A kukri - good or no good ?

[Freddy]

Not really my thing, but I couldn't resist :p

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 ?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/Afbeelding1767.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/Afbeelding1769.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/Afbeelding1771.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/Afbeelding1772.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/Afbeelding1773.jpg

[Rick]

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

[Andrew]

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]

I didn't know they made kukhri in Burma. :confused:

Here comes the pic of the entire piece :

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/Afbeelding1796.jpg

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

[Tim Simmons]

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]

I didn't know they made kukhri in Burma. :confused:

Here comes the pic of the entire piece :

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/Afbeelding1796.jpg

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]

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]

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]

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]

Andrew is right...

I never tire of hearing this. :D (Now if only I could convince my wife...)

[Ian]

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]

lol. Ian agrees with my wife. :D

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.