How can you tell an old khukuri from a new?

[golok]

I ask this question quite innocently because some time ago, I purchased what was claimed to be an old khukuri.

Apart from the blade suffering from an overdose of rust, it does look and feel old because the sheath looked quite depressed and worn out.

Since I am no expert, I can't tell one way or the other. The blade has an etching of dots that runs along the spine and the figure of the sun on one side of the blade.

The guy who sold it to me balanced the khukuri with his thumb nail with the blade edge near the khukuri handle.

"Look, how well balanced this khukuri is," he said.

Since the price wasn't a deterrent, I bought it just for the fun of it.

By the way, the handle is made of either ivory or some kind of a bone.


------------------
Make Love your strongest weapon. Compassion your shield and forgiveness your armour.

 

[Craig Gottlieb]

I find the best way to tell is simple: some rust marring on the blade. Most combat blades of old have had SOME rust. Also, on khukuris, the handles on much older models tends to be smaller with a larger "belly" on the blade. Berkley will have to confirm or deny.

------------------
Craig Gottlieb
Gurkha House
Blade Forums Sponsor

 

[Berkley]

Here are four genuinely old khukuris from the Powell collection. While it is generally true that older khukuris, such as the bottom 2, tend to have proportionately shorter handles than newer models (made with the larger hands of Western consumers in mind), some very old khukuris, such as the top two, have quite long handles. These are less common, however. Where the handles are shorter, the part of the handle close to the blade tends to be 1.5 to 2 times as long as the back part behind the ring, compared with new khukuris where front and back tend to be the same length.
The amount of "belly" to the blade is more a function of style/design/purpose than age as such - again, I believe the top khukuri in the first picture is the oldest, dating to the latter part of the eighteenth century. (JP is temporarily away from his computer and will correct my most egregious errors when he returns).
Generally, oxidation of the steel may indicate age. Rust can also occur on new blades that are improperly stored, but it is usually distinguishable from the patina of age, though rust and patina may both be found together. Where the scabbard is present it usually is a good indicator of age, as leather and wood, being organic, will tend to lose their natural moisture and show their age more readily than old steel that has been kept clean and well oiled. Same goes for wooden handles. Horn is much harder to date, because it can keep its luster for a long time, but as we all know can crack when quite new. No definitive answers, just some things to look for. When in doubt, do what I do - ask John Powell to look at a picture

.

[This message has been edited by Berkley (edited 06-15-2001).]