Nepali WW II examples

John Powell

John Powell

Joined
Mar 9, 1999
Messages
1,440
A. Nepali made with an Indian scabbard w/ karda and chakmak being of Indian issue. Marked w/ soldier's # on the blade

B. Nepali military issue (rare) although it's missing the small knives. Soldier's # on blade and may be post WW II

C. Nepali made but British/India proofmarked. Probably post WW II
and not configured for a karda or chakmak

D. Nepali made w/ British style frog and soldier's # marked plus a manufacturer's date of 1939 and A7 on grip but have no idea what that stands for. It is not fitted for a karda or chakmak

E. Nepali made w/ soldier's # marked. Frog probably from Indian depot with the scabbard cover being made from a knapsack or some other web material. One of the small knives of the small knives is missing.

View
 
Thanks Chris. I really like the khukuris that look and feel like they have 'been there' and yes, I do sell some pieces. The next photo of WW II examples will have a piece that is available.
 
Outstanding kurks, can you imagine the stories behind them!howling Gorkas jumping into trenches into the teeth of rifle fire! VALHALLA!
 
is there a specific name for the blade style of the wwII in pic "D" it is truly exceptional?
 
Mott,

You beat me to it. I can guess from the manufacturing style and the general condition that these are probably WWII; but, short of a stamp on it that reads 1940 (regimental number etc.), how can you really know?

N2S
 
John:

I had my Malla across my lap when your post came up, and have been comparing it with your Fig. E - Very similar.
 
Mott, I don't know of a specific name for this blade, but it is atypical and very well made. A real fighter.

N2S, you bring up a very good point. How do you know what these unmarked pieces are? I go by studying old photos, comparing the knives and accesories to known dated pieces, comparing ideas with a few other collectors and historians and just by handling (fortunately) so many khukuris. My favorite source is a very old kami in the UK, but he usually has to hold a knife to tell me his thoughts. His son, grandson and I always marvel at his memory on some things and stories on others. As Bill can attest, they can have great imaginations where time is only a concept and not a guideline, IE: "This khukuri is 10,000 years old and came from the clouds". Wonderful stuff.
 
old, and came from the clouds - - - My young, educated mind chuckles. My old, old soul smiles back. Nepal Ho.
 
John is absolutely correct once again and I was present one time when he showed an old Gorkha whose mind is fading a wonderful khukuri and received the comment, "this khukuri is 10,000 years old and came from the clouds." I will have to add, however, that some old kamis' aruns are high in the Himalayas and often shrouded in clouds but I do not think the aruns have been there for 10,000 years.
 
Bill, this old kami in England has a few years on Pala, but I think it's interesting that they both use the same concept and I absolutely believe the term "came from the clouds". They are bits of living history and I prefer to go by their words than any bit of reality.

My old friend's SON is in his 70s and his son knows his birthdate and is my age, 56. They were all Gurkha soldiers and all have "blood on their khukuris" as they say.
 
D, D, D, D!

It is the one out of the bunch that is ( hanshee ? ) without an elbow. It calls to me and I must have it.

Lust commands my body to grab it and flee... a red fog narrows my vision to only it.
 
John,

It sounds like your source would have served during the 1920s-1940s. The man must be a wealth of information. I hope you can capture some of it and put it to paper.

I am always curious about the obvious. Why is your example "D" different from the other khukuries. Was this a personal preference, a style associated with a region or sub-culture, a conscious choice made by a procurement official for one of the regiments, or a difference driven by product evolution over time. We suspect that the average kukri would have been re-hilted, and re-sheathed, several times over the course of its' useful life. Perhaps, like some WWII Japanese swords, the blade is much older than the mounting.

A good way to start might be to simply ask about how all of the various kukries were drafted for military service. Who purchased them? Where the troops expected to provide their own? Were they made by Kami(es) attached to the regiment? Or, was there some semi-official PX-like source?

There was a procurement process at some point and that is probably the best place to start.

N2S

BTW, If anyone has any extra (older) khukries for sale - please drop me a note. :)
 
Tom and Rusty, D isn't a 'hanshee'. It would fit more along the lines of an M43. Your lust is admirable and if things go well Uncle will be providing you with blades with no shoulder. I have attached a picture of 3 true 'hanshees'.
View


N2S, all the questions you pose have been asked and asked again. The answers vary, but are difficult to document. In the early days the Gurkhas took into combat the khukuri they brought from home. As things got more regimented and larger numbers of knives were needed they started being mass produced. In many cases there was an issue knife and a personal one and appears personal knives were slipped into uniform scabbards and frogs. This practice seemed more prevelant after WW I for some reason.

I do have a great source of material from the 3 generations of Chettris especially with all seeing combat, plus Babu being a kami. I write down all I can from our infrequent visits.
 
:
Or perhaps the "D" khukuri is what I call a "Full Curveing khukuri."
Whatever the difference I like the "D" over the hanshee it appears.:D

And John all my friends call me Yvsa here as well as in person, I prefer that name and wish you would do the same.
Tom has essientally died and isn't a person that too many here would have liked or respected, even myself.
I don't think it should be too hard for you to remember since all my correspondence here is under the name Yvsa.
Please?
 
John,
The only one that "I"like is in your second pic. the middle one!Now you will have to hear from THAT NDN(Ivsa)& Rus about me having "no" taste! I "STILL"stick with my choice!
jim :cool:
 
Originally posted by Yvsa
:
....all my friends call me Yvsa here as well as in person...
Click to expand...

just out of curiosity, how do you pronounce Yvsa? Like 'Ivsa' or 'Yevsa' or ...?

B.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top