of the modern Burmese or northen Thai copys.

That length & weight ratio would be very much tourist quality in a kukri.

Spiral

Battara · 17th January 2006, 09:55 PM

Andrew is right, not surprised to see these because there were ghurka regiments under the British fighting the Japanese in Burma. Thus they later got incorporated into Bando.

Andrew · 17th January 2006, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

Andrew is right...

I never tire of hearing this.

(Now if only I could convince my wife...)

Ian · 18th January 2006, 01:20 AM

The rather crude "koftgari" type of inlay on the blade, and the punched designs above it, are typical northern Thai work, similar to decorations on the (inexpensive) display dha from the same area.

Ian.

Andrew · 18th January 2006, 04:53 AM

lol. Ian agrees with my wife.

Northern Thai is another very viable option. There is such frequent cross-over between some N. Thai and Burmese stuff, it can be difficult to draw a bright line between the regions.

15th January 2006, 09:24 PM	#1
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	A kukri - good or no good ? Not really my thing, but I couldn't resist I found this kukri, but I'm not sure it's a good one. It's a heavy piece weighing approx. 600 grs. What attrackted me most to this piece was the handle and the decoration on the blade. The handle is made of aluminium ? Anyway, it's not iron (I tested it with a magnet). The scrollwork on both sides of the blade seems to be made of the same material. There's also a small amount of decoration on the back of the blade. The blade itself is pretty sharp and 7 mm thick. The scabbard is made of wood, covered with leather. It's has an unusual shape an can be hanged from a belt. On the front two small pockets are provided for the small knives (which are missing). In my oppinion, a cheaply made thing. Total length : 40 cm. What do our kukri-experts think of this one ?

15th January 2006, 09:51 PM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Hi Freddy, This looks like a strange Burmese version of a Kukri. To me the scabbard looks as if it could be ww2 but the strap with the press stud that goes around the handle does not look that old. The knife does not look that used either. I have seen Kukri style/type knives that are said to have been used or made for the "Burma Boys" some clearly made in India. Could this be something inspired by the knives of the many nations involved in the jungle fighting in Burma or just after? Tim Last edited by Tim Simmons; 15th January 2006 at 10:02 PM.

17th January 2006, 03:07 PM	#8
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Definatly one of the modern Burmese or northen Thai copys. That length & weight ratio would be very much tourist quality in a kukri. Spiral Last edited by spiral; 17th January 2006 at 04:13 PM.

15th January 2006, 09:31 PM	#2
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	Freddy , would you add one more picture please ? One of the entire hilt and blade . Thanks .

15th January 2006, 09:44 PM	#3
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	Hi Freddy, This is a Burmese-made kukhri. Probably not made for use. The handle demonstrates the same decoration seen on "Temple Dha", and is usually made of white metal. The koftgari on the blade is also a very typical Burmese decoration. Best, Andrew

15th January 2006, 09:50 PM	#4
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	I didn't know they made kukhri in Burma. Here comes the pic of the entire piece : Seems to me that it's better made than the tourist kukhri with 'India' stamped in the blade.

16th January 2006, 05:23 PM	#7
JPSF Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 56	Definitely not a true kukri, but either a copy of the design from Burma or Indonesia. As Andrew said, not for use and probably a pure tourist piece. The scabbard doesn't sem to fit, but one never knows what to expect with "bazaar" pieces.

17th January 2006, 09:55 PM	#9
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,219	Andrew is right, not surprised to see these because there were ghurka regiments under the British fighting the Japanese in Burma. Thus they later got incorporated into Bando.

18th January 2006, 01:20 AM	#11
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,198	The rather crude "koftgari" type of inlay on the blade, and the punched designs above it, are typical northern Thai work, similar to decorations on the (inexpensive) display dha from the same area. Ian.

18th January 2006, 04:53 AM	#12
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	lol. Ian agrees with my wife. Northern Thai is another very viable option. There is such frequent cross-over between some N. Thai and Burmese stuff, it can be difficult to draw a bright line between the regions.