Advice Wanted On Ww2 Khuks

[ghorka]

hi to someone on this forum who might be an expert on ww2 khuks.
could you please help in regards to how the ww2 khuks differ to the modern made H.I. khuks, ie thicknes of blade whieght ect,
the accounts i have read seem to indicate a length of about 16-17 inches, which when seen worn on the belts of thess ww2 ghurkas, look like short swords, because of the size of the ghurkas themselves.in come cases the lee enfields they carry being only about a foot shorter than themselves.anyway i digress,if anyone who collects these could help in this regard i would be most appreciative.
i have two khuks which i am told are ww1 ww2 , but have no marks stamped into them, but i was told from a couple of sources that that doesant mean they are not as many ghurkas used there own personnel blades while on combat duties ????.one such khuk i have is razor sharp 16.5 inches,in good condition, has a small handle ,to small to be comfortable for my hand, has the normal raised section on the wood handle to stop your hand from sliding forward i presume,and 3 inset brass rings inset to said handle, two steel pins through the tang, you cannot see the tang, ie handle not slabs.buttcap tang,peened over, leather scabbard is as pictured in many ww2 photos of ghurkas in combat. but is very worse for wear, as would probably be expected for something of this age. SO TO ROUND UP what are the specs of an average type ww2 khuk and a ww1 thanks. against a H.I. KHUK WW2. oh almost forgot handle is very much the same as in ww1-2 photos curved not straghter like the hi.
regards ghorka

 

[Bill Marsh]

ghorka

Here is a link to a particular kind of WW1 Khuk from the Maharaja of Jodphur's ghurkas. The really rare thing about this is the scabbard. First I have seen for sale. They were such crap that very few survive today.

The khuks were aluminum handles with blued blades. Let me stress again that these were not the average ww1 Khuks, but a special branch.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2125160033

Bill

 

[ghorka]

ta for that bill interesting khuk but thats not realy what i was after, what i realy wanted is someone out there like john powell ect, to give us the specs on a couple of genuine ww1 and ww2 khuks, ie width of blade , length , thickness of spine, whieght,bevel on blade ???, and so on.compared to the hi ww2 khuks made now, this would be very much appreciated.regards ghorka

 

[Berkley]

ghorka,
Is this the type of khukuri you have? if so, it is of Indian manufacture, c. WWII.

 

[John Powell]

Gorkha,
Berk nailed the Indian made kukri.

The specs for WW I and WW II kukris vs todays models is almost a given that earlier models were longer than a BAS or HI WW II and that the older models were lighter with a thinner blade.

I think there may be some actual specs on Howard's FAQ.

The 'Maharaja of Jodphur' knife Bill Marsh refers to is in fact rare, but for some reason there is a glut of them for sale right now including one with the scabbard (which is the real rare part). These knives are crude but actually well engineered, there just weren't a lot of them made. Many didn't go overseas although the Maharaja himself did. They were also a flurry around the mid 1950s of this model being used as a pattern for some regimental commemoratives with the crests being soldered to the aluminum grips.

 

[ghorka]

yep the picture of the handle lower right is almost identical to the one i have here. the blade on this one i have however is not as angled more rounded,an has fullers on both sides, it is one of my favourites.cos it feels great in the hand.
i have another intresting khuk,with unusual ivory inset,zebra bone handle, i will send john powell a pic an lets see what he makes of that one,cos i am selling this one and dont want to misrepresent it to any prospective buyer.i was told it was of victorian era,ghurka officers khuk. cheers regards ghorka