I got my AC "Bhojpure" Pre- 1890 kukri today!!!!

beoram · Oct 17, 2003

Originally posted by orono
Here's an enhancement of the markings found on the butt of my type D Kukri from AC

(see above for image)

Any translations ?

Thanks,
Warren

Hi Warren,

Here's what I can tell you:

There seem to be three distinct marks.

The deepest one seems to be a Nagari #1 (though it could in
theory be some other nagari numeral - #2, #7, or #9, as unfortunately these numerals can look very like one another depending on the style of the script; but I think #1 is the most likely).

The two lighter marks under the deep mark:

The one on the left looks to me like a Nagari #4.

The other one I am not sure about.
It actually looks like a Germanic P-rune, but I somehow doubt this is the case! The image is hard to make out very well though - but it doesn't look much like any sort of Nagari numeral. So I'm not sure. It could be some other sort of symbol? Or maybe an odd form of a Nagari numeral.

[nagari is the script usually used for written nepali, hindi, sanskrit]

But, the basic overview is that these seem to be some sort of numbers. In general, I have mainly seen only a single numeral stamped on any of the AC khukuris (or kardas). What exactly they stand for, I don't know. JP can probably give you better speculations than I.

--Ben

Yvsa · Oct 18, 2003

Originally posted by beoram
[nagari is the script usually used for written nepali, hindi, sanskrit]

But, the basic overview is that these seem to be some sort of numbers. In general, I have mainly seen only a single numeral stamped on any of the AC khukuris (or kardas). What exactly they stand for, I don't know. JP can probably give you better speculations than I.

--Ben

Ben what about the engraving in this drawing?

beoram · Oct 18, 2003

Originally posted by Yvsa
Ben what about the engraving in this drawing?

[see above for image]

Yvsa,

Again, you seem to have 3 distinct marks:

(1) The 'hook'-shaped thing coming off of the 'E'-shaped mark. This is the same as the 'deep' mark in Warren's, and appearing on many of the other AC kukri-butts by itself. Probably a Nagari #1. But possible a Nagari #2, #7, #9.

(2) 'Y'-shaped thing. I think it may actually be a roman 'Y'. If it is not, it could be a Nagari #5, or, less likely, nagari #4.

(3) 'E'-shaped thing. Again, it looks like it could really be a roman 'E'. If not, maybe Nagari #6 (or backwards Nagari #3).

But I think the two marks may really be 'Y E' - could it be the initials of the person who owned it? Do they look like they were added at the same time, in the same way, as the other mark? I wouldn't be surprised to see someone mark his initials. (The other mark is a nagari numeral though.)

Though why in roman letters, I don't know. But some of the Gurkhas I think were taught to read roman letters (so they could read English & romanised Urdu) but may not have read/written nagari.

JP may have better ideas on the significance of all of this.