Khukuri info/facts please?

B

Browning

Joined
Jul 15, 2005
Messages
6
I was told to go here instead of general discussions

I have had this thing for around 17-18 years. My sisters father gave it to me, not knowing anything about it. I dont remember where or how he got it. I remember as a kid it being the coolest knife I have ever seen. On the blade it says India, with some design. On the bottom of the handle it has what appears to be a lion(not sure because its beat up) How would I go about finding out if its homemade, or ?? I forgot I even had the thing.




 
Hi, welcome to the forums. It externally appears to be a khuk made for the tourist trade. The India on there is a strong indicator as that is usually where they come from and the lion's head design is popular for that. I have seen lots of similar ones and owned a couple. As far as for finding out who made it, I don't think you will be able to unless there are some other markings on there. It is most likely not intended to be a user. It is possible that you got a good one, with good steel and properly heat treated, but you would have to use the knife to find that out. If it is cheap steel and soft, you could wreck the knife. I have had a couple very similar ones that all were cheap tourist ones, not ment for real use that I wrecked before I learned more about khuks. Many people hold khuks in low esteem because of their experiences using cheap tourist khuks with bad steel and poor tempering. There are indeed quality lion's head khuks and I can't tell you if you have one. It sure does look cool on your wall, but unless you are willing to risk losing it, I would not use it very hard.
 
Welcome Browning,
What you have there is a khukuri made in India for the tourist trade. Probably unhardened steel, not made for serious use. Not a fine piece but good sentimental value for you.

Steve

Oops Bobwhite beat me to it.
 
I used to beat on trees with it when I was a kid, it never bent, dented, or anything like that.
 
Sharpen it up and have at it then. Remember you are likely much stronger now though, so go easy at first. There is a guy here, John Powell, who has an extensive collection of khuks and he would be the guy I would recommend to talk to about identifying the maker or history or your knife. He was and maybe still is writing a book about khukuris, using his collection, and museaum pieces he got access to as well, to research the history of the khuk. He doesn't come by as much as he used to so you might want to try to contact him. Search his name, and open his profile for his email.
 
Hi, Browning.

I have a couple of those, myself. In your pictures, it looks as if the blade has some chrome(?) plating that has corroded off. Same thing with mine.
I'm pretty sure my steel is soft, so I've been afraid to sharpen them. I bought them, relatively cheaply, on eBay, before I had spent much time on this forum. I consider it an inexpensive lesson.

You didn't mention what you wanted to do with your khuk. If you're looking for something to do some serious chopping with, I'd go the the HI website and pick one that strikes your fancy. Or stick around here for the specials that are posted. You can get some great bargains on khuks from those specials.
If you only want a display piece, looks like you're set already.

Either way, this is a fun place to hang out.
 
I purchased one of these at an auction in the UK in I think 1980. Mine was truly huge at about about 2 feet long and a heavy wrist breaker. It is made for the tourist trade and mine had the same inlaid hilt, which is the best thing about it! It also had the same lions head pommel, and the same 'India' dot-punched marking and decoration. They are forged from lorry leaf springs so are made from a decent bit of steel. If you are lucky it will have some temper. Your looks like it has been sharpened, but the 'originals' are supplied blunt. The scabbard should have a really sharp pointed chape which will snag you at both ends if you are unlucky. I sold it at auction in May. Yours will polish back up if you put it on a linisher.
 
Browning? You might know better what you want to do with it if you could determine if it was hardened properly or not. You might have a user in there regardless where it came from- one never knows, right?

Welcome to HI forum.

Andrew Taylor- welcome!



munk
 
Andrew, What in the he!! is a "linisher?" :confused:
Oh, BTW welcome to you both. Howa bouta Heinerkin?
 
Bri in Chi said:
Andrew, What in the he!! is a "linisher?" :confused:
Oh, BTW welcome to you both. Howa bouta Heinerkin?
Click to expand...

In England anyway it is a revolving belt of fabric backed emery cloth. It is used like a grinder but has a wider, flatter area, and an oiled surface. I have seen a very large one at the Wilkinson Sword factory in London. You can make your own by glueing emery cloth to a piece of board, but you have to provide the horsepower yourself!

Just finished a Molson Canadian myself :)

Thanks, both for the welcome.
 
Andrew,
Please help us to use this new term properly. Does one indulge in "linishing" a blade? I mean, is the act of using a linisher, considered "linishment?" Or, "linishization?" Is the person who uses the machine referred to as a "linisher," "linishman," Or simply a "linishist?" I ask as a person who occasionally indulges in this pastime.
:D
I'm sure that others who linish will have additional questions as well.
 
NATIONAL LOGIC SERVICE VEER BULLETIN

WARNING RATINGS:

Level 1: Moderate burble from initial top and subsequent posts.

Level 2: Two or more burbles, and or, posts which significantly address tangential topics only remotely related to initial post.

Level 3: Initial post, followed by complete non-sequitur, which then takes on a track of its own; often accompanied with a veer surge and high winds.

Level 4: Initial post has one teenytinytypo, followed by a rugby scrum of sardonic comments, none of which even remotely has tangential connection with the primary inquiry.

(Board windows, go to a secure location in your home, or evacuate to the nearest place of worship, bringing your own blankets, food and water.)

Level 5: Tangents mention a bear. Abandon all hope.
 
Continuing at level 3

Haven't seen a 'linisher' over here yet, DIY shops sell hand sanders, orbital sanders and hand belt sanders, none of which are suitable for knife stuff, have looked in ebay & googled to find a 1in benchtop belt sander without luck so far. sometimes i miss Sears.

Gusting up to level 4

there is a "Gary Linisher" over here, sells potato chips (locally known as potato crisps), useda be a footballer (soccer type) :D

The Eye of the Diversion approacheth, level 5 and above recorded:

 what caliber linisher would be reccommended for Kodiak Bears? i'da thought a 4in. rather than the usual 1in. & about a 200 grit...
 
kronckew said:

. . .
The Eye of the Diversion approacheth, level 5 and above recorded:

 what caliber linisher would be reccommended for Kodiak Bears? i'da thought a 4in. rather than the usual 1in. & about a 200 grit...
Click to expand...

Not LESS than 50 grit and 42" belt. 200 grit will merely be used by the bear to sand off your face.
 
Bri in Chi said:
Andrew,
Please help us to use this new term properly. Does one indulge in "linishing" a blade? I mean, is the act of using a linisher, considered "linishment?" Or, "linishization?" Is the person who uses the machine referred to as a "linisher," "linishman," Or simply a "linishist?" I ask as a person who occasionally indulges in this pastime.
:D
I'm sure that others who linish will have additional questions as well.
Click to expand...

nowt wrong with a bit of frivolity, but as I am new here and you might think I am making it up......

The person who performs the job is a linisher, he works on a linishing machine, and when the work has been finished the item has been linished.

Here is one in the flesh made by my friend Walt.
http://www.4q2.co.uk/aw/4891.php

Here is a big industrial bugger
http://www.lawm.freeserve.co.uk/linisher.htm

and its application to British blades
http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4658

and because we have to observe the dust particles that a linisher can produce
http://www.dustair.co.uk/htm/linish.htm

and here the Aussies are worried about the noise a big industrial bugger can make
http://www.safetyline.wa.gov.au/pagebin/noisgenl0041.htm

so there! :p
 
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