Can you find the khukuri?

... uhhh ... you folks are making me drool with your firearms collections ...

... Getting back to those two khukuris in the picture ... I must say they've got to be two of the most unique specimens I've ever seen, especially the one on top. The handle is definitey Indian-Tulwar style, with its disk-pommel, bulbuous-grip and the quillon shape. As Uncle Bill noted in an earlier post, I guess this suggests that the khukuris were dedicated fighting weapons, as opposed to an all-purpose, utility type knife, since a handle like this wouldn't be too useful in such a knife (a guess). But then again, the engravings might suggest that these are more for decorative purposes (???)

Regarding this Indian connection, I remember seeing a picture in a book which showed the arsenal in an old Rajput fort converted to a museum (Jodhpur fort? Chittor fort? can't remember). For those unfamiliar with South Asian history, Rajputs are the warrior race from Rajasthan, India, who for ages put up a stiff resistance against Muslim invaders - stories abound about noble chieftans upholding lost causes to the bitter end, suicidal last stands, sieges - all in all, these were quintessential warriors who saw more than their share of the fighting. Anyway, this picture showed the usual Indian weaponry of the period - tulwars, katars, daggers, spears, shields, arquebuses, and most interestingly, a substantial number of khukuri-shaped weapons. Some of them would be easily recognizable as khukuris, right down to their handles which I remember looked surprisingly similar to the Nepalese-style we're familiar with (can't remember if they had the cho/notch, though). The others had tulwar-style handles like these two in the picture above, and those in the picture of ancient khukuris in HI website.

Now, when you consider that there was a significant migration of Rajput clans to Nepal and other remote parts of the subcontinent as a result of the Muslim invasions; and we see the emergence of khukuris as a prominent weapon in Nepal with the rise of Gorkha power in the 18th century, there is a definite connection here that is practically screaming to be researched! I'm sure there is enough hoplological data in the region - all we need is competent researcher(s) willing and able to look into this in the proper combative context of weapon development, usage, culture, etc...

- Sonam
 
Thanks, nephew, for your usual informative and intelligent post.

I nominate John Powell to do the research since he's the one with the hardware.

Uncle bill
 
Wow! More info from Sonam. I love it, and it's time we got back to knives, khuks especially. But Uncle Bill made a compassionate observation and deserves to be answered in a straightforward fashion. Yeah, it was tough duty. People talk about burnout, in my case it was closer to cremation. But after everything else was burned away, there was still love. And as a result of my "dark night of the soul" I now experience appreciation and joy and fun and laughter daily beyond anything I could have conceived. 'Nuff said. And Uncle Bill, if Sonam makes it to Reno I want to meet him, or else... ( use your imagination )!
 
Sonam, thank you again for the insight. I have started research on these things with an Indian Army and Gurkha scholar who is now in India, the Gurkha Museum, the V&A in London and a second round with an auction house that has a pretty knowledgeable weapons dept. One of the more interesting stories came back from England: this original pattern is from the 17th century, and these are ceremonial "reproductions" made by the Gurkhas to honour the early battles. The neat part is these "reproductions" were probably made in 1800! I'll post more as information reaches me.

------------------
JP
 
Rusty, I guess after one has spent time in hell anything outside looks pretty good. If Sonam comes for a visit everybody will know.

Kudos to John Powell for pursuing the information!

Uncle Bill
 
Nice pictures.

Thats funny Uncle Bill, a jamming kukuri. I never thought of it that way but I guess thats what my factory kukuri does.

Favorite firearm: Lee Enfield (No.4 MkII)

Traded most of my firearms for cash, now cash for knives due to Canadian firearms laws.

Will
 
These 2 knives have been summed up as "Indian 18th/19th century 'tourist trade' repros based on fighting knives used by the Gurkhas in the late 1700s and up till the 1820s. The disparity between the very fine koftgari work on the grip and crude blade engraving is that talwar handles were made completely apart from any type of blade and fitted as needed. Guess the Indians were faking antiques for the English even in 1800. So there you have it from 4 pretty authoritive sources.

------------------
JP
 
As you know by now, a guess is all I will hazard on antiques. But when I learned the blades were 1/8 thick a red flag went up. A Gurkha of that era or any era for that matter would not do battle with a blade that thin.

Uncle Bill
 
The blade thickness bothered me too, and the museum said these very wide blades didn't go much thicker than 1/4". These knives of course are from the famous and feared "spanking" brigade. There's so much surface if you swung sideways the wind resistance would stop your arm.

------------------
JP
 
John, we used to call wind resistance "drag" in the airplane business but maybe that's been changed due to modern definition. Living in SF you should know better than most of us about this.

When I was a kid "long" jumping, my specialty , was called "broad" jumping and they changed that since no athlete was crazy about being accused of jumping broads.

So, for all I know maybe they don't call "drag" drag anymore.

Another sign of my times.

Antique Uncle Bill
 
Bill, drag racing here is two guys running to a dress sale. I wonder what the coefficient of "drag" would be here in SF?

------------------
JP
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top