Kukri for ID

Andy Stevens · 12th June 2006, 12:40 PM

I`ve had this piece hanging around for a while, I`d like to no if its a military issue weapon or a civvie work tool. The knife seems well made, the blade is very sturdy and worklike and is well balanced. Overall length is 41cm. Blade is 31cm long. Widest point of blade just under 6.5cm. Weight 600 g (approx) Thanks

spiral · 12th June 2006, 07:04 PM

Well its not official military issue, but its not a villagers kukri either.

Traditionaly village tools dont have buttcap or rivets. Thats Brit. infloance

Its most likely to be private purchase kukri, made as weapon for a Gurkha or Garhwal soldier or perhaps Brit officer or soldier.

I have a very similar one provenced to the soldier who picked it up in early WW1. I would say yours was probably of the same era.

The single Angh khoala fuller was very desired by many Gurkhas who bought them or had them kukri made by the Nepali & Indian makers.

Nice weapon.

Spiral

mross · 12th June 2006, 07:05 PM

Just taking a SWAG, it looks like either a WWI or WWII model to me. I'm leaning toward WWII. You might try it here;

http://www.ikrhs.com/

They are a bit more focused on khuks.

Ferguson · 12th June 2006, 07:30 PM

You can take what Spiral tells you to the bank. He know his khukuris, especially military. Mross suggestion is appropriate too.

Nice piece.

Steve

spiral · 12th June 2006, 11:59 PM

Thankyou Steve, I feel honoured.

Hi Mross IRKHS is good, heres an article I wrote in their articles section about the main military pattern & mark number kukri. I think I posted it here as well?

Ah yess .... http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1889

Some of its features are quite ww2 but I think ww1 is more likley. {& such features were in use in ww1.}

Heres mine Andy with many similaritys to yours, particularily the flat bolster face, steel rivets & angh khoala blade style, Main differance is mine has a slighty more curved/ergonomic handle, but I think these two kukris are probably brothers or cousins at least!

It was a bring back by,

William .R. GEDDES

I managed to trace records of for his family as they had some of his letters,medals & army papers but nothing about his death. Includin whearabouts of his grave.

Rank: Lance Corporal
Regiment: Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment)
Unit Text: 10th Bn.
Date of Death: 24/06/1917
Service No: L/11329

Who was killed at battle of Ypres.

He was a proffesional soldeir. Busted down & reinstated as corpral several times for striking officers in the trenches. Must have been good at man managment when the pressure was on.

He left the army in 1914 & came home with this kukri & a Belgian bayonet after 12 years service but after a fight in a pub reinlisted. He was a civilian for 6 weeks.

He left the kukri in grease in a locked trunk with his other stuff. A good soldier!

Its a great kukri, nice to see another one so similar!

Spiral

Andy Stevens · 13th June 2006, 03:02 PM

Many thanks for the info. I bought this kukri along with a nice Tulwar for under £20, the kukri was covered in heavy rust, so in order not to contamenate my collection was housed in the shed. I only recently found the piece again,and gave it a very brutal rub down. Its nice to think that little gems like this can be had so cheaply at bootsales. Thanks again

spiral · 14th June 2006, 07:45 PM

No problem Andy, yep old kukris still turn up at bargain prices sometimes, this one I only paid £25 for, God I was lucky that day!

Was the tulwar any good?

Spiral

Andy Stevens · 15th June 2006, 11:48 AM

Hi spiral, Tulwar very nice-have posted pics today!

12th June 2006, 12:40 PM	#1
Andy Stevens Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: London Posts: 155	Kukri for ID I`ve had this piece hanging around for a while, I`d like to no if its a military issue weapon or a civvie work tool. The knife seems well made, the blade is very sturdy and worklike and is well balanced. Overall length is 41cm. Blade is 31cm long. Widest point of blade just under 6.5cm. Weight 600 g (approx) Thanks Attached Images

12th June 2006, 07:04 PM	#2
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Well its not official military issue, but its not a villagers kukri either. Traditionaly village tools dont have buttcap or rivets. Thats Brit. infloance Its most likely to be private purchase kukri, made as weapon for a Gurkha or Garhwal soldier or perhaps Brit officer or soldier. I have a very similar one provenced to the soldier who picked it up in early WW1. I would say yours was probably of the same era. The single Angh khoala fuller was very desired by many Gurkhas who bought them or had them kukri made by the Nepali & Indian makers. Nice weapon. Spiral

12th June 2006, 07:05 PM	#3
mross Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 478	Just taking a SWAG, it looks like either a WWI or WWII model to me. I'm leaning toward WWII. You might try it here; http://www.ikrhs.com/ They are a bit more focused on khuks.

12th June 2006, 07:30 PM	#4
Ferguson Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kernersville, NC, USA Posts: 793	You can take what Spiral tells you to the bank. He know his khukuris, especially military. Mross suggestion is appropriate too. Nice piece. Steve

12th June 2006, 11:59 PM	#5
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Thankyou Steve, I feel honoured. Hi Mross IRKHS is good, heres an article I wrote in their articles section about the main military pattern & mark number kukri. I think I posted it here as well? Ah yess .... http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1889 Some of its features are quite ww2 but I think ww1 is more likley. {& such features were in use in ww1.} Heres mine Andy with many similaritys to yours, particularily the flat bolster face, steel rivets & angh khoala blade style, Main differance is mine has a slighty more curved/ergonomic handle, but I think these two kukris are probably brothers or cousins at least! It was a bring back by, William .R. GEDDES I managed to trace records of for his family as they had some of his letters,medals & army papers but nothing about his death. Includin whearabouts of his grave. Rank: Lance Corporal Regiment: Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) Unit Text: 10th Bn. Date of Death: 24/06/1917 Service No: L/11329 Who was killed at battle of Ypres. He was a proffesional soldeir. Busted down & reinstated as corpral several times for striking officers in the trenches. Must have been good at man managment when the pressure was on. He left the army in 1914 & came home with this kukri & a Belgian bayonet after 12 years service but after a fight in a pub reinlisted. He was a civilian for 6 weeks. He left the kukri in grease in a locked trunk with his other stuff. A good soldier! Its a great kukri, nice to see another one so similar! Spiral

13th June 2006, 03:02 PM	#6
Andy Stevens Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: London Posts: 155	Many thanks for the info. I bought this kukri along with a nice Tulwar for under £20, the kukri was covered in heavy rust, so in order not to contamenate my collection was housed in the shed. I only recently found the piece again,and gave it a very brutal rub down. Its nice to think that little gems like this can be had so cheaply at bootsales. Thanks again

14th June 2006, 07:45 PM	#7
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	No problem Andy, yep old kukris still turn up at bargain prices sometimes, this one I only paid £25 for, God I was lucky that day! Was the tulwar any good? Spiral

15th June 2006, 11:48 AM	#8
Andy Stevens Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: London Posts: 155	Hi spiral, Tulwar very nice-have posted pics today!