Will the real military Kukri please step fwd.

I'll use N2S from now on. I can see where my post might lead to confusion. In my eyes they are all beautiful but that ivory handled one that hangs in the Royal Armoury is something special.
 
Anyone for more!?!

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This one is a military kukri made sometime after 1907 and probably before or during WWII. The pommel is marked with the early Badge of the 7th Gurkha Rifles.

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The unit's current badge is much more elaborate and includes the cornet and cypher of the Duke of Edinburgh.

The 7th Duke of Edinburgh's Own Gurkha Rifles is noteworthy as the only Gurka regiment to have received a battle honor since 1945. They were the only Gurka unit to participate in Operation Corporate (the Falkland War).

Does anyone else want to share? There must be some really fantastic old kukries out there...

N2S
 
Very similar to N2S's tin chirra, but the handle is definitely steel, and if it was ever silver plated it is long gone - shown with an interesting D-guard kora with almost identical engraving, identified as a common North Indian pattern.
 
military khukuris, my own nominee for the best fighting blade ever designed - 21 3/4" OA dui chirra.
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Here's a couple of more alloyed handled kukries. The larger one is about 25 inches long.

Berkley, you have some great examples there.

N2S
 
:
I'm in the same state of mind Tom was when JP posted that pretty one the other day.And all I can do is......

Whimper.
 
Guys,
Those are fantastic, found a thread playing with the computor, tried to pass it on to Yvsa & Blues on modern Mercs.
They had a Gorka with a Sirrip. it blew me away, I've seen WW2's & but this was the first Sirr. I've seen carried. Now I can't find the thread again!
jim
 
:) :eek: :) :eek:

The one I will soon have (I hope)

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Has anyone seen anything like this before?

N2S
 
N2S, you definately have a nice collection. That last one is really cool looking. I like that S shaped guard, gives it the look of a pure weapon with some age to the design.

Bob
 
N2S, this is the closest one I own to that. The theory about these stag handled khukuris and those with cross gurads are that they were modified in England for the Englishmen who brought them back home from their time in the Regiments or just in India.
They were used as hunting pieces and the new grips fit more readily to the non-asian hand.
This doesn't apply to the Indian made pieces with talwar grips.
<img src=http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1282361&a=9500475&p=42023448>
 
John,

That sounds about right to me. The hilt assembly looks very much like what you would expect to find on a Victorian era hunting hanger. It's always interesting to get an artifact with a clear cultural crossover.

BTW, John, please put me down for a copy of your upcomming book.

N2S
 
4 more steel engraved grips and nice blades...

as for the "upcoming book", maybe we should refer to it as "a long term epic". Someday, someday...

<img src=http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1282361&a=9500475&p=51310316>
 
N2S:
With both that stag handle and the guard, my first impression was that this was an American Southwest Bowie-influenced kuk!
 
Perhaps this was James Bowie's personal kukri... :)

Back 150 years ago the cultural ties in between America and Europe were even closer than they are today. It was probably more the rule than the exception for us to share similar manners, dress, technology, and tools.

I would argue one point with John. I suspect that the modifications and the construction of the European style hilt may have been original to the piece. If it had been remounted in Europe we would expect to see the trade marks of whichever smith did the work on the new mounting. There is nothing like that on my example. It was probably commissioned this way by the original owner.

Are there any European markings on your example?

N2S
 
N2S,
Your tempered steel made in India khukuri is real WWII Issue. I have had several with this stamp and 2 stamped ( Tempered Steel Made In India ALLIED).
Terry:D
 
Thanks Terry,

I was beginning to wonder why so many of these kept turning up. Now I can stop searching for Importer/distributor ads in 1950s periodicals. ;)

N2S
 
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