Maharaja of Jodphur kukri

John Powell

John Powell

Joined
Mar 9, 1999
Messages
1,440
It looks like there is a complete and correct Maharaja of Jodphur kukri on eBay that is notable since it's marked as a Fort Guard model.
#2250967798
 
Interesting JP!

Have any of yours got the bolster ringed grip & a separate keeper? holding a through tang?

My old 1914 one hasnt. So I presumed it was later manufacture do you think its just a varient?

Spiral.
 
Bolster ringed grip? Huh? Post a picture. They ALL have an integral ring in the middle, there is no bolster per se as the grip is angled into the blade and having both the stud on the scabbard and the leather strap is a huge plus. The blade is always blued and the molded "diamond" keeper hopefully hasn't been ground off. The only variation would be in the markings, but don't forget commemorative versions were made in the 1950s.
 
Oky doke JP, this grip has 2 extra decorative rings were the bolster would be,
4a_1.JPG


It also has a greater curve to the handle than the usual & the keeper seems not to be integral but a steel plate or somesuch. {I am veiwing this on a $900 moniter}

f9_1.JPG


This is what I regard as the usual style,

ph-5.jpg


ph-2.jpg


ph-0.jpg


Personaly I am sceptical of it bieng 1914 & think it was probably made later as I also notice, that the sellor is selling loads of those copy made in India army unit shields & sewn patches as well!

I may be wrong but it just doesnt seem quite right somehow.
Its certainly a varient!

cheers,
Spiral
 
It looks like one of the repros from the 50s. These have value too, so no problem there. What does the blade and scabbard look like? You can send pix directly if you want. It's details now: what does the stamping in the grip look like? There was only one letter/number style.

Rod, Fort Guard is exactly what it says. These kukris were issued to the Gurkhas who weren't attached to the Indian Division that went to fight in Europe and the Mid East during the Great War. FG + a soldier's number. They stayed in Jodphur State and protected the Maharaja.
 
I have one that has the same stamping "FG" and a number "631" under it. Looks just like the one on eBay. Any way to determine the name of the ghurka it was issued to?

Also have another one that is absolutely identical, but with no stamp. Bought them both from the same seller a few years ago. If authentic WWI model, why would it not have any markings?

I had scabbards made by Terry Sisko. Could the scabbard on the eBay model be original? I heard that the original scabbards were junk and few have survived.
 
Hi Bill,

As an aid to clarity the handles I illustrated on the green background are from the ebay sale, that I belive is a later copy, if yours looks like that yours is probably a later copy as well.

Jp is saying this is probably from the 1950s but still collectable.

Most of the original ww1 kukri other than mk1 & mk2 were not stamped.

mine looks just like the one in the blue background pictures, that is a real unmarked 1914 issue.

Hope that makes it clearer!

cheers,
Spiral
 
Spiral, really like that first one. Those extra rings give the illusion of a boslter, like that effect. Thanks for posting the pic. :)
 
I think that eBay piece may have some secrets to offer. If it is a later copy the stamps will be key plus the scabbard & chape. The diamond keeper doesn't look right, but this one needs close inspection.

Bill, there were no Brit-India markings since these were supplied to the Gurkhas sponsored by the Maharaja directly into the Indian Army. As for the scabbards it's not that they were "junk" (they are actually very well made) but that they are too delicate for military use. The chape itself is almost a sculpture itself and is neccesary for authenticity and value.
 
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