Fake or real?

If the pics can be believed, kokochow may be on his way toward owning an old M43.
 
Originally posted by not2sharp this is a military khukuri from the 1940s.
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Teach us. Why are you convinced this is not a fake?

I'd guess it looks too real to be a fake.

Someone would get too little payoff for all the work
required to create this as a fake.
 
Wow. (I forgot to say that before.)

Also, I very much like the design of the accessory blade
'pockets' of the sheath.

I wonder if this design is in any way better or worse than the standard HI design.

dean
 
ddean,

Thanks, you are right, I should have explained myself.

We lack a good definitive work on khukuries, and the number of variations, the lack of records, and the general abscence of markings makes it hard to positively identify khukuries in the same sense that we can identify an example of a MKII (Ka-bar) utility knife. But there are general ways to identify a good military knife.

We can look at the shape and see that it is pattern in the form of an M43 khukuri. Then look at the knife to take in the general quality of manufacture. Notice that this example has a manufactured feel to it as it should. The lines and grinds are straight and sharply defined. Even though the design is simple, the quality of the piece is very high. The handle is carved and fitted as it should be, there are no sloppy welds anywhere, and everything about it is well balanced and centered.

Then look at the condition. Look at the color of the steel, the aging of the wood, and sheath. It is very hard to fake real age, you can make a piece look distressed but you can't make it look old. This is one of the reasons collectors like to keep antiques in their original condition. Heavy restoration will remove a key way of authenticating the piece. This piece has the right amount of age (60 years +/-).

We cannot confirm that it has seen combat, and for all we know it has spent the last 60 years as a gardening tool, but in terms of design and manufacture the piece is convincing.

n2s
 
Per N2S, you look at the blade, for his noted indicators. Ignore the "sales tale" about the old vet, Gurkha friend, gift blade, three beheadings etc., etc., ad infinitum. While it may be at least possibly true, it has been done to death and the embroidery on these tales is getting ratty. It looks very much like a production, issue blade, but possibly Indian as I just can't see that cho coming out of Nepal. It appears to me to have been cut someplace where the cho didn't mean that much to the maker.
 
Originally posted by Walosi the cho didn't mean that much to the maker.
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By golly. I see that.

And the narrow bevel. And where the cho falls on the bevel.

Still, I like it. (but won't bid on it. :) )

If there's one khuk profile that draws me it's this exact one.
I've seen many similar I did not like as well.

dean
 
A good old war veteran M43. There has been some regrinding and rework done near and on the cho and the scabbards a mess, but that's OK.

If it stays at that price it would be a real bargain.
 
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