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Vintage khukuri ID and which current model is the closest?

T

Trebor Em

Joined
Jun 29, 2008
Messages
23
This family heirloom was brought back to the US from India around 1943 by a US Serviceman.
To me it resembles the MSI the most. I don't know if it is a working khukuri or was made for the servicemen like tourist models of today.
Any opinion on its origin or model style?
I'd like to have one of the current available models made that resembles it the closest.
Thanks

https://imgur.com/a/ABSLTQe
 
Hey there!
Could you give a photo from directly side-on?
If so I might be able to give some more accurae info and suggestions
 
Will a lot depend on what metal was used for the blade , how well it was forged and heat treated 9 or not) ? I am no expert by the way but I do know many of these were made for the tourist / Servicemen take back trade , doesnt mean to say it could not be a decent working khukuri !
 
Hey there! Thanks for the additional pics- unfortunately I don't have too much info for you and what I do have isn't rock solid either.
To me this does not look like a military blade. I would guess this is either a working blade for a local or a gift/souvenir piece. The harsh filemarks from shapening make me think this could have been used by locals (unless someone in your family left them), however the steel tip on the sheath makes me think souvenir once more- I feel this is sort of a faux military styling.
Generally to tell the difference between nepalese and indian made blades we can look at the way some of the details are executed (cho, handle shape, buttcap, any engraving) and match them up with general trends from that area and time. The handle shape on this is a little bulbous which gives a slight indian tone. The cho is a bit far forward of the bolster which again suggests slightly indian to me. The blade shape is also perhaps a little indian but it's borderline- it looks really nice though. The rest of it looks pretty nepalese so it's hard to say. I am leaning towards indian manufacture but am unsure. It being picked up in india makes it more likely to be indian made too. I would have guessed a bit later than 1943 but if that date is solid then it's solid.

In terms of the most similar blade that we sell we don't have anything that's a particularly close fit to this shape. It has a straightness like and msi (or sirupate) but the pronounced waist, broader belly and gently curving spine towards tip are more reminiscent of a HSI (though, straighter, longer and skinnier). We recently made a 17" HSI which has a similar overall shape though is of course much larger. If you'd like we can scale the pattern down to 13" for you as a semicustom project.

Take care,
Andrew and the team at Kailash
 
Andrew,
Thanks for the in-depth evaluation of this Khukuri. I'll print this out and keep it with the blade.
I don't need a new one exactly like this so I will continue to review your models and order one that suits my tastes and needs.
(Did I say NEED? Ha!)
Thanks
 
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