Kukri production British India
 

In the publication British and Commonwealth Military knives.Ron Flook illustrates centers of manufacture as diverse as E Boota&Son {sikh} Rawalpindi now in Pakistan to Calcuta some way from Nepal.Various shapes and size may and may not be marked , made for both world wars.Some of the early ones being well used, can look most impressive.Are they still the ethnographic weapon you want to have?Tim

Without doubt :D

Cheers Simon

Good question.
As I understand it, Nepal designates the knife as THE national knife, but again the question arises of history.....just how widespread WAS the knife, during what periods, what local "flavors" developed over time, etc, etc.
In regards to kukris, I'm still following threads, reading versions, etc. and so far it appears that we have a situation similar to the dha, daarb or dah in that it rapidly spread over a wide and diverse area over a time period of up to 2,000 years or so (at least) so I suspect that the answer is yes.
In regards to this particular style of knife, I'm still one of the "newbies", thus am more than willing to defer to the more knowledgable and just absorb information, while I suspect we have a few members breathing a sigh of relief and saying, "It's about time....sheeeeesh!" **grin**
Mike

Intresting question Tim,
For me they are still ethnographic collectables, although military issue, the vast majority were still hand forged ground & fitted. Hence thier individuality.

Military mark kukris still have massive individual variations amongst even a particuler mark, made by the same "factory" {read big workshop} on the same contract in the same year, passed by the same inspector.

The kukri is also the native tool of the Garhwallis in India & there were /are very large Gurkha communities in Bengal/Assam & Burma as well as other parts of India.

Rawlpindi was a large gurkha base for heading for 100 years, so it seems natural to me that they would have got ther weapon of choice made localy.

Also On this theme Would you accept the inacuratly called {IMHO} "Indian machetes" illustrated by Ron Flook as collectable Ethnographics? {Surley they are military issue Dha?} Although they do have roller marks implying the were machine made rather than hand forged.

Regards,
Spiral

Hi Spiral, this is a difficult question.I tend to feel they are on the whole not an ethnographic collectors piece in the strictist sence, but being made to supply a largely "ethnic" group there is some crossover .I myself am waiting to find one of the early kukris mentioned cheap enough to temp me.I would also snap up any used military issue Dha and Dao both of which I have not yet encountered except for the new Dao type machete.Tim

Hello Chaps,

I thought that Ethnographic was to do with scientific study of ethnic groups and their cultures, the kukri is very much a part of the Nepalese culture, so surely it doesn't matter where it was made?

Cheers Simon

Well Tim, ww1 & ww2 kukri certainly turn up on ebay & through dealers, but cheaply is not always the case!

Intrestingly the modern Indian fakes of the Mk.2 style, normaly dated 1917 & with inspector stamp "37" with brass handle fittings quite often seem to sell for more than the originals :mad:

I guess they are often shiney though :rolleyes: .

As long as an item is handmade {at least partialy} & in an ethnic style , I percieve them as ethnographic.

If made in thier ethnic area by machine for locals ,I percieve them as ethnographic.

If made in thier ethnic area by machine for export,I percieve them as commercial, semi/almost ethnographic. :rolleyes:

If made in a non ethnic area by machine for sale to non original ethnic people,I percieve them as commercial copies, non ethnographic. :eek:

regards,
Spiral

I think you have got the definition right on nail Spiral :D

Cheers Simon

I agree with your definition Spiral, even if not technically correct in a puritanical sense. Rod

Amazon had a copy, so I grabbed it and "The Unfettered Mind" (to get free shipping). Looking forward to reading both.

-d

Its a book that certainly earns its keep, & Is I understand out of print nowadays.

Spiral