Falklands War Kukri

[harrywagner]

Originally Posted by kahnjar1

If this is indeed a presentation piece I would have expected the silverwork to be of better quality.........

I would be very surprised if it wasn't a presentation piece. It's too pretty for everyday use. It was probably presented to someone in a relatively low-level position, given the quality of the piece. I am happy it is not Falkland Island related. I am going to put this one down as presentation, unknown recipient, second-half 20th. Hopefully that is not too far from the mark. Thanks for the help!

Harry

[Battara]

Oh no question that this is a presentation piece. However, the old master silver-smiths may be long gone, and so we have who is left.

Now if this were for a king................

[sirupate]

As far as I am aware the Gurkhas didn't do a commemorative kukri for the Falklands War, the 2nd Gurkha Rifles and the 6th Gurkha Rifles (mainly made up of Magar and Gurung) were amalgamated in to the 1st Royal Gurkha Rifles in 1994, the 7th Gurkha Rifles and the 10th Gurkha rifles (mainly made up of Rai and Limbu) were amalgamated fully in 1996 to form the 2nd Royal Gurkha Rifles
PS Kukri in the Falklands War had blades around 28cm with issue date

[Battara]

Well, then, Sirapate, could this piece have been commissioned by one of the particular Gurkha companies for an officer?

[mrcjgscott]

Hello all,

The kukri Harry shows is a typical mid to late 20th century presentation kothimora.

This piece does not appear to have any military association. Similar kukri readily available commercially to this day, so anybody could go and buy one, but I have seen example which either have a presentation plaque attached the front, or which have come on a ready made stand which has said plaque attached.

As has already been stated, such examples usually carry a regimental badge in place of the standard crossed kukris, but not always.

As similar kukri are still produced today, so dating can be difficult. However, there is no reason that this example couldn't date back as far as the Falklands conflict, but naturally without any provenance or supporting evidence then that is as far as the attribution can go.

As they have been made over a long period of time, the quality can vary greatly, as can the silver content, purity and amount. As with most things, older tends to be better.

More often than not I see these pieces being given FROM gurkhas, rather than to them, usually officers and men who have either been posted alongside gurkhas in the field, etc. Part of the Gurkha tradition of gift giving to ones friends.

A good display piece, which will look good alongside your others, but I wouldn't attempt to chop anything with it.

All the best,

Chris

[sirupate]

Personally I very much doubt it was a Falklands War Era kukri, here are some pics with a 1969 and 1982 service issue kukri, the 1982 issue has the brass mounts (and often mistakenly called a Mk5), its specs are; it has a 28cm long blade, with a belly of 4.5cm, with a brass mounted horn handle of 11.5cm in length, and weighs 480 grams.

[sirupate]

Also when a Kothimora kukri is presented by Gurkhas to another Gurkha or someone they like, it usually has a silver plaque on the Kothimora scabbard with the recipients name on it as in the picture below, also on older kukri made for Officers given to them by a Gurkha the kukri often had the details etched on the blade, picture below.

[David]

Originally Posted by sirupate

Personally I very much doubt it was a Falklands War Era kukri, here are some pics with a 1969 and 1982 service issue kukri, the 1982 issue has the brass mounts (and often mistakenly called a Mk5), its specs are; it has a 28cm long blade, with a belly of 4.5cm, with a brass mounted horn handle of 11.5cm in length, and weighs 480 grams.

I think you need to re-read Harry's original post. No one ever suggested that. He clearly states that his belief was that this kukri was made sometime around 2007 to mark the 25th anniversary of that conflict. Now, that claim might be in question, however, there is no sense arguing against a case that has never been made (that this might be a Falkland War era kukri).