Mk II gunshow trade in

J W Bensinger

J W Bensinger

Joined
Mar 26, 2009
Messages
2,228
I don't really need more knives, but I've never seen a Mk II in this condition before. Guy gave it to me as partial payment on a custom seax:

I've never seen one with a canvas frog before.
More pics to follow...
 
Looks very similar to the one I got from Gehazi. Sheath is near identical but it doesn't have a canvas frog.

I'm no expert, it may have been cleaned up some but it's in darn nice condition just like the one you have there.
 
The original frog looks to be under the canvas one. Either way it's quite a find, beautiful piece.
 
Nice one. It's an M43. My guess is the original frog was replaced with this canvas (homemade?)version. It's in great shape and they usually feel incredible in hand (except for the small handle size). These M43's are enigmatic. They come marked and unmarked, but the rivets and grooves give them away. In my experience, they are higher quality, often much higher, than most GI Mk. II khuks. It's a great relic of the WWII China/Burma/India Theater. Enjoy it.

ETA: Dirtbiker is right. Part of the original frog is still there.
 
My guess on the frog is a support unit repair to return item to serviceable condition....i would suspect also there was a directive for worn frogs to be cut and this standard repair item slipped over it....or even a conversion mandated to extend service life.....only problem being it being new to most here......but as i always opine on other collector forums, "ok, and the numbers YOU have seen amount to what statistically valid sample of all produced?",.....
 
jdk1 said:
Nice one. It's an M43. My guess is the original frog was replaced with this canvas (homemade?)version. It's in great shape and they usually feel incredible in hand (except for the small handle size). These M43's are enigmatic. They come marked and unmarked, but the rivets and grooves give them away. In my experience, they are higher quality, often much higher, than most GI Mk. II khuks. It's a great relic of the WWII China/Burma/India Theater. Enjoy it.

ETA: Dirtbiker is right. Part of the original frog is still there.
Click to expand...
It's waaaaaayyy smaller than my old Pioneer Calcutta M43-I compared it to my 5160 clone of that (long gone) m43 and it's positively delicate-also a LOT better constructed.
I'll take more pics when i get back from the show-it's buried in one of the show bins.
 
M43's are a variant of the Mk. II. They get the name because they are often, but not always, marked "M43". Your Pioneer Calcutta is an actual military issue Mk. II (the Brits used the Mark system for khuks). As far as I know, no one really knows if the M43 variant was ever an issue piece or a private purchase/bazaar khukuri, though I believe the consensus has leaned toward the later. Strangely, I believe Spiral has observed that the M43's showing up in the US are often brown sheathed while the UK ones are in black sheaths! I've also had three different M43 variants in three different sizes in my collection at one time or another. Whatever the story on the M43, they are truly superb.
 
Couldn't find my pictures so I took some more this morning.

Sure looks similar.







 
Bawanna said:
I'm no expert, it may have been cleaned up some but it's in darn nice condition just like the one you have there.
Click to expand...

This is my impression as well. A beautiful rig nonetheless - congratulations. I've always wanted to find an old khukri. I come across plenty at the flea markets I attend, but all are tourist blades (marked "India") that are in deplorable condition.
 
Bawanna, yours is an M43 as well. And a very nice specimen:thumbup:
 
More pics, same frog as bawannas underneath.
I thought the only ones that were m43's were so marked, the rest were mk2's...
Some pics of the remains of the original frog, and the "1941" date in the canvas frog.
 
The GI Mk. II khukuri vary greatly, but are always marked in my experience. The "standard" M43, as opposed to the air crew model or strange chopperish version, look pretty much just like the ones you and Bawanna have, though they have on rare occasion had a handle ring. The tell tale sign is the small handle having two lines fore and three lines aft and the countersunk, opposite facing rivets. They are generally lighter and slightly more pointy than GI Mk. II. Mk. II are marked by the maker and dated (usually:D) and may have a "II" signifying it as a Mk. II. GI Mk. II will also have the GI sheath. It is unique and non-traditional. They also do not come with karda and chakma. M43, on the other hand, come with a traditional type sheath and always seem to come with the same style K&C with stumpy handles and copper bands. All that said, this is what I've gathered over time studying Mk. II khuks. Someone could come along tomorrow and point out why I'm wrong, but I believe the information is generally correct.

Khukuri are mysterious and enigmatic. Even the GI khuks can be hard to sort out. The M43 is a doozy and no one seems to know for sure how it fits in exactly. But, I've never seen one with a Brit issue sheath and that leads me to believe they aren't issue, at least widespread issue.

The top two are GI Mk. II and the bottom is an M43. The two sheaths are GI with markings.
mkii010.jpg
 
Awesome find, JW. My Uncle who was on the Bataan Death March and escaped (got the SS for that and down to 82 pounds) and then Burma, has a duck frog on his old khuk hanging out in his garage. Yours is in much nicer condition by a long shot. I believe he was responsible for my old man having a box of khuks when he passed away.
 
My next door neighbor survived that march and was never ok again....he passed on some years ago and i will always both pity and honor him, both for what he went through and for the gifts of (mainly bad) homegrown tomatoes he would shyly leave on my back steps....
 
That really is the spittin image of the one I have. That frog is identical, just missing the loop.

Mine was tagged as a WWII but it's hand written and who ever wrote it obviously could have been mistaken.

I shall note the M43 information. Seems to be enough back info to make me believe it's a M43. Regardless, it's a sweet blade and one that will live with me for a good long time.
 
They were definitely used in WWII, just slightly different from GI MK. II. If it is indeed a private purchase khuk, then it is one of the most prevalent. The quality is top notch on them and man do they feel nice. I would have loved to have one if I were unfortunate enough to be in 1943/44 Burma. Id love to see HI repoduce one with a slightly larger handle.
 
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