Why antique khukuris make me nervous.

Bill Martino

Bill Martino

Joined
Mar 5, 1999
Messages
34,096
Reading the comments in the "Sikh Knife" thread got me to thinking and remembering so maybe it is time for this story.

I was in a shop once in Assan Bazaar looking at some very old khukuris. An Indian gentleman happened in, noticed what I was doing, and politely asked, "Do you like antique khukuris?"

"Yes," I said.

"Well, if you are interested I can get you as many as you want of anything you want."

"How can this be possible? There are not that many antique khukuris around" I said.

"We have our ways," the Indian smiled. "I know men who can age a khukuri a hundred years in a day -- a little chain, a little acid and other chemicals here and there. It is easy. And, guaranteed to fool even the experts."

I thanked the Indian for his offer but told him I was more interested in the real thing than counterfeits. When he left the sauji (shopkeeper) told me, "That man is right. The Indians are very good at that sort of thing."

To the best of my recollection from that day forward I don't think I ever bought another "antique" khukuri. And, this is one of the reasons I do not like to offer more than a guess when it comes to evaluating old khukuris.

Take care, John Powell, and all others, too!

Uncle Bill
 
Well thanks Bill, now I'm as nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. Actually I have a lot of faith in the old pieces, but I have come across my share of faked antiques. And not just khukuris but in guns, tin litho motorcycles (another obsession) and furniture. After seriously collecting and trading 'old stuff' since 1958 I believe I have a good eye and better instincts, but "caveat emptor". If it can be faked for a profit, it will be faked. Be calm, stay calm, be calm...

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JP
 
I'll bet there's a stamp on the tangs hidden under the handle on some of those old pieces that says, "India -- 1995".

Sleep well, John.

Bill
 
Bill, is it a bad thing on these old knives of mine if the blade is stamped "made in Taiwan" and there's a UPC code on the scabbard?

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JP
 
Boy, John is full of it tonight.

Cobalt, I think you and me are starting to have a deleterious ( 0r is that a "delerious"? ) effect on him.

Hey John, I live in a small town, and I have way too much on everyone who might want to institutionalize me for them to even consider it. You may need to be careful though.
 
Finally a thread I can relate to!
smile.gif


I've run into a number of older Khukuri like knives while visiting antique shops and flea markets. Of the some dozen or so I've seen in the last year, not one of them appeared to me to be of any quality. I believe the fakes outnumber the real deal right now. As John said Caveat Emptor.

I hope Bill and other genuine makers/exporters can change this picture here in the U.S. for the better!
 
Rusty, I have NO idea what you are referring to. The doctors here at "Happy Dale" assure me I'm on the road to recovery. But I sure could type better if they'll just loosen these straps a little bit. Bob, the other good thing about finding an "antique" khukuri is that even the crudest real one will look and feel handmade. The tons of mass produced fakes with their rosette decorated grips, lion head pommels, chromed blades (better known as a COBALT blade), and very chintzy scabbards and joke small knives are still being handed off as ancient and rare. Real ones are hard to find here and probably impossible in India and Hong Kong. My best sources are from estate sales or dealers who can supply a provenance. The HI khukuris are a top investment because they do have a documented story and are the real, marked, handmade thing. Even though they're imported by an antique their value isn't in their age (yet), but quality. And that will last for ages. CAVEAT EMPTOR!

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JP
 
John, I have an antique khukuri for you. I got it with a coupon inside my Cracker Jack box. But if you don't have a decoder ring, you will not be able to decipher the scrolling on the blade.
 
Good news COBALT! I've got the decoder ring (found it in a papadum I was eating) and have been looking for the matching khukuri ever since. Does it have a chromed blade?

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JP
 
What a neat thread this is turning out to be!

You are right about one thing: The only antiques at HI are Kami, Til and Bill!

Here's a funny little story about those cast buttcaps. A customer sent me an Indian khukuri he had wrecked and asked me to tell him why the knife had fallen to pieces after five hours of use. It came in pieces.

One of the pieces was a poorly cast pommel which was supposed to the a lionhead. I handed the buttcap to Yangdu and asked her what sort of animal this was. She studied the casting for a moment and said, "A pig!"

And on that\\

Uncle Bill
 
John, the blade is chromed, but, I'm using the chrome flakes as sprinklers on my cereal for the all important mineral diet. If you want the chrome back on, I'm sure I can find one of a 1000 places that will do it for you.

Bill, a cure of the Indian khukurie handle come apart syndrome is .......Duct Tape!
 
You know COBALT if you add a little more lead and a lot more mercury to your miracle mineral diet your posts will make more sense and those chromed khukuris will look pretty darn good. The best process for the "kukri" Bill got is to find a nice cozy circular file for it.

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JP
 
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