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1943 dated Mark II from AC
- Thread starter orono
- Start date
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2002
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Congratulations Orono! mmmmmmmmmm a nice military industries lahore, mark11/m43 transitional,lovely.
I reckon thats a good one! Hope your others are as good, I wish they had the original scabberds though!
I have waited for mine for over 3 weeks now,
regards,
Spiral
I reckon thats a good one! Hope your others are as good, I wish they had the original scabberds though!
I have waited for mine for over 3 weeks now,
regards,
Spiral
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2002
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- 2,845
OK - someone let me in on the joke. I assume AC is Atlanta Cutlery. Are these genuine mil surplus, or junk repros????
Nope, no repros, these are the real deal. they located a cache of old Khuks and Brit blackpowder rifles in Nepal last year. the only catch is that you get to order a basic type of Kukri and then they send you whatever thet pick out of the pile, grease and all.
I didn't know that they had any MKIIs or M43s but there must be some of everything in the bunch they found.
I'd love to go through the pile and cherry-pick.
orono
I didn't know that they had any MKIIs or M43s but there must be some of everything in the bunch they found.
I'd love to go through the pile and cherry-pick.
orono
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2002
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- 2,845
Just checked it out - pretty cool!
What is the website? I've quite buying knives for a while, but if there is a chance to pickup an M43 style Khukuri, I might change my mind. hee heee hee
It was listed in the catalog as a WWI vintage Kukri #1-136 but getting the WWII knife was the luck of the draw. when you order that catalog number you can just be sure you'll get one that looks like the picture you see.
The Kardas were 10 for $20 so I ordered 20 Kardas #1-130, you can never have to many Kardas.
orono
The Kardas were 10 for $20 so I ordered 20 Kardas #1-130, you can never have to many Kardas.
orono
JDP
Gold Member
- Joined
- May 31, 2003
- Messages
- 236
I have had the opportunity to handle quite a few of these kukris and I am impressed with what they've sent.
I posted a picture of 4 of the kardas in another thread after I had cleaned them up and they're excellent! Here is another pic with a 'bhojpure' and 3 kardas.
The kukri Orono has pictured is a well made WW II piece based on the MK II, but not British-Indian ordnance proofed. It is the only pana butta of the 5 offered. The #s 42 or 43 are what I have seen stamped on this knife. It could easily be a 'transition' from MK II to M43, but I still don't know.
The original scabbards they sent are flat sided WW II models and seem too big for the Nepali made K45 models they are paired with, but the MK II doesn't fit although this too would be the correct match. I think these scabbards are Indian made. They have sent remnants of scabbards for the earlier models that have spaces for a karda and chakmak. All very interesting and poses many questions for my research.
Eventually I hope to have better information on all these kukris offered, but until then much is still a mystery like most of the information about the Nepalese Army.
I have heard that some kukris offered don't exactly match the pictures in the catalogue on-line. This is another case where variations abound, but whatever you get is a historical military kukri.
I posted a picture of 4 of the kardas in another thread after I had cleaned them up and they're excellent! Here is another pic with a 'bhojpure' and 3 kardas.
The kukri Orono has pictured is a well made WW II piece based on the MK II, but not British-Indian ordnance proofed. It is the only pana butta of the 5 offered. The #s 42 or 43 are what I have seen stamped on this knife. It could easily be a 'transition' from MK II to M43, but I still don't know.
The original scabbards they sent are flat sided WW II models and seem too big for the Nepali made K45 models they are paired with, but the MK II doesn't fit although this too would be the correct match. I think these scabbards are Indian made. They have sent remnants of scabbards for the earlier models that have spaces for a karda and chakmak. All very interesting and poses many questions for my research.
Eventually I hope to have better information on all these kukris offered, but until then much is still a mystery like most of the information about the Nepalese Army.
I have heard that some kukris offered don't exactly match the pictures in the catalogue on-line. This is another case where variations abound, but whatever you get is a historical military kukri.
JDP
Gold Member
- Joined
- May 31, 2003
- Messages
- 236
a correction: M.I.L. stands for Metal Industries Lahore vs Military Industries, Lahore.
There were many companies that were either formed or given the opportunity to make kukris along with their current manufacture: tools, rail tracks, industrial steel products, etc. Insein Railways was one of the earliest using the same high quality steel produced for tracks and this opened the door for many railway maintenance yards
to start producing kukris for the war effort.
I have been working on assembling some type list of the dozens (hundreds?) of companies who made kukris for the British-Indian Military. I intend to include this in glossary form for the book.
There were many companies that were either formed or given the opportunity to make kukris along with their current manufacture: tools, rail tracks, industrial steel products, etc. Insein Railways was one of the earliest using the same high quality steel produced for tracks and this opened the door for many railway maintenance yards
to start producing kukris for the war effort.
I have been working on assembling some type list of the dozens (hundreds?) of companies who made kukris for the British-Indian Military. I intend to include this in glossary form for the book.
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2003
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- 13,182
So if anyone knows: What is the steel like in those knives? Are they hardened like the HI ones or more like a regular knife? How heavy are they?
JDP
Gold Member
- Joined
- May 31, 2003
- Messages
- 236
The edged weapons experts who have analyzed these blades were impressed (and surprised) with the quality and tempering. Of the 6 examples I gave them they found some variation and one that definitely cut corners and the steel seemed 'soft' to them. It also had the crudest grip.
There were different models manufactured, but using these same 6 K45 (Indian MK III) the weight varied from 1lb 5oz to 1lb 8oz. The length
from 16 1/4" to 16 7/8".
Getting back to the maker's marks the WS found stands for Windlass Steel started in 1943 and was the start of Atlanta Cutlery.
There were different models manufactured, but using these same 6 K45 (Indian MK III) the weight varied from 1lb 5oz to 1lb 8oz. The length
from 16 1/4" to 16 7/8".
Getting back to the maker's marks the WS found stands for Windlass Steel started in 1943 and was the start of Atlanta Cutlery.
Thanks John and all for the great response to my post.
I hope that this new influx of original military Kukries can answer some of the questions we military collectors have been asking for some time now.
These Khuks with their provenence are a great find and should be studied closely.
Is it possible to run a poll on the forum to try to get an much information on these Kukries as possible in one thread.
orono
I hope that this new influx of original military Kukries can answer some of the questions we military collectors have been asking for some time now.
These Khuks with their provenence are a great find and should be studied closely.
Is it possible to run a poll on the forum to try to get an much information on these Kukries as possible in one thread.
orono
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2002
- Messages
- 3,229
Hi All!
Thanks John for pointing out the M.I.L.. thing, I am sure I read military instead of metal somewhere? not sure where. I notice in Ron Flooks book he reckons the L stands for Limited not Lahore!
The difficulties I have in finding good written referenceing!
I look forward to your book so I can have some accurate written referincing of Khukuri manufacturers, as I know how much research, time & effort you put into this subject.
Regards
Spiral
Thanks John for pointing out the M.I.L.. thing, I am sure I read military instead of metal somewhere? not sure where. I notice in Ron Flooks book he reckons the L stands for Limited not Lahore!
The difficulties I have in finding good written referenceing!
I look forward to your book so I can have some accurate written referincing of Khukuri manufacturers, as I know how much research, time & effort you put into this subject.
Regards
Spiral
JDP
Gold Member
- Joined
- May 31, 2003
- Messages
- 236
I wish I had the names of more kukri mfgs. Just like the confusion of MIL there are others that are impossible to get an accurate fix on. There are no accurate records that I've found of these Nepalese Armouries/Magazines/Depots that record what was made and when. Maddening.
While this cache from AC is historically a great find there really isn't a provenance past the 'palace' they were stored in. They were made in many different places (although all in the Kathmandu Valley)plus there are more Indian made pieces that made their way into this group.
While this cache from AC is historically a great find there really isn't a provenance past the 'palace' they were stored in. They were made in many different places (although all in the Kathmandu Valley)plus there are more Indian made pieces that made their way into this group.