Help with ID and value of Khukri

S

s002cjs

Joined
Dec 8, 1999
Messages
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Another forum recommended I post this here:

I recently acquired this Khukri in a large knife deal, but I have no idea how to find its actual history. It has no markings obvious to me. I was told it was carried during WWII by a vet, and the last price I saw it sell for was about $130. Can anyone point me in the right direction for caring for it, identifying it, and determining its value?

View


I can provide more pictures of any portion of it via e-mail if it would help.

Thanks,

cj
s002cjs@yahoo.com
 
Just wait a bit. The experts will be along soon enough to answer all your questions.

Although I know nothing about antique khukuris that one looks to be a keeper. Seems well made. Probably of Nepalese origin judging from the cho.
 
Hello, cj, and welcome to the cantina if this is your first time here or even if it isn't.

This knife looks old enough to be a WWII vet and could have been -- not all WWII models were marked. Looks like a pretty well Nepali made khukuri to me but we'll let our resident expert, John Powell, pass final judgment.

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Uncle Bill
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That's a purty knife!
biggrin.gif


Does it have a single fuller? Hard to tell the way the light's shining in the pic.
 
Thank you all for the welcome! For a little more information on it:

Yes, that's a single fuller on it.

Unfortunately, it, and the karda and chakma, are all showing some rust. Additionally, the original leather sheath has seen better days and has deteriorated badly which is unfortunate because the nickel-silver tip on the sheath matches the rest of the Khukri.

Does anyone restore these, or should I leave everything the way it is?

cj
 
Hello
If you are thinking about a restoration, maybe you would like to contact Terry Sisco at t_sarki@excite.com .
I have done business with him recently and he was excelent to work with. Have never seen his work but if he does it to such collectors as John Powell, I think there is no need to other proofs of his skills.
Best regards

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Ivan Campos
Full-time knifemaker...finally!


http://www.bitweb.com.br/users/campos

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John Powell could ID this khukuri for sure.
I think it could be a military issue from the 40's or 50's. I do restore them and it shouldnt be a problem to copy the original sheath. Did it have a frog with it?
Terry
Click the link below to check out some restored khukuris.

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http://www.geocities.com/t_sarki/Sarki_Shop.html

[This message has been edited by T.Sisco (edited 05-15-2001).]
 
I'm going to have to wash my mouth out after "saying" this, but that looks like the design duped by the Cold Steel "kukri." I wonder if it's a traditional style of some region or village.
 
Uh-uh:

no, I'd say it rather has lines more suggestive of the pre-WWII khuks than otherwise, and Cold Steel *should* have had the taste to copy something with this one's class.
 
Hi guys,
These kukris are actually of Indian manufacture and were more prevelant from the mid/late 40s on. They are well made, many have silver mounts and the karda and chakmak are not the knife shapes we're used to. The tips are rounded and many do not have a chakmak, but 2 kardas. There rarely is the pouch although a representative leather flap indicates where the pocket would be.

Manufacture seems to be from the depots at Gorakhpur and Patna. Interestingly enough even before partition in 1947 the knives have few markings (if any) and I have never seen one proofed with the 'broad arrow'.

Hope this helps.


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JP
 
addendum:
This is one of the models used as a pattern for the thousands of mailorder and 'antiques' sold in bazaars. If you have this model with brass mounts and a lion's head pommel it probably isn't a very good knife. Also the kardas will feel like they're cut out of tin.

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JP
 
Thank you all for the great information!

Mr. Sisco: The sheath did not have a frog with it, although there IS a flap, possibly like what Mr. Powell described, with a flap where a pocket might have been. That part is particularly detiorated, and whateve tiedown or securing that was present is long gone. I cannot tell if there actually was a pouch or not.

Mr. Powell is amazing with his knowledge! Upon closer inspection, I discovered that there were, in fact, 2 kardas rather than a chakmak and a karda as I had assumed.

Thank you all for the information, and I'll have to decide the best thing to do with such a fascinating piece!

cj
s002cjs@yahoo.com
 
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