Kukri/khukuri

[Timo Nieminen]

It's single-edged, and respectably sharp. The blade has a fairly uniform taper in thickness towards the tip, from 5.1m near the hilt to about 2.5mm an inch short of the tip.

No bolster, but the blade end of the hilt is carved in the shape one would expect of a bolster.

This would work as a kitchen knife, if sharpened better. At the moment, it's sharper than the kitchen knives some people use, but not as sharp as a kitchen knife should be.

As for "form follows function", most conventional-bladed kukris have conventional kukri scabbards, whether Nepalese, Indian, or Afghan. But I've see (somewhere on www) a couple of Indian conventional-bladed kukris with slotted-back scabbards. More than one form can fulfill the function.

[spiral]

Originally Posted by Timo Nieminen

. But I've see (somewhere on www) a couple of Indian conventional-bladed kukris with slotted-back scabbards. More than one form can fulfill the function.

Did you read my repley Timo? Suggest you google jodhpur kukri, for other such practicle scabbards.

{ignore sales pitch re.ww1.... ww2 is much more likely it know seems.}

spiral

[Timo Nieminen]

Originally Posted by spiral

Suggest you google jodhpur kukri, for other such practicle scabbards.

Oh my! What an excellent magic search term! The ones I had seen before were just generically described as "Indian" and "north Indian".

How well do they work? Do they work if worn in a sash? In my experience with slotted scabbards, they need a lot more care when re-sheathing. Still, perhaps more elegant than a chunky wide-mouth scabbard.

[spiral]

Would not work well in a sash Timo, normaly have belt loops.

Spiral

[Timo Nieminen]

#31 looks like a typical Armoury kukri. No pommel, inscription on the spine in Devanagari, reading "Sri 3 Candra Varas(?) 2/48", which would date it to being in the Armoury in the early 20th century (1901-1929). I have no experience reading Devanagari, so perhaps I have the battalion (i.e., "Varas") wrong - any corrections appreciated. 14.5" blade, 800g.

[kai]

Thanks a lot for chiming in, Jonathan and Gav!


Hello Timo,

As for "form follows function", most conventional-bladed kukris have conventional kukri scabbards, whether Nepalese, Indian, or Afghan. But I've see (somewhere on www) a couple of Indian conventional-bladed kukris with slotted-back scabbards. More than one form can fulfill the function.

Yep, but the reverse isn't neccessarily true: I was assuming the blade not to be single-edged and that would have made it unpractical if not impossible to draw from a conventional scabbard...

Regards,
Kai