- Joined
- Apr 27, 2012
- Messages
- 68
My grandfather in WWII acquired from one of the Gurkha men fighting in the war, their battle knife (Gurkha or common-day Khukri). He was given the Gurkha, the sheath for it, and a small knife that went in the sheath as well to accompany the other knife.
My grandfather said that the Gurkha men would crawl on the ground like snakes, or hide in places waiting for the enemy to walk by. Then they would use this knife to cut their ankles. When the men fell to the ground they would decapitate them, then cut off their ears and put them on their bracelet or necklace to show how many men they have killed. Wikipedia said they would also sneak into the enemy barracks at night, and slit the throat of every other soldier. The ones they didn't kill they would cut the laces of their boots so when they woke up, they'd see the person on either side of them killed, and when they went for their boots would see the laces cut and know they could have died that night.
My dad remembers being about 6 years old and seeing the knife and there being Ivory on it. My grandfather, being an electrician, at some point wrapped electrical tape on it. He also used random files and sanders and such to keep the edge on it, but the knife is pretty beat up. I haven't seen it in years since I moved away from home, but I was wondering if anyone has more info on these knives? I'm trying to acquire some pictures of it from my family so I can post to show you. I brought it up to my dad to see if he'd be interested in looking for someone to either restore it, or make a replica. He hadn't ever thought about it, but once I mentioned it he seemed interested. Has anyone ever worked on a knife like this?
I'll try to get the pictures soon so there's at least some eye-candy to go along with the story
While I wait for photos, here's a photo that's damn near exactly what I remember being at my parent's home:
Description from this page:
My grandfather said that the Gurkha men would crawl on the ground like snakes, or hide in places waiting for the enemy to walk by. Then they would use this knife to cut their ankles. When the men fell to the ground they would decapitate them, then cut off their ears and put them on their bracelet or necklace to show how many men they have killed. Wikipedia said they would also sneak into the enemy barracks at night, and slit the throat of every other soldier. The ones they didn't kill they would cut the laces of their boots so when they woke up, they'd see the person on either side of them killed, and when they went for their boots would see the laces cut and know they could have died that night.
My dad remembers being about 6 years old and seeing the knife and there being Ivory on it. My grandfather, being an electrician, at some point wrapped electrical tape on it. He also used random files and sanders and such to keep the edge on it, but the knife is pretty beat up. I haven't seen it in years since I moved away from home, but I was wondering if anyone has more info on these knives? I'm trying to acquire some pictures of it from my family so I can post to show you. I brought it up to my dad to see if he'd be interested in looking for someone to either restore it, or make a replica. He hadn't ever thought about it, but once I mentioned it he seemed interested. Has anyone ever worked on a knife like this?
I'll try to get the pictures soon so there's at least some eye-candy to go along with the story
While I wait for photos, here's a photo that's damn near exactly what I remember being at my parent's home:
Description from this page:
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I share your opinion. I think if my dad wanted to do anything, it should be having a replica made, or spending money on a nice way to present it. It's a very sentimental piece for us, so I don't want anything to happen to it