Nepalese Tulwar-hilted Kukri or ???

[RobT]

DaveA,

I have read that this type of hilt is called an Indo/Moslem basket (as opposed to the Hindu basket hilts commonly found on firangi). I think these hilts are rather uncommon. Aside from photos, the example I have (from eBay 2005) is the only one I have ever seen. The seller said that he found the piece in an abandoned house in Georgia which was in an area slated to turned into a man made lake. The blade (very badly pitted) that came with my hilt is only 21.25” (53.975 cm) long and, since it was completely loose in the hilt when I got it, I can’t be totally sure that it is original to the piece. The straight blade has a 4.25” (10.795 cm) false edge and one broad and very shallow fuller which fades out at the foible where the false edge begins and also fades out at the base of the blade. The tang is the same as what would be found on a typical tulwar blade. That the fuller doesn’t run off the blade on either end indicates that it hasn’t been shortened. As it is with both yours and mine, all of the pictures of blades that I have seen with this type of hilt, have been short.

Sincerely,
RobT