Whistlinbill's Collection #6: Khukuri

Atlantia · 7th February 2012, 10:09 AM

Hi Bill,

#14 and #16 are also Indian made, #14 from around WW2 #16 possibly a little after. #16 seems to have something stamped on the blade. It's too small to read in the picture, but I seem to remember seeing similar types stamped 'Tempered Steel, Made in India' I'll see if I can find it.
From the similarities, it seems that these Indian firms were making various sizes and style variations of their main type.
Your #14 small Kuk has similarities with and is of the size of those often associated with private purchase by allied air crews in WW2 for use as survival knives etc.

There's a good thread over at www.IKRHS.com about the little Kukri sometimes carried by Air crew:
Private purchase Air crew Kukri

Atlantia · 7th February 2012, 10:16 AM

Getting back to #16, here is a small one with a 'similar' stamp, which reads: "Tempered Steel Made In India"

Atlantia · 7th February 2012, 10:24 AM

As a further note on #14, here is my example which although of the same date and origin, has a slightly more 'non traditional' design. I'll include some stats for you to compare with yours, it has no makers markings:

Size: small 27cm overall length.
Integral bolsters.
No Kaudi/Cho
deliberately off-set asmetric hilt to fit perfectly and comfortably a right handed user.
Slight concave grinding of blade with flat ground edge.
Razor sharp.
Black buffalo horn hilt. Note notch in bolster to stop hilt turning.
Brass buttcap.
Weight 211.7g
Military style scabbard with frog. Non Karda/chakmak type.

Atlantia · 7th February 2012, 10:40 AM

As you'll have noticed, your Kukri #16 shares similarites with the two small Kukri that I have shown. Whereas your Kukri #14 seems more akin to you Kukri #1 & #2.

The full width flat tangs are usually distinctive features of some military types and these Indian Kukri.
I also have one of the #1/#2 types but you'll notice that it's the 'other way round' with buffalo horn hilt slabs and ivory rivet covers. The amount of variations produced is dizzying frankly. You can see several in the period picture I posted at the beginning of this thread and there are many shown in the thread I indicated over at IKRHS.

sirupate · 7th February 2012, 01:49 PM

Hello Atlantia,

Quote:

The full width flat tangs are usually distinctive features of some military types

Indeed so, the Mk2, Mk3 and the post war Wilkinson Sword variation of the Mk3, which according to Robert Wilkinson-Latham is a Mk4.

Be interesting to see what other kukri Bill has lined up for us, by the way we should get together some time, as we in the same part of the World!

Cheers Simon

Atlantia · 9th February 2012, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirupate

we should get together some time, as we in the same part of the World!

Hi Simon,

I can't remember us really talking until our recent 'exchange of views' and to be completely frank, that didn't exactly leave me thinking we should go on a 'date'

Now I'm not saying never, but you're going to have to do a lot more 'flirting' first

Regards
Gene

whistlinbill · 14th February 2012, 12:32 AM

Gentlemen, thank you! You're giving me quite an education in kukris--it's great to have scholars like you leading the way!
Gene, FWIW, somewhere in this lot there is a kukri made like the one you
show, with no trident cutout. I got it from Windlass Steelcrafts in Dehra
Dun, about 25 years ago. What Sudhir Windlass told me was that during
World War II, the "trident" marking was left off, for ease in production. The Gurtkha troops didn't like that--they said the knife was not as effective without it, etc., etc. So the (then British) Government dropped that idea.
Also, there was an attempt to make kukris in Sheffield. I had a couple from,
best I recall, Joseph Rodgers. The British factory guys said the Gurkhas
didn't want to use them because they hadn't been made with the proper
religious rituals. When I asked Sudhir Windlass's dad about it (he had made
kukris for the (British) Indian Army since 1943), he said the problem with the
Sheffield made knives was the cost--the Sheffield knives cost much more than Indian or Nepali product.
Thanks,
Bill

7th February 2012, 10:24 AM	#3
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	As a further note on #14, here is my example which although of the same date and origin, has a slightly more 'non traditional' design. I'll include some stats for you to compare with yours, it has no makers markings: Size: small 27cm overall length. Integral bolsters. No Kaudi/Cho deliberately off-set asmetric hilt to fit perfectly and comfortably a right handed user. Slight concave grinding of blade with flat ground edge. Razor sharp. Black buffalo horn hilt. Note notch in bolster to stop hilt turning. Brass buttcap. Weight 211.7g Military style scabbard with frog. Non Karda/chakmak type. Attached Images

7th February 2012, 10:40 AM	#4
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	As you'll have noticed, your Kukri #16 shares similarites with the two small Kukri that I have shown. Whereas your Kukri #14 seems more akin to you Kukri #1 & #2. The full width flat tangs are usually distinctive features of some military types and these Indian Kukri. I also have one of the #1/#2 types but you'll notice that it's the 'other way round' with buffalo horn hilt slabs and ivory rivet covers. The amount of variations produced is dizzying frankly. You can see several in the period picture I posted at the beginning of this thread and there are many shown in the thread I indicated over at IKRHS. Attached Images Last edited by Atlantia; 7th February 2012 at 10:52 AM.

7th February 2012, 10:09 AM	#1
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Hi Bill, #14 and #16 are also Indian made, #14 from around WW2 #16 possibly a little after. #16 seems to have something stamped on the blade. It's too small to read in the picture, but I seem to remember seeing similar types stamped 'Tempered Steel, Made in India' I'll see if I can find it. From the similarities, it seems that these Indian firms were making various sizes and style variations of their main type. Your #14 small Kuk has similarities with and is of the size of those often associated with private purchase by allied air crews in WW2 for use as survival knives etc. There's a good thread over at www.IKRHS.com about the little Kukri sometimes carried by Air crew: Private purchase Air crew Kukri Attached Images Last edited by Atlantia; 7th February 2012 at 10:43 AM.

7th February 2012, 10:16 AM	#2
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Getting back to #16, here is a small one with a 'similar' stamp, which reads: "Tempered Steel Made In India" Attached Images

14th February 2012, 12:32 AM	#7
whistlinbill Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 24	Gentlemen, thank you! You're giving me quite an education in kukris--it's great to have scholars like you leading the way! Gene, FWIW, somewhere in this lot there is a kukri made like the one you show, with no trident cutout. I got it from Windlass Steelcrafts in Dehra Dun, about 25 years ago. What Sudhir Windlass told me was that during World War II, the "trident" marking was left off, for ease in production. The Gurtkha troops didn't like that--they said the knife was not as effective without it, etc., etc. So the (then British) Government dropped that idea. Also, there was an attempt to make kukris in Sheffield. I had a couple from, best I recall, Joseph Rodgers. The British factory guys said the Gurkhas didn't want to use them because they hadn't been made with the proper religious rituals. When I asked Sudhir Windlass's dad about it (he had made kukris for the (British) Indian Army since 1943), he said the problem with the Sheffield made knives was the cost--the Sheffield knives cost much more than Indian or Nepali product. Thanks, Bill