2 interesting Indian kukris

JDP

JDP

Gold Member
Joined
May 31, 2003
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18thc khanda grips on 19thc blades. Talwar and khanda grips seemed to have been made en masse and fitted to various blades on 'standard' quality weapons and these are good examples. The lower blade is even more confusing since it has more Nepali characteristics with regard to weight and thickness plus the "T" spine is less prominent. Of course there's no cho, but I have seen Indian made kukris with and without. The top piece at 21" is really in the "sossun patta" category, but both are quite interesting. Lower kukri is 19" o/a
2 Indian k.jpg
 
I have always thought these handles make it awkward to handle the blade well but they are nice looking and interesting pieces. Thanks as usual for good stuff.
 
I like them. The two handed handle is probably a good idea; but you are getting poked in the ribs all day long.

n2s
 
Hi John,
I like those!{of course} I presume {rightly or wrongly} they are used two handed for sacrafices &/or executions? Thats what two hands & short blade setup implies to me anyway, is that historicly accurate, or am I way of track here?
Spiral
 
Spiral, the khanda handles are older than the blades. They were made for longer swordes that sometimes are used 2 handed. Why someone would put them with these blades is beyound me, but mixing eliments of different weapons together has been and to a lesser extent still is a common practice.
It's interesting to go through the catalouge of the Wallace collections European swords and compare the 1960's information with the 1990's supliment. Alot of the swords descibed as origanal were later determined to be pastiches of many different weapons and times.

I do wish IE had the Spell Check feture that my Safari browser at home does.
 
Hi Red,
Cheers for your input, but you sort of answeared a questian I didnt ask! I understand what a Khanda is, although I must admit I have never handled one. I realised the Khanda handles had been added to more recent blades 100+ years ago, I was asking what they would be used for as they dont look like temple,bazzar or victorian tourist pieces, so I presume the kamis who married them did so for a practical reason, such as Execution & sacrafice!

As for marrige of separate arms that still goes on in Antique dealers workshops evryday! Its a commercialy viable propisition after all!;)

Your a lucky felow to have the Wallis catalouge & update, it must make fascinating reading! Has it got many kuks in it?

regards,
Spiral:)
 
Originally posted by Ripper
Red,
ieSpell is a free spell checker for IE that works well.
Regards,
Greg
Click to expand...

Many Thanks Greg!!!! I've been wishing for a spell checker for the longest too!!!!:D
 
Spiral, it's my impression (that I did not make clear) that the marriage of old pieces with newer ones is just for tourist/collectors. JDP could give us more info.
 
Originally posted by Red
Spiral, it's my impression (that I did not make clear) that the marriage of old pieces with newer ones is just for tourist/collectors.
Click to expand...
I've seen several references to a practice (old) in China to
re-hilt European swords into Chinese style fittings for active use.
 
Hi Red,
mmmmmmmmm interesting concept, that is certainly what happens in the workshops today, {for tourists/collectors}& I guess always has, But as Dean points it has been common practice in China in the past , & certainly European blades were widely rehandled,to be used in Morroco, Sudan, Ethyopia, India, the philopeans at the very least.
As to these individual kuks, I still think they would be usefull for Execution & particlarily bullock Sacrafice both of which were I understand common pastimes 100+ years ago. But who knows perhaps they were for a British officer or somesuch, I wonder what the steel is like? users I reckon! I would certainly like to hear JPs input though.

Spiral
 
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