Peter Prentice MBE Service Khukri

[Andrew Taylor]

This is Peter's khukri that he carried with him during his time in the Ghurka Rifles. As I mentioned officers weren't issued with khukris but his men presented him with this to use in the field. It was used through the whole time he spent in French Indo China. The jungle warfare scenario would have contributed to its condition. The hilt cracked and he said one of his men effected a battlefield repair with some wire. The hilt also has a chunk out of the end and the aluminium butt plate is loose. There is only one chakma and this has a square edge for honing. You will also notice that the surface is rough and this was used with a flint to make fire. Peter said the flint was kept in the leather pouch, which you will notice that the stitching has rotted. The small pointy stick was a puzzle and I assumed it was for making shavings to start a fire. Peter told me it was his tooth pick and tooth brush. He said the wooden and bristle army issue toothbrushes rotted quickly in the damp atmosphere and if a bit of stick was good enough for the men of Nepal for God knows how long it worked for him!

I know a lot of you hold great store in the weight of khukris. I would have to say this is a lightweight very fast khukri, so I guess, easy to carry and good for fighting. It is also extremely sharp. The scabbard is pretty with its little bit of understated decoration.

Needless to say, I couldn't believe my luck to recieve it and I am extremely honoured to be the owner of it now.

 

[Kazeryu]

wow! It's really great to see a serious 'user' that was actually carried around in wartime. You are very lucky to have such an interesting piece of history!

 

[Andrew Taylor]

wow! It's really great to see a serious 'user' that was actually carried around in wartime. You are very lucky to have such an interesting piece of history!

Thanks. I am fortunate to have about 100 such pieces all from wartime use, swords, bayonets, fighting knives, penknives, daggers, shell cases, you name it, I might well have it! Peter's stuff is especially interesting as I have the history to it. So many pieces that I have, I wish they could 'talk' and tell me their history.

 

[Svashtar]

Very neat Andrew, and a wonderful history as well. You should write down what you know about it, as all of our time is measured. Indeed you should feel honored that such a man left this to you. I'm sure he knows how much you will treasure and care for it.

Thanks for sharing.

Norm

 

[Yvsa]

There's just something noble about the old warhorses no matter their condition and especially if some provenance is known. To have actually known the man who owned it makes the knife even more noble and very special indeed!!!!:thumbup:
A beautiful older piece in very good shape and very pointed.

Andrew some specs posted would be icing on the cake so to speak, even if you can't post the weight.
The khukuri itself appears to be pretty thin, even thinner than the antiques I got from AC.
I've got to handle some thinner ones up at Terry's place when he was working on knives and was very impressed with them, and their edges. Indeed they were very sharp!!!!:thumbup:

 

[Berkley]

Thank you very much for posting the photos. You might consider typing up a short history of the knife, signing and dating it, and folding it up in the flint pouch. A hundred years from now, some collector will be very grateful to you.

 

[Fiddleback]

Thanks for this thread. It is educational, and feeds my thirst for all that is khukuri. Don't hold out on showing us the swords either though. You take good pics by the way.