A pre WWII (?) khukuri

Pukka Bundook · 27th March 2009, 08:24 PM

Sirupate,

Would it be hi-jacking Steve's thread to ask a Q. re hilts?

Were the pommel-caps attached with screws ever used on military pieces?

I understand that the rat-tail tang with nut was used on the Mk 1's, and full tang later, so where in the scheme of things does the butt-cap attached with screws fir in?
I gather on pieces made by Kamis for local use, butt-caps weren't often fitted at all.
Does this still apply now?
If I should have started a new thread, I beg pardon!

Richard.

spiral · 27th March 2009, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pukka Bundook

Sirupate,

Would it be hi-jacking Steve's thread to ask a Q. re hilts?

Were the pommel-caps attached with screws ever used on military pieces?

I understand that the rat-tail tang with nut was used on the Mk 1's, and full tang later, so where in the scheme of things does the butt-cap attached with screws fir in?
I gather on pieces made by Kamis for local use, butt-caps weren't often fitted at all.
Does this still apply now?
If I should have started a new thread, I beg pardon!

Richard.

No screws on official mk.1 mk.2 & mk.3 hilts, Richard.

Heres a MK1 tang.

Lots More mk.1 variations to be seen in my post on this thread at IKRHS.

linky

Spiral

sirupate · 28th March 2009, 12:32 AM

Hello Richard,

On some old partial tang kukri, they had butt caps put on to protect the butt, and these were often screwed on.
In Spirals picture, the Mk1's had a stick tang, which was attached by a sunken nut into the the top of the butt.
Also some Indian Army (British run) quarter master issue kukri in WWI not only had the stick tang peened over the butt plate, but either side were two screws to help secure the butt plate, this was also done with nails.
Partial tang kukri are still made in abundance in Nepal, along with stick tang, the least favoured handle type for use in Nepal is the full tang, I hope this helps, cheers Simon

Pukka Bundook · 28th March 2009, 04:16 AM

Thank you very much for your answers.

Jonathan,
Thanks for picture of the tang, and the link! It will be very interesting to see the variations. I will have a dekko at it ASAP.

Simon,
Thank you for the explanation of partial tangs and butt-caps.

My reason for asking about these, is I just purchased an old kukri with a butt-cap attached with two screws, (No riveted tang)
It hasn't arrived here yet, but was interested to know a little about what I had!
Also, Very interesting to hear which tang type is least favoured in nepal.
Are full tangs more prone to be 'inert'?

Steve,

Apologies fro using your thread to ask questions.
I will start a new one in the future!

Richard.

spiral · 28th March 2009, 10:09 AM

Warren ,Full tangs increase vibration on impact & effect balance unless they are tapered to become thinner towards buttplate.

mk.1,2 & 3 British Indian pattern issue kukri never had buttplate screwed on.

Private purchase & company or regimental made or purchased kukri could have.

spiral

sirupate · 28th March 2009, 12:28 PM

Full tangs have to have exactly the right contours to get the correct action for when using the kukri. This is a problem the W/S kukri had, along with many MKIII's, also when the slab of horn or wood looses its shape, it can lead to rust on the tang, and because the slabs are no longer flush to the tang, it can make the handle uncomfortable, plus that extra shock of the cut comming back into the hand.
It makes no difference to the shock in the hand felt whether the tang is tapered towards the butt or not (W/S kukri had full length and width tangs), what that does do though is give it a different weight ratio and feel in the hand.
Below is an example of Indian Army Gurkha Issue kukri, butt plate with screws WWI

I hope that is of help, cheers Simon

Pukka Bundook · 29th March 2009, 03:31 PM

Thank you again for answering my Q's, and for attaching the picture Simon.

what you say about full-tangs and stick tangs makes sense.
Thinking about this, it came to me how my old 1915 billhook, and our old turnip snaggers we brought with us from England, all have a long tapered tang that passes through the wooden handle, and they have never been any problem, yet have seen tons of work. I think if they were full tang, they would lose a lot of momentum.

Steve,
I will not clog up your thread with any more stuff!

Best,
Richard.

28th March 2009, 04:16 AM	#4
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	Thank you very much for your answers. Jonathan, Thanks for picture of the tang, and the link! It will be very interesting to see the variations. I will have a dekko at it ASAP. Simon, Thank you for the explanation of partial tangs and butt-caps. My reason for asking about these, is I just purchased an old kukri with a butt-cap attached with two screws, (No riveted tang) It hasn't arrived here yet, but was interested to know a little about what I had! Also, Very interesting to hear which tang type is least favoured in nepal. Are full tangs more prone to be 'inert'? Steve, Apologies fro using your thread to ask questions. I will start a new one in the future! Richard. Last edited by Pukka Bundook; 28th March 2009 at 05:16 AM.

28th March 2009, 12:28 PM	#6
sirupate Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: England Posts: 373	Full tangs have to have exactly the right contours to get the correct action for when using the kukri. This is a problem the W/S kukri had, along with many MKIII's, also when the slab of horn or wood looses its shape, it can lead to rust on the tang, and because the slabs are no longer flush to the tang, it can make the handle uncomfortable, plus that extra shock of the cut comming back into the hand. It makes no difference to the shock in the hand felt whether the tang is tapered towards the butt or not (W/S kukri had full length and width tangs), what that does do though is give it a different weight ratio and feel in the hand. Below is an example of Indian Army Gurkha Issue kukri, butt plate with screws WWI I hope that is of help, cheers Simon Last edited by sirupate; 28th March 2009 at 12:49 PM.

27th March 2009, 08:24 PM	#1
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	Sirupate, Would it be hi-jacking Steve's thread to ask a Q. re hilts? Were the pommel-caps attached with screws ever used on military pieces? I understand that the rat-tail tang with nut was used on the Mk 1's, and full tang later, so where in the scheme of things does the butt-cap attached with screws fir in? I gather on pieces made by Kamis for local use, butt-caps weren't often fitted at all. Does this still apply now? If I should have started a new thread, I beg pardon! Richard.

28th March 2009, 12:32 AM	#3
sirupate Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: England Posts: 373	Hello Richard, On some old partial tang kukri, they had butt caps put on to protect the butt, and these were often screwed on. In Spirals picture, the Mk1's had a stick tang, which was attached by a sunken nut into the the top of the butt. Also some Indian Army (British run) quarter master issue kukri in WWI not only had the stick tang peened over the butt plate, but either side were two screws to help secure the butt plate, this was also done with nails. Partial tang kukri are still made in abundance in Nepal, along with stick tang, the least favoured handle type for use in Nepal is the full tang, I hope this helps, cheers Simon

28th March 2009, 10:09 AM	#5
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Warren ,Full tangs increase vibration on impact & effect balance unless they are tapered to become thinner towards buttplate. mk.1,2 & 3 British Indian pattern issue kukri never had buttplate screwed on. Private purchase & company or regimental made or purchased kukri could have. spiral

29th March 2009, 03:31 PM	#7
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	Thank you again for answering my Q's, and for attaching the picture Simon. what you say about full-tangs and stick tangs makes sense. Thinking about this, it came to me how my old 1915 billhook, and our old turnip snaggers we brought with us from England, all have a long tapered tang that passes through the wooden handle, and they have never been any problem, yet have seen tons of work. I think if they were full tang, they would lose a lot of momentum. Steve, I will not clog up your thread with any more stuff! Best, Richard.