Khukri imported in Mid 80's

I

Ivan

Joined
Apr 21, 1999
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I have a Khukri that came into states in mid 80's, with papers showing it was a over production model made in India with the old British markings. What are the differences with the ones coming in now? JUst curious. Ivan
 
IVAN, yours is one of thousands of pieces produced in India since the late 60s with claims of being a government issued "kookrie". Issued it ain't, but probably is gov't sanctioned. By adding all the 'official' papers and spec sheet (usually from Ishapore)one gets the impression this is the real deal. Great marketing idea but quick and dirty manufacturing. The karda and chakma are jokes, and the scabbard would come apart in any self respecting monsoon. The good news is the blade itself isn't terrible steel, and this could be used as a utility tool for a while. The markings on the blade range from low quality stamping to a chemical printing process that I have even seen printed backwards. None of the numbers or letters mean a thing and someone in British Ordinance probably shudders every time one of these things gets near with the famous 'broad arrow' being so abused. I still see a lot of these things in different catalogs and guess they still sell. You'll always see one or two at gun shows trying to be sold as a real, old military khukuri. Caveat emptor!

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JP
 
From Ivan: Appreciate the feedback on this Kookrie. I have been looking at the papers that came with it. I have a copy of a original Ordnance Drawing that came with the knife. On the side that would have the contractors initials and year,instead it has India marked on it and onthe other side it has the wsc and the arrow on top. I knew it was not a military issue , but is it correct to consider it a cost over run real Gurkha Knife?
 
Are all the features shown on the drawings also on the knife? I had one a long time ago and I don't think mine matched the drawings. The thing that I can still recall is that my knife was hand a flat tang instead of being a shallow V. There were other things I could not remember.

I suspect someone has tried to make it look like an issue knife. I believe the British arrow was stamped after it was accepted into the military inventory. As such, it should have the contractor and year markings as well.

Sorry for the bad news, I'm not an expert so ask around.

Will
 
IVAN, you might want to check out the information I provided again. The official looking papers mean nothing, the markings mean nothing. It never was nor intended to be a military issue. This knife and thousands like it were and are made for export. This isn't conjecture, it's information from an Indian national who is in a very good position to know. Like you said WILL, sorry for the bad news but I'm certainly no expert: just passing along what I've heard about, read or been told.

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JP
 
Ivan, I don't recall seeing any regulation-issue khukuris in the Indian Gorkha Regiments that had any markings on the blade - no arrows or anything else. I'm speaking of time-period from late 70s to early 90s when I was around dad's outfit. Another thing, I think by the 70s at least, Indian Army had pretty much stopped making anything with old British markings - didn't need to as most arms & equipment were about a generation ahead from the British days, or were sufficiently different to warrant making changes to old designs & markings.

John Powell seems to be right on the money with his explanation. Also, from your descriptions, the khukuri in question seems to be similar to those being sold by Atlanta Cutlery advertised as authentic Indian Army Gurkha issue with Ordnance papers or whatever. I have serious doubts about this - they just don't look like the ones I remember. Firstly, the AC ones, at least those shown on their website have brown wood handles, whereas most issue khukuris carried by Indian Gurkhas have black handles. Also, AC ones seem to be panna-butta types - don't remember seeing a Gurkha carry a panna-butta, at least not an issue khukuri. Lastly, AC khukuris seem to have a terrible reputation!

Hope that helps,

- Sonam

[This message has been edited by gtkguy (edited 28 April 1999).]
 
Many thanks, Nephew, from one who spent years on the scene. In support of your statement, I have probably seen four or five thousand Gurkhas in my life and never, not once, did I see a Gurkha carrying something like the "official issue" khukuri described above.

Uncle Bill
 
From Ivan: Guys, thanks for the info on this Knife. It did come from Atlanta Cutlery in the eighties. I have used it often over the years to clear brush, etc. and it really performs great . Such items as the heel plate ,oil hardeing line alone blade ,rivets seem to be very similar to a real one. It has a good blade that holds a edge. I will have to take a look at a issue Khukri and compare it with my fake one. Actually for %20.00, it is a pretty neat knife and I would not want to get in the way of it! There is a all Knife show in Greencastle, Pa. this Weekend ,including Friday. Maybe someone will have a "real " one there. I am glad I found out it is not really authentic because I would not want to ever sell it as authentic. THanks again for all the info on this neat semi fake. Ivan
 
Ivan, that's the bottom line. If the knife works for you and you are happy with it you've got a winner.

Uncle Bill
 
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