Indian Kukri with Gold Koftgari

Battara · 27th September 2009, 09:58 PM

I just got this Indian kukri from Rsword and it has great gold koftgari all over the hilt, spine, and top of the blade. Blade has some remnants of wootz that were burned out by the forging process. No scabbard. Enjoy.....

Rick · 27th September 2009, 11:39 PM

Nice !
Can we have some dimensions, Jose?
Has the wootz pattern disappeared along the temper line ?

spiral · 27th September 2009, 11:44 PM

A fascinating & lovely piece Battara! Thanks for sharing! Any photos of the burnt out wootz possible? it would be interesting to see.
Is the right side of the bolster missing? It seems so to my eye but I may be mistaken? If so how is the left hand attached? Was it originaly seperate left & right hand sides? Enquirning minds need to know!

A great find & fascinating piece for further study, congratulations indeed!

Looks a great historical piece.

Spiral

Battara · 28th September 2009, 03:39 AM

It is 16 inches long (40 cm). There is nothing missing and I don't know how both sides of the bolsters are connected except that they are part of the hilt and the bolster is not separately made. As far as the wootz is concerned, I am having problems showing it by camera. Some of what I can see is near the temper line.

I was advised that a red velvet scabbard with a small gilded chape and embroidery down the backside would be good. What do you suggest for a scabbard? What about the bi-knives?

spiral · 28th September 2009, 01:21 PM

Thankyou Battara, that sounds even better! It must be my eyes!

I understand you wanting a scabbard, red velvet & gilt chape sounds like it would match well with its look, I personaly probably wouldnt put small knives with it unless I came across some by chance, but if I did with a kukri of this lambendh {long handle.}style & potential age, Ive noticed that often{normaly even.} have twin very kukri shaped karda. Hard to find originals though,

Hers an example at the Pittrivers museaum in Oxfordshire.{Great & rare quill work as well on this scabbard.}

Spiral

Battara · 28th September 2009, 05:33 PM

Here is the best picture I could get of the disappearing wootz:

Battara · 28th September 2009, 05:37 PM

Spiral how old do you think my kukri is? Also thank you for the picture and advice. What I could find in velvet was this:

spiral · 29th September 2009, 11:02 AM

Ahh yes Battara thats a very coveted piece! The kardas are again the similar style although probably rhino horn into the bargain.

Its certanly a suitable scabbard in my opinion, I wonder if the embroidery is quill work on that one as well? I would think it quite possible.

If you know the german collector who owns the piece it may be interesting to see front of scabbard as well & to know more about the embroidery.

In my opinion {for what its worth.} pre. dates the Indian mutiney so I think your kukri is probably very early to mid 1800s even though the Lambendh style handle & that blade shape {often called hanshee in the west}. are spometimes even older than that. But of course others may disagree.

My knowledge of koftgari styles is almost non existant so others may be able to date using that as a method as well perhaps?

spiral

Battara · 29th September 2009, 10:36 PM

Thank you for your help.

Jens Nordlunde · 30th September 2009, 04:45 PM

Battara, please excuse my late reply on your thread, but I have been busy finding additional pieces of information’s for an article, I have written on Bundi katars, to be published later this year.

Kukri’s are not my speciality, so I am glad Spiral has posted. When this said I must agree that you have a very nice one, but I would like to as you a question. The decoration on the hilt – is it chiselled and then guild?

You can see what I mean on the hilt attached. I have seen a number of these decorations, and most of them are said to be from Lahore – or that area, so if you want to further investigate it, this area would be a very good place to start.

Jens

I forgot all about the picture - sorry.

Battara · 1st October 2009, 01:15 AM

Thank you Jens that too is very helpful. No, the koftgari is on without chiseling.

Thank you all for your help and comments.

Battara · 25th May 2011, 02:04 AM

Well I did it. I finished the scabbard for this piece. I made it of velvet covered wood and the seam on the other side I hand stitched all the way down. The tip is made of gold filled brass (the closest to gilt anything I could find). Also I pierced the metal.

I want to thank all of you who helped me with the research.

Enjoy

Atlantia · 25th May 2011, 04:00 PM

Great job Jose! (as always)
IMHO it's completely in keeping with the item and very much what I would have aimed for were it mine.
What did you use for the ribbon on the scabbards velvet seam?

Best
Gene

Battara · 25th May 2011, 05:10 PM

Thank you Atlantia. I used fabric store ribbon with gold colored threads. I also used gold colored metallic thread to sew the ribbon onto the velvet.

27th September 2009, 09:58 PM	#1
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,139	Indian Kukri with Gold Koftgari I just got this Indian kukri from Rsword and it has great gold koftgari all over the hilt, spine, and top of the blade. Blade has some remnants of wootz that were burned out by the forging process. No scabbard. Enjoy..... Attached Images

28th September 2009, 05:33 PM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,139	Here is the best picture I could get of the disappearing wootz: Attached Images

28th September 2009, 05:37 PM	#7
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,139	Spiral how old do you think my kukri is? Also thank you for the picture and advice. What I could find in velvet was this: Attached Images

30th September 2009, 04:45 PM	#10
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,713	Battara, please excuse my late reply on your thread, but I have been busy finding additional pieces of information’s for an article, I have written on Bundi katars, to be published later this year. Kukri’s are not my speciality, so I am glad Spiral has posted. When this said I must agree that you have a very nice one, but I would like to as you a question. The decoration on the hilt – is it chiselled and then guild? You can see what I mean on the hilt attached. I have seen a number of these decorations, and most of them are said to be from Lahore – or that area, so if you want to further investigate it, this area would be a very good place to start. Jens I forgot all about the picture - sorry. Attached Images Last edited by Jens Nordlunde; 30th September 2009 at 06:21 PM.

25th May 2011, 02:04 AM	#12
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,139	Well I did it. I finished the scabbard for this piece. I made it of velvet covered wood and the seam on the other side I hand stitched all the way down. The tip is made of gold filled brass (the closest to gilt anything I could find). Also I pierced the metal. I want to thank all of you who helped me with the research. Enjoy Attached Images

27th September 2009, 11:39 PM	#2
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,262	Nice ! Can we have some dimensions, Jose? Has the wootz pattern disappeared along the temper line ?

27th September 2009, 11:44 PM	#3
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	A fascinating & lovely piece Battara! Thanks for sharing! Any photos of the burnt out wootz possible? it would be interesting to see. Is the right side of the bolster missing? It seems so to my eye but I may be mistaken? If so how is the left hand attached? Was it originaly seperate left & right hand sides? Enquirning minds need to know! A great find & fascinating piece for further study, congratulations indeed! Looks a great historical piece. Spiral

28th September 2009, 03:39 AM	#4
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,139	It is 16 inches long (40 cm). There is nothing missing and I don't know how both sides of the bolsters are connected except that they are part of the hilt and the bolster is not separately made. As far as the wootz is concerned, I am having problems showing it by camera. Some of what I can see is near the temper line. I was advised that a red velvet scabbard with a small gilded chape and embroidery down the backside would be good. What do you suggest for a scabbard? What about the bi-knives?

28th September 2009, 01:21 PM	#5
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Thankyou Battara, that sounds even better! It must be my eyes! I understand you wanting a scabbard, red velvet & gilt chape sounds like it would match well with its look, I personaly probably wouldnt put small knives with it unless I came across some by chance, but if I did with a kukri of this lambendh {long handle.}style & potential age, Ive noticed that often{normaly even.} have twin very kukri shaped karda. Hard to find originals though, Hers an example at the Pittrivers museaum in Oxfordshire.{Great & rare quill work as well on this scabbard.} Spiral

29th September 2009, 11:02 AM	#8
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Ahh yes Battara thats a very coveted piece! The kardas are again the similar style although probably rhino horn into the bargain. Its certanly a suitable scabbard in my opinion, I wonder if the embroidery is quill work on that one as well? I would think it quite possible. If you know the german collector who owns the piece it may be interesting to see front of scabbard as well & to know more about the embroidery. In my opinion {for what its worth.} pre. dates the Indian mutiney so I think your kukri is probably very early to mid 1800s even though the Lambendh style handle & that blade shape {often called hanshee in the west}. are spometimes even older than that. But of course others may disagree. My knowledge of koftgari styles is almost non existant so others may be able to date using that as a method as well perhaps? spiral

29th September 2009, 10:36 PM	#9
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,139	Thank you for your help.

1st October 2009, 01:15 AM	#11
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,139	Thank you Jens that too is very helpful. No, the koftgari is on without chiseling. Thank you all for your help and comments.

25th May 2011, 04:00 PM	#13
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Great job Jose! (as always) IMHO it's completely in keeping with the item and very much what I would have aimed for were it mine. What did you use for the ribbon on the scabbards velvet seam? Best Gene

25th May 2011, 05:10 PM	#14
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,139	Thank you Atlantia. I used fabric store ribbon with gold colored threads. I also used gold colored metallic thread to sew the ribbon onto the velvet.