A Kukri for Comments

[derek]

I recently got this kukri with a really well done wooden scabbard. the details are sweet. It even has "leather" straps carved into it. The knife is 17" OAL and has some nice brass between the tang and scales. I've seen one other with a quality wooden scabbard on JP's site.


http://www.ancient-east.com/collection/2005/kuk-wood3.jpg

http://www.ancient-east.com/collection/2005/kuk-wood4.jpg

http://www.ancient-east.com/collection/2005/kuk-wood.jpg

-d

[Berkley]

A very handsome scabbard, with a level of workmanship quite superior to the rather crude "village" character of most wooden kukri scabbards I have seen. The chiruwa-style horn handle is quite unusual for a wooden scabbard piece, and also appears to be of a high level of craftsmanship, especially the carved detail incised into the tang. Would love to see a picture of the blade.

[derek]

Forgot to post the blade in the first place:
http://www.ancient-east.com/collection/2005/kuk-wood2.jpg

[inveterate]

A nice "Sirupate" Derek. Very good work on the scabbard. a nice pick up.
Rod Allen

[Berkley]

Rod,
I have read that "The Sirupate is based on the siru leaf found in Eastern Nepal." I have been unable to locate any reference to the siru plant. Do you have any idea what sort of bush, tree, etc. it is, or where I might look for pictures or decriptions? Thanks,
Berk

BTW, I completely agree with your description of Derek's sirupate as "a nice pick up". Unlike the usual wood scabbard (which seems to be the product of necessity and poverty where leather is scarce or expensive), the choice of wood here seems to be for the purpose of showing off the woodcarver's skill in matching the level of craftsmanship shown by the knife itself.

[inveterate]

Berkely, have you tried a Google on Sirupate? Rod

[inveterate]

Berk,Check out Imperata Arundinacia with a google search, heaps of info on the plant under this,its Latin Name. Cheers Rod

[Berkley]

Rod,
As Uncle Bill always said, "Thanks for good help".
Berk

[tom hyle]

Of course, most kukuri sheaths are wooden, but just hide-covered.

[sirupate]

Hello Derek,

Very nice eklohat siupate with a very nicely done chirawal paro Bendh (handle). A Beautifuly carved dap, definately done for a wealthy Nepali.
The sirupate seems to originate from the Limbu tribe in Eastern Nepal, and is now widely used all over Nepal.

Cheers Simon

[spiral]

Lovely kukri Derek, The only one I have ever seen with {Brass?} liners to protect the tang from the rust that can be sometimes caused by the horn or woods moisture absorbing properties.

Lovely scabbard indeed!

Far too posh for a villager! ;) Nice find!

Spiral

[RobT]

That's the best looking split hilt kukri I have ever seen. Could I get a few translations for sirupate's post? What is eklohat? I assume the "pate" part of surupate means leaf as in sosun pata? What is paro bendh? Is dap another word for cho? Thanks to any and all for the help.
Sincerely,
RobT

[sirupate]

Hello Rob,

Eklohat means singlehanded, paro means tang, bendh refers to the handle and dap is the scabbard.

Hope that is of help :) Cheers Simon

[Conogre]

Is or will all of that information be recorded in the Kukri site as it developes?
I imediately started to grab a pencil and then realized I'd lose it in 7-8 seconds....strong pain medications can be extremely discouraging at times! :D
Mike

[RobT]

Simon, thanks very much for the kukri translations. Could I trouble you a bit further to respond to some questions engendered by your answers? Of what use is the term eklohat (single handed) when referring to kukri? I thought all kukri were single handed. Does the term chirawal paro bendh translate literally as tang split hilt and could you also correctly use panna batta paro bendh? Many thanks,
RobT

[spiral]

Rob, The Myth of the Hanshee & the Origin of kukri threads on this forum should explain about the one & a half hand & double hand kukris. {the Hatrayadha Sirupate & Doharohat Sirupate respectivly, formely inaccuratly known as Hanshee.}

Spiral

[Ferguson]

Nothing at all similar to the quality of Dereks very fine piece, but I like this nice little kukuri. It's 14 3/4" long, and has seen much use. Spine is 5/16" thick. Handle is small, for Nepali hands, so it fits me well.

Steve

[Berkley]

Ferguson,
I'm quite partial to these wooden-scabbard village kukris, as they tend to be very functional as well as representing the best sort of folk art. Yours has a lovely patina on the handle and scabbard, likely indicative of both use and age. Like most of these products of small village smithies , the blade is not finely polished but still retains much of the scale from its forging.
You might enjoy checking out the new International Kukri Research & Historical Society forum (http://ikrhs.com/phpBB2/index.php?c=1&sid=aee523682dfc1bb5175d23d6af8b73ce).
Thanks for posting the excellent photos.
Berkley

[Ferguson]

Thanks Berkley! :)

I think you'll remember this one, my favorite modern-made khukuri, the "Berk Special" Dui Chirra.


Steve