Ebay addiction - general ebaykhuk questions

[wldmn13]

I am addicted to looking for khuks on ebay. I do all sorts of searches and enjoy finding obscure listings. I do get tired of the same old " 15 INCH NEPALIESE GURKHAS KUKRI sword swing blade " and " 17 in. Nepalese Gurkhas Kukri Knife " etc. that I constantly have to sort through. There's a lot of junk out there.

Which leads to my questions. I have generally assumed the following:

Any khuk with a karda and chakma that look like a wooden button with metal attached is crap :
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=475&item=2246838858&rd=1

Any khuk with those two big ugly prominent pins on a rough wooden handle is crap:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=475&item=2246842148&rd=1
or
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=135&item=2245825156&rd=1

Any khuk with those little decorative dots on the handle are tourists models, and are crap:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=475&item=2246548867&rd=1

If the handle is solid horn with brass end cap and bolster, it's probably a decent khuk:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=43325&item=2246367248&rd=1

If the karda & chakma have actual handles instead of just 3/4" of wood, it's probably a decent khuk:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=43325&item=2246367248&rd=1

How realistic are these little rules I made for myself? Are they generally right, generally wrong, or not good indicators at all?

I know the way to get the best quality khuk is to order straight from HI, and I already own 4 HI's (one M43 on the way makes 5) but I come from a long line of garage sale'rs and can't resist looking for bargains. I actually got one of those khuks stamped "Nepal 2000" for $20 on ebay and I love that one. It's turned out to be on par with Hi stuff, at least so far during my testing.

 

[ferguson]

Generally speaking you're on target. Some WWI khuks were full tang with large rivets, but the one you posted is a modern cheapo.

Dots in the handle don't always mean tourist, but combined with the lion's head pommel almost always do. I have a couple of older (middle to late 1900's) khuks that are decorated with bone dots.

I have a lot of HI khuks, but like to find the old ones too! Good luck on your search.

Steve

 

[clearblue]

I've been using those same guidelines and they seem to be right on.

 

[Daniel Koster]

Any khuk with a karda and chakma that look like a wooden button with metal attached is crap : http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=475&item=2246838858&rd=1

Yep! It has a strange double bend to it too.

Any khuk with those two big ugly prominent pins on a rough wooden handle is crap: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=475&item=2246842148&rd=1

Yep!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=135&item=2245825156&rd=1

...and Yep! ....most of the time. There are older khukuris with large pins in the handle...

Any khuk with those little decorative dots on the handle are tourists models, and are crap:http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=475&item=2246548867&rd=1

The giveaway on this one is the lionshead pommel....mostly found on India tourist stuff. Also beware of underpriced "engraved" khukuris....

If the handle is solid horn with brass end cap and bolster, it's probably a decent khuk:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=43325&item=2246367248&rd=1

Yes. Also, has the handle rings in the right position.

If the karda & chakma have actual handles instead of just 3/4" of wood, it's probably a decent khuk:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=43325&item=2246367248&rd=1

(same auction item as above)

How realistic are these little rules I made for myself? Are they generally right, generally wrong, or not good indicators at all?

You are definitely on the right track. The more you look, the better you get at identifying the good stuff.


No sweat on the "garage sale" mentality....makes for a fun hunt!

 

[Daniel Koster]

and another thing.....if it's a good deal, Steve (ferguson) will always beat you to it!!!


(just like he beat me to this response)

 

[Ferrous Wheel]

your assumptionsare correct. Keep in mind, though, that tourist models are often based on real models, so it is possible to find flashy mounted good blades. The K&C are often good indicators of the khuk's quality tho. Even on the Pen knife, the tiny K&C are filly functional and just look like knives reduced in scale.

Keith