Khukri markings - translation?

B

Bob W

Joined
Dec 31, 2000
Messages
17,079
These are the markings on the spine of a Khukri I recieved in the mail today. Purchased from Atlanta Cutlery, it's one of the "WWII Vintage" models that supposedly came from the armory buyout in Nepal.
WWIIKhukrimarkings.jpg

I'm hoping that these markings will be a clue as to where the Khukri was made, by who, or where it was used.

Yes, I know there's a 50/50 chance that my scan is upside down. Just say the word and I'll switch 'er round.

The sheath also has some stampings, but they are faint and could not be scanned. Something like this:
001943
CA644

Any insight is much appreciated.

-Bob
 
Hello Bob,

Well thats older than WW2! Its an old Nepali army kukri, the scan is upside down but the part currently on the right of the screen says Shree 3 Chandra, Which is an honorific greeting 3 times over to The Prime minister of Nepal up untill 1928.

The writing on the left of the moniter, will usualy give a soldiers nickname & number.

Photos of the entire kukri & scabbard would be usefull.

The scabbard sounds like a Cawnpore Indian made , from 1943 one for a mk.2 kukri, But need photos to be certain.

Spiral
 
I flipped the image 180 degrees.

I can't fit the entire Khuki on the scanner, nor the sheath. The sheath is exactly like this one in design:
0800884_L_000.jpg

Except the one I received could not be described as "new". The leather is very dark and has a lot of scuff marks and dings - nothing I'd call abuse though.

Here's a scan of the Khukri handle and kaura. There are no other marking on the Khukri itself other than what I've scanned above. The handle is wood.

WWIIKhukri.jpg


As you can see in the scan, the edge is in very good condition.

Best Wishes,
-Bob

-----------------------------------------------------
Sorry about posting in the wrong forum, and thanks to whoever moved it. I wasn't clear if "off-topic" was reserved for non-knife discussions or non-HI discussions.
 
Well thats a photo of a copy of a ww2 scabbard for a mk.3 with a 12 inch blade.

I guess your scabbard has a rounded spine? as its dated 1943.

I cant tell much from only seeing half a kukri about its shape! But thanks for trying.

Which ww2 style did you buy it as? either way you got it cheap as its older.

It says "Shree 3 Chandra _____________ " " 4/42"

i dont know the words i marked as " ".

Spiral
 
I cant tell much from only seeing half a kukri about its shape! But thanks for trying.
Click to expand...
I'll take some photos and pump this topic back to the top when they get developed in a couple of weeks.

Which ww2 style did you buy it as? either way you got it cheap as its older.
Click to expand...
It was catalog item #410068: [Active link deleted]
0401168_l_000.jpg
The blade shape is identical to this, but as you can see in my scan, the handles are different. Mine has no rivets and the butt is more flaired.

Very Best Wishes and Sincere Thanks,
-Bob
 
That would be good , cheers,

I am guessing you got something nearer the Bhojpure, you definatly didnt get a ww2 mk.2!

But if it feels good to you, thats what matters.

I guess the blokes working in the warehouse havent got a clue about kukri. It fitted in the scabbard so they sent it out.

First time round they sent me a ww2 kukri instead of ww1!

Spiral
 
I'd love to go there with someone who actually knows this stuff and root through the boxes, eh?
 
Well I can't complain too much, i ordered a Bhojpure from them without a scabbard. when it arrived it came with a scabbard but the blade had seen some really rough use. It looked like it had been sharpened with concrete the sides had deep scratches and the spine looked like it was used as a hammer. It looks like the kami was in a rush when he put the handle on because the corner of the tang has surfaced just behind the ring and its also slightly angled to the left. feels good in the hand though (i'm a lefty) i'll keep it as a user maybe rehandle it one day. I'll have to post some pics.
 
Yep Nasty, If I could get a gaurantee , i could root through say 800 kukris or so kuks , Id fly out tommorow! Theres probably some real raritys & beutys amongst them. I expect even the warehouse guys spot some of the most exotic ones.

It would be good to live near it! Id pop in regularily!


Aliloff , pix would be good! that handle sounds bad construction realy, never seen the tang that missaligned before. Still it may not be its first handle already? Some of those kukris have done a lot of military service.

Many spines on kukri have been beaten with bars,stones etc when they were splitting firewood, those dents are quite common on pre.ww2 kukri.


Spiral
 
Gotta remember these were *tools* and weapons...not collectors pieces. They did what they had to with what they had available.
 
That's an old kukri, I can tell you that. Shree 3 (tin) means really old. Nepal's current King gets Shree 5 (panch). So just guess yourself how old this kukri might be.
 
Since I can't PM some folks, let me say that all users, even brand new ones, must be aware of the rules for dealers.

Please review them or visit the Bladeforums Sales and Support forum if you have questions.
 
Sanjay Lama said:
That's an old kukri, I can tell you that. Shree 3 (tin) means really old. Nepal's current King gets Shree 5 (panch). So just guess yourself how old this kukri might be.
Click to expand...

Shree 3 Chandra, is the honorific for prime minster Chandra, 1902 t0 1928.

All Nepali Prime ministers are & always have been since 1902, shree 3, all Nepali Kings have been Shree 5 for many generations.

But some tell me that may soon end? Time will tell.

Spiral
 
the bit spiral didn't translate is: goH naaH

which is very odd, since these often look like they could be soldier's personal names/nicknames (spiral and I have discussed this at ikrhs.com ).

But this looks like Sanskrit, especially with the :'s (which I've transliterated as H's): in Sanskrit this bit goH naaH would translate as our cow.....

the mystery deepens...
 
Thanks Beo! Its great to have someone about who can actualy read the language & translate!

My "Shree 3 Chandra" input is generaly more in the nature of recognising a familar Mantra! :D & the numbers are sometimes rather easy.;)

Our Cow? A Hindu Honorific? A curse? A Nickname? or something else Entirly , i wonder?

Fascinating! it does still seem allied to the number as well..

Spiral
 
Nepali writing on spine are shree three (tin) chandra ga na 4/42 this is an old Khukuri. I have one in my collection but mine is Samsher model.
See pictures

3-12-07s 001.jpg

3-12-07s 002.jpg
 
Yangdu,

There's a little o-maatraa (little wavy thing) above the 'ga' though, which makes me think it's goH, not gaa.

The 'nickname' on yours [=Yangdu's] seems to be vaTe - does this sound like a Nepali name??

Generally:
Revision on my previous statement, thinking about it, actually naaH can't be Sanskrit 'our', since that would be naH.

Perhaps it's an unusual abbreviation system (with the : instead of the usual 'open greek comma' i.e. little circle) and it simply stands for a name, e.g. 'Gopal Naaraayan'.

--B.
 
spiraltwista said:
Aliloff , pix would be good! that handle sounds bad construction realy, never seen the tang that missaligned before. Still it may not be its first handle already? Some of those kukris have done a lot of military service.

Many spines on kukri have been beaten with bars,stones etc when they were splitting firewood, those dents are quite common on pre.ww2 kukri.


Spiral
Click to expand...

I'll post some pics of it here and on the other sight for you to take a look.
 
Thanks Yangdu for your input & also for sharing that lovely old kukri with us!

I am glad you have a collection of the old beutys as well.;)

I can recall Bill mentioning a few, He rather liked.

Spiral

Ps. Cheers Aliloff!
 
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