Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post - 2015 update to the 20th century Gurkha issue kukri article

spiral · 11th February 2015, 06:44 PM

Then we have the Regimental or Battalion Marked Kukri.

Many collectors see this as very alluring kukri, which I can understand, those made in peacetime in particular are very well made & finished & are a well designed semi-traditional kukri usually at earlier dates{WW! & 1920s} an ergonomic grip.

Many kukris have of course been used by the Nepali Gurkhas of the British army, with many purchased by various, companys, battalion, regiments, from many different Indian contractors & in times of shortage due to economics,transport,number of recruits in wartime conditions even occasional manufacture by Battalion kami or armourers,{The 10GR in WW1 & the 2/8t GR in WW2. Bieng to notable examples.} & of course there were many,many private purchases by individual officers & men.

Many traditional kukris are seen in photos from WW1 & WW2 and these can be either early or more unofficial Battalion{non Official pattern.} purchased or made kukri, private purchase or even family heirloom kukri on occasion, as according to the Brigade of Gurkhas website most Gurkhas returned from thir first leave with a traditional kukri rather than a military issue variant. Judging from photos many still carried issue pattern kukri though. Of course at that time their leave was more often in India rather than Nepal so many private purchase Indian made kukri were also aquired & carried, then as today solders often prefer private & individual kit, Historical Family kukris from Gurkha forebears were sometimes even brought along by the new recruits, but according to some testimonies from WW2 veterans, those that did bring there family kukri would often only use those as their weapons while using the issue kukri for utility work.

Here are some unit marked kukri from WW1 & WW2 era.

The middle two were favoured by many Gurkhas & they were still carried in ww2 by some of them. I have seen authenticated versions carried by the 6th,8th & 10 Gurkha regiments.

The version on the left is a WW2 model for the 9th Gurkha rifles, this & other similar pieces, sometimes with slightly varient blades are often, perhaps mistakenly called by collector's, "military sirupates" {Although In truth there not very Sirupate shaped} They were commonly carried by some regiments in WW2 & usually came from contractor's based around Dehradun. There scabbards are often covered with khaki canvas.{Example shown.}

The version on the right is WW1 era, Other styles of these kukri also exist, because so many different contractors were used over such a long period of time.
Some high quality versions come with buffalo horn hilts.

Sadly many individual specimiens do not carry unit markings. So its sometime impossible to know whether it was a Gurkha issue kukri or one bought from the same commercial kukri factors that usually made the kukri for the individual units.

Sadly careful high lens magnification by an experienced researcher is needed to authenticate these marked examples as original as over the last decade many fakes of these "Regimental" kukri have been coming onto the market on occasion from 2 main sources, most sadly the new marks have been added on some occasions to genuine old kukri. The Garhwali Regiments were also known to number there kukris.

.................................................. .................................................. ............................

There are 2 other very rare but clearly Official kukri types I feel must be mentioned.

The First is the very rare English made WW1 kukri often known as the Enfield kukri, In fact they appear to be made by commercial Sheffield firms including S&J Kitchen of which one known marked example has been seen. Some of them appear to have been made by another Sheffield or possibly Birmingham firm. They are known as Enfield kukri because they all carry Enfield inspection markings, dating from 1915 or 1916. They are quite light, very well made fighting kukri, although once again the choice of hilt timber, that of Birch seems not the best, due to lack of durability. They have rat tail tangs & the blades are usually 12 1/4 to 12 3/4 inches long. And the usually weigh around 15 to 17 oz. I assumed they were first made, as replacement kukri re supply to europe would have been quicker from the UK than from India. But perhaps the Gurkhas were also less than impressed with the feel of the heavy Cossipore 1915 mk.1s & some of the coarser full tang mk.2s? They are also unusual in often having a slightly stepped indeed recessed riccaso.. So far to date we don't know which units were issued these.They usually turn up in a variety of unusual often English made scabbards.

Here's an example.

Typical Enfield mark.

The other unusual kukri known to have been made & carried in WW2 that also carry's Official British Indian Army inspection marks, is the coarsely made kaudi less, slab hilted kukri that was probably an emergency issue, known to have been made by several firms including. SCW & Siraj. They are known to have been made in 1942 & 1943. At least 2 were property of a n Officer in a British Indian Army Paratroop unit, but whether they were issued, presented or picked up in theatre, we may never know.

According to P.A. Hayes of the Department of Weapons for the National Army Museum London It is known that Railway workshop's were contracted to produce kukris at this time & I think it quite likely these are from such a source.

They sometimes occur in plain wooden scabbards screwed together without a leather covering, otherwise they have sometimes been put in the official mk.2 pattern scabbards.. Sadly for such a rare kukri, there seem to be a few as yet unmarked fakes out there made by an American knife maker in the early 21st century.
......…………………………………………………………………………………

This finally last but by no means least a British Indian army khukri used in the 20th century that some assume is always 19th century. It is the pattern colloquially known as the "Longleaf" It was common in military usage during the 19th century but was certainly often carried by some units in the first decade of the 20th century of the up to & in some cases even during WW1. It was the kukri that Goorkhas first became famous with for amazing cutting feats.

They had blades from 14 3/4 to 16 inches. & an overall length of around 19 to 20 inches with weights of 25 to 32 oz.

The British issue piece although very similar with the Nepalese Army Longleaf kukri, shouldn't be confused with it. It is generally a finer made weapon, often with an partial T spine. Generally more suitable for parade wear & inspection in the British Indian army fashion as well as being a very fitting & powerful weapon.

An example.

I hope this article has been of interest & use,I welcome any further information & photos emailed to me at spiraltwista@aol.com please include kukri in title.

Enjoy your kukris!

Jai Kukri!

Spiral.

Photos & information on this page can be freely used elsewhere for discussion, as long as following statement is included.

“Text & photos copyright, Spiral JRS 1st Feb. 2015.” {& before..}

11th February 2015, 06:44 PM	#4
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Then we have the Regimental or Battalion Marked Kukri. Many collectors see this as very alluring kukri, which I can understand, those made in peacetime in particular are very well made & finished & are a well designed semi-traditional kukri usually at earlier dates{WW! & 1920s} an ergonomic grip. Many kukris have of course been used by the Nepali Gurkhas of the British army, with many purchased by various, companys, battalion, regiments, from many different Indian contractors & in times of shortage due to economics,transport,number of recruits in wartime conditions even occasional manufacture by Battalion kami or armourers,{The 10GR in WW1 & the 2/8t GR in WW2. Bieng to notable examples.} & of course there were many,many private purchases by individual officers & men. Many traditional kukris are seen in photos from WW1 & WW2 and these can be either early or more unofficial Battalion{non Official pattern.} purchased or made kukri, private purchase or even family heirloom kukri on occasion, as according to the Brigade of Gurkhas website most Gurkhas returned from thir first leave with a traditional kukri rather than a military issue variant. Judging from photos many still carried issue pattern kukri though. Of course at that time their leave was more often in India rather than Nepal so many private purchase Indian made kukri were also aquired & carried, then as today solders often prefer private & individual kit, Historical Family kukris from Gurkha forebears were sometimes even brought along by the new recruits, but according to some testimonies from WW2 veterans, those that did bring there family kukri would often only use those as their weapons while using the issue kukri for utility work. Here are some unit marked kukri from WW1 & WW2 era. The middle two were favoured by many Gurkhas & they were still carried in ww2 by some of them. I have seen authenticated versions carried by the 6th,8th & 10 Gurkha regiments. The version on the left is a WW2 model for the 9th Gurkha rifles, this & other similar pieces, sometimes with slightly varient blades are often, perhaps mistakenly called by collector's, "military sirupates" {Although In truth there not very Sirupate shaped} They were commonly carried by some regiments in WW2 & usually came from contractor's based around Dehradun. There scabbards are often covered with khaki canvas.{Example shown.} The version on the right is WW1 era, Other styles of these kukri also exist, because so many different contractors were used over such a long period of time. Some high quality versions come with buffalo horn hilts. Sadly many individual specimiens do not carry unit markings. So its sometime impossible to know whether it was a Gurkha issue kukri or one bought from the same commercial kukri factors that usually made the kukri for the individual units. Sadly careful high lens magnification by an experienced researcher is needed to authenticate these marked examples as original as over the last decade many fakes of these "Regimental" kukri have been coming onto the market on occasion from 2 main sources, most sadly the new marks have been added on some occasions to genuine old kukri. The Garhwali Regiments were also known to number there kukris. .................................................. .................................................. ............................ There are 2 other very rare but clearly Official kukri types I feel must be mentioned. The First is the very rare English made WW1 kukri often known as the Enfield kukri, In fact they appear to be made by commercial Sheffield firms including S&J Kitchen of which one known marked example has been seen. Some of them appear to have been made by another Sheffield or possibly Birmingham firm. They are known as Enfield kukri because they all carry Enfield inspection markings, dating from 1915 or 1916. They are quite light, very well made fighting kukri, although once again the choice of hilt timber, that of Birch seems not the best, due to lack of durability. They have rat tail tangs & the blades are usually 12 1/4 to 12 3/4 inches long. And the usually weigh around 15 to 17 oz. I assumed they were first made, as replacement kukri re supply to europe would have been quicker from the UK than from India. But perhaps the Gurkhas were also less than impressed with the feel of the heavy Cossipore 1915 mk.1s & some of the coarser full tang mk.2s? They are also unusual in often having a slightly stepped indeed recessed riccaso.. So far to date we don't know which units were issued these.They usually turn up in a variety of unusual often English made scabbards. Here's an example. Typical Enfield mark. The other unusual kukri known to have been made & carried in WW2 that also carry's Official British Indian Army inspection marks, is the coarsely made kaudi less, slab hilted kukri that was probably an emergency issue, known to have been made by several firms including. SCW & Siraj. They are known to have been made in 1942 & 1943. At least 2 were property of a n Officer in a British Indian Army Paratroop unit, but whether they were issued, presented or picked up in theatre, we may never know. According to P.A. Hayes of the Department of Weapons for the National Army Museum London It is known that Railway workshop's were contracted to produce kukris at this time & I think it quite likely these are from such a source. They sometimes occur in plain wooden scabbards screwed together without a leather covering, otherwise they have sometimes been put in the official mk.2 pattern scabbards.. Sadly for such a rare kukri, there seem to be a few as yet unmarked fakes out there made by an American knife maker in the early 21st century. ......………………………………………………………………………………… This finally last but by no means least a British Indian army khukri used in the 20th century that some assume is always 19th century. It is the pattern colloquially known as the "Longleaf" It was common in military usage during the 19th century but was certainly often carried by some units in the first decade of the 20th century of the up to & in some cases even during WW1. It was the kukri that Goorkhas first became famous with for amazing cutting feats. They had blades from 14 3/4 to 16 inches. & an overall length of around 19 to 20 inches with weights of 25 to 32 oz. The British issue piece although very similar with the Nepalese Army Longleaf kukri, shouldn't be confused with it. It is generally a finer made weapon, often with an partial T spine. Generally more suitable for parade wear & inspection in the British Indian army fashion as well as being a very fitting & powerful weapon. An example. I hope this article has been of interest & use,I welcome any further information & photos emailed to me at spiraltwista@aol.com please include kukri in title. Enjoy your kukris! Jai Kukri! Spiral. Photos & information on this page can be freely used elsewhere for discussion, as long as following statement is included. “Text & photos copyright, Spiral JRS 1st Feb. 2015.” {& before..} Last edited by spiral; 11th February 2015 at 10:27 PM.