Looking for info about a kukri

[Jon2874]

Our family has an old Gurkha kukri that was brought back by my father after his service in WWII. (He served for a while in India.) I joined BladeForums to hopefully get some info about this knife. I am a knife novice, but this looks like maybe a tourist version, or maybe ceremonial, not a military version? How old is it? The knife itself is very solid and of a piece. The handle looks like ivory but I am not sure. The scabbard is kind of a wreck, but decorative and interesting. Any further info about this piece would be welcome and appreciated. Thank you for your help.

images here:

https://imgur.com/a/pgJtRUb

 

[jdk1]

Its not a military model, though many non-military or private purchases khukuri were carried by soldiers. It looks like a a typical khuk available in bazaars. I don't consider the bazaar khukuri of that era "tourist" khukuri, per se, as the tourist khukuri sold for decades are often total garbage. Aside from rough finishing on the handle, it may be good quality. Its hard to say due to the layers of rust and oxidation. The handle is likely ivory. It was widely available in that part of the world in those days.

I would do this:

1 Take a container, I use a mayonnaise jay and fill it up with mineral oil, which is available in any Walgreens, etc., and place the khuk handle down and let it soak for several days. It will feed the ivory and help it to expand back too normal dimensions.

2 Gently work the rust off of the metal with mineral oil and rags. If needed, maybe use fine steel wool.

3 Once as clean as possible, use a metal polish to clean up the steel and brass.

4 You could soak the sheath in mineral boil, I guess, but its pretty rough. Mainly try to keep it from falling apart any further.

The steel will have a patina and I would leave it. Keep it natural, like it was when your father had it and enjoy his memory.

 

[John_B]

I believe it was Liberace's personal kukri.

Just kidding dude, looks neat.