Identifying a Kukri

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Puckageddon

Joined
Nov 21, 2023
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I'm not an expert, but from what I can tell that khukuri is not anything special. It looks like an exact copy of a $20 khuk I bought off of Amazon years ago. In actual use it was very uncomfortable due to the shape of the handle. I hope you are not too disappointed.

The good news is that it looks thick and sturdy enough to stand up to abuse and you needn't worry about destroying a historical artifact. Granted, without more info or field testing there's no way to know the quality of the steel or the heat treatment - both of which will affect durability. If anything, the handle might split and break apart if you try to throw it or baton with it.

Lots of Khukuris have been made in India for the tourist trade, many of which are fragile trinkets. Yours appears to have been similarly made for tourists, but at least it appears sturdy enough for some use. I'd say have fun with it and, if it has sentimental value then, cherish it for what it is. If you're so inclined, find a reputable maker to buy a good quality Khukuri.

Edit: Forgot to say, welcome to BladeForums. There's lots of great info on vintage and modern khukuris here. Use the search function to lookup keywords that will lead you to on-topic threads.
 
Looks like the ones from Atlanta Cutlery. I got one back in the mid 70's, lucked out as the blade came pretty well heat treated, and was hard. I carried it for one Winter Warfare up at then Camp Drum, NY. Got a lot of laughs for carrying it, until we did a survival exercise and had to build shelters to sleep in, then everyone wanted to borrow it. John
PS: Made by WSC , Windlass Steelcrafts Company.
 
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Definitely a Windlass steel craft. They make a lot of kukri and their craftsmanship can be decent to pretty crappy. Handles have gaps, blades come blunt even with their so called sharpening service. I have one that looks just like that but was made a few years ago by WSC.
 
That looks like a pretty basic model that most likely isn't hardened for use, to be honest.

If you want to check it, take a file and run it along the edge like you were trying to sharpen the knife just hard enough to make a slight cut into the steel. You can start at the belly just up from the recurve and run it toward the tip. You should feel it slightly grab then skate then grab. If it does, then the blade was differentially hardened and designed to be used.

If it feels soft the whole edge, congratulations you that a tourist piece.
 
Thanks for the replies, from the sounds of things ill just keep it as a neat show piece, it came to me without a dap or anything and had no edge from the belly for about 15% up the knife, almost squared really. As for oldmanwilly's suggestion about finding a blade maker, I just ordered 2 from Kailash blades, I'm pretty hype to get them, a 12 inch Sirupate and a 17 inch Dui Chirra, and I'm eying a 21 or 24 inch chitlange, I really like the look of them and would like a good light bush sword.
 
Puckageddon said:
Thanks for the replies, from the sounds of things ill just keep it as a neat show piece, it came to me without a dap or anything and had no edge from the belly for about 15% up the knife, almost squared really. As for oldmanwilly's suggestion about finding a blade maker, I just ordered 2 from Kailash blades, I'm pretty hype to get them, a 12 inch Sirupate and a 17 inch Dui Chirra, and I'm eying a 21 or 24 inch chitlange, I really like the look of them and would like a good light bush sword.
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Good job on those new purchases!

Zieg
 
Puckageddon said:
Thanks for the replies, from the sounds of things ill just keep it as a neat show piece, it came to me without a dap or anything and had no edge from the belly for about 15% up the knife, almost squared really. As for oldmanwilly's suggestion about finding a blade maker, I just ordered 2 from Kailash blades, I'm pretty hype to get them, a 12 inch Sirupate and a 17 inch Dui Chirra, and I'm eying a 21 or 24 inch chitlange, I really like the look of them and would like a good light bush sword.
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Great choice! Should you have asked, Kailash was my number one recommendation. Please post pics when you receive them and especially when you use them.
 
Check out the Himalayan Imports sub-forum here for lots of info and reasonably priced real Nepalese kuks made for use.
I got a KLVUK model (village utility knife) years ago and been a great user after a few tweaks to the handle and hand convexing.
 
Out of all my khuks, if you dropped into parts unknown with just one large knife, I'd take my KLVUK over pretty much anything else.
 
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