Hi mross, their isn't a tradition of 'heirloom' (i.e. a treasured item handed down through the family) kukri as such in Nepal, it is more like, this is the kukri my dad had and its still usable, so we will keep it.
The 43rd in 1907 became the 2/8th GR. and in this picture they have issued 'Eastern/Sirupate' kukri. The picture is not only the first recorded picture of Eastern style kukri (as far as I know), but the only known one (again as far as I know) of Gurkhas with issued Eastern style kukri, which is ironic in a way, as they were mainly a Magar and Gurung manned regiment.
And the Hanshee/Goorkhali fighting kukri were undoubtedly used in battle, an example is Jung Bahadur Rana's kukri
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