I took leave from work yesterday and visited the Military Museum in my city. The curator told me during a reenactment shoot a week ago that he had three khukuris, two on display and one in stores. He asked me to identify and appraise them. Poor guy, he really didn't know ANYBODY else who thought they knew anything about khuks round here! For the interest of the forum, I thought it might be interesting to read the report I gave the curator afterwards.
I want to make it clear that I do not view myself as an expert on khuks. You all know I'm just now emerging from my status as newbie. But really, it was a question of providing the curator with information to the best of my ability, or just turn my head and ignore him. I chose the former.
NUMBER 1
This looks like a genuine traditional Nepalese-style khukuri. Whether in fact it was made in Nepal, or possibly in India, is not known. The blade is of the slender sirupati type. The scrolled "sword of Shiva" is quite ornate and seems to be reasonably well done. There is a single fullered groove. The blade does not have a shoulder, but slopes foreward. The blade shows many file marks on the spine and along the blade, and sharpening seems to have been done excessively, even into the ricasso area on both sides of the conventional cho. It was probably hammer-forged before 1900, as the blade (due to a little meandering hairline surface crack / flaw near the tip) seems to be made with metal not salvaged from vehicle springs. The handle is made of wood, in quite a dry state, and the buttcap consists of a thin steel plate with a hole and diamond-shaped washer through which the rattail tang has been peened over. The number of rings (4+4+ridge) on the handle does not correspond to the "normal" pattern found on khukuris. The poorly finished accessory tools are present. The karda's handle is of buffalo horn, but the chakmak's wooden handle is probably a replacement. The scabbard is wood, covered with black buffalo hide, with the two pouches for the accessory tools. The leather is decorated with a pattern. There is no chape. The scabbard seems to have undergone repairs as the centre portion has been covered with a tin plate over which the leather has been badly restitched. There is no frog, but the scabbard has a thong, undoubtedly not original, which might serve to hang the khukuri on a wall. The first old civilian I've seen and handled. I like it.
NUMBER 2
This seems to be a very old, high-quality Nepalese khukuri. The most conspicuous characteristic is the drop, which is very pronounced indeed. It seems almost to describe a half-circle. It is not very large. The blade has at least one fullered groove. The cho is conventional. The handle is of wood. There is no scabbard. More detail or measurements cannot be obtained till the khukuri is removed from its glass-fronted display case for closer scrutiny. I find myself exited about this one.
NUMBER 3
This khukuri-shaped knife seems not to be Nepalese-made, but rather crudely fashioned by some other less skilled bladesmith. There seems to be considerable Western influence. The blade is shouldered, and the cho is conventional. The "sword of Shiva" is a simple line and is poorly inscribed. The panna butta handle (all bright and everything) is made from either ivory of bone, and the slabs are pinned to the tang with at least five thin brass pins. There is no scabbard. More detail cannot be gleaned till it is removed from its glass- fronted display case for closer scrutiny. This one does not impress me at all.
I'd love to hear what a guy like JP (or other forumites) thinks of my attempt at identification. Foremost in my own mind is the old saying: Fools rush in where angels fear to tread!