Need info on this old Khuk (pix)

B

Bill Marsh

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Mar 26, 2002
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A friend just sent me pictures of this old khuk. Would like opinions on it.


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Thanks for your help
Bill Marsh
 
Looks like the end of the tang at the buttcap is threaded and is held on with a hex nut. Could it be one of those that the British mfg'd in India (late 19th or early 20th cent.) ?

My amateur $0.02 worth... <br>
 
It looks like a villager khukuri, first quarter 20th century, that has been heavily used. The construction is traditional, solid, but crude in finish.

n2s
 
Nice example of a village khukuri with folk-art carved scabbard in traditional pattern. Unusual for one of these to have a buttplate; most are partial tang.
 
Originally posted by Berkley
Nice example of a village khukuri with folk-art carved scabbard in traditional pattern. Unusual for one of these to have a buttplate; most are partial tang.
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Since someone went to the trouble to make the nice scabbard, perhaps the buttplate is not as unexpected? Agree that partial tang is of course much more common for village-style.

-_B.
 
I think the carved scabbards are typical of areas where leather is scarce.
 

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Echo dhuff's words,
"Looks like the end of the tang at the buttcap is threaded and is held on with a hex nut. Could it be one of those that the British mfg'd in India (late 19th or early 20th cent.)?"

...Me nothinks it's a villager
 
Bill = the scabbard is nicely made and shows a nice patina. Is there rust damage on the blade anywhere?
 
That blade is certainly hand forged, look at the scale remianing still on the spine! Looks like the handle and collar have been coated with some sort of tarry finish? What's with that?

Keith
 
Originally posted by Ferrous Wheel
That blade is certainly hand forged, look at the scale remianing still on the spine! Keith
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Yup!!!! Appears pretty much the same way this one did that I got from H.I., as forged and unfinished, before I had my way with it.:)
 
Originally posted by Yvsa


Yup!!!! Appears pretty much the same way this one did that I got from H.I., as forged and unfinished, before I had my way with it.:)
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It's the top one in this pic along with the as forged Hanuman blade below that I will finish someday after I get the tang welded back on it.
I learned to never whack a really heavy tang without heating it up first.:o :rolleyes: :mad:
But all it needed was a gentle curve so I can make the handle the same as found on the older khuks. They may be short handles, but the curved handles lock even the ham fisted guys hands in them quite well.

Now if this will work.
 
Yvsa:

I know others have said it before,

but that's nice work you've done!

Hope to see it when we have a chance to get together.
.
.
Hmmm......about the as-forged dings.....I wonder......

Could I take a ball-peen hammer to the main body,

above the edge grind, where the blade is a bit softer?
 
I have seen more than a few of these kukris and the patina is always the same and way too even, so I am just guessing, but they may be 'smoked' to look older.

I know one fellow who buys them over there and literally pays about $2 each.

This a very common style throughout Nepal and obviously looks very used. The wooden scabbard is actually easier to make than the leather covered ones so I would have to say it is just a regular villager from the mid 1900s and not worth a whole lot of money. Some of the better ones have much finer carving or slightly different details.

Even with all that, it is worth having at least one or two in a kukri collection to show just how hard working these things are.
 
J.P.

As a total newbie to "antique" blades, I want to express my great appreciation for your comments.

This is an amazing forum and I am very grateful that people like me can benefit from your generously shared and no doubt hard-won knowledge.

Thanks again. Also kudos to n2s while I'm dishing out the praise! I hope to someday be able to purchase an old knife and not get taken.
 
Originally posted by John Powell
I have seen more than a few of these kukris and the patina is always the same and way too even, so I am just guessing, but they may be 'smoked' to look older.

This a very common style throughout Nepal and obviously looks very used. The wooden scabbard is actually easier to make than the leather covered ones so I would have to say it is just a regular villager from the mid 1900s and not worth a whole lot of money. Some of the better ones have much finer carving or slightly different details.

Even with all that, it is worth having at least one or two in a kukri collection to show just how hard working these things are.
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John,

I really appreciate your evaluation. There is no question that you are probably the greatest khukuris expert in the world. I mean that with total respect.

I do have a few questions since I am really new at khuk understanding. You mentioned "smoked." It is my understanding that It is fairly standard village technology for a lot of old wood items to be coated with tree pitch. Wood buckets, old khuks, arrow quivers, ladders, woven baskets, etc. As I understand it this is supposed to prevent moisture rot, and boring insects, which will devour old wood. I could sure be wrong, but that seems to be the case here with this khuk.

Aren't there village khuks similar to this that are still in use by old timers in remote villages in Nepal, that looked about the same - with this dark, sometimes "crusty" sometimes smooth pitch coating on them? And this practice has been going on for hundreds of years.

I also want to understand better how to judge age on village khuks. The design also seems to be static for hundreds of years with mainly regional differences and I would like to know better how to judge the age more accurately. How can you tell a blade that is "mid nineteen hundreds" from one that is mid eighteen hundreds?

Lastly, I do appreciate it that you say "it is worth having one or two in every collection...."

Think that I may go back and do a little bidding. It has got to be worth more than $13.50!

I know the seller quite well and he is one of the most honorable people I have ever met.

Respectfully
Bill Marsh
 
Bought it from the seller and I like it. Neat old village khukuris. Sharp and well used. Has a wonderful smokey smell.

Also bought a cummerbund from the same seller the khuk rides very well in it, traditional Nepali style.

Have heard "cummerbund" is an Indian/Nepali word.

Bill Marsh
 
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