WWII ivory-handled khukuri [photos] (with thanks to Yvsa)

beoram

beoram

Joined
Nov 27, 2001
Messages
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Well, after putting up JPs photos, here's a (more modest) one of mine, which I just finished restoring. It's a WWII-era 'officer's' khuk with ivory inlay in a black horn chiruwa handle. However, one of the pieces of ivory had fallen out and was lost, and -- with the aid of some advice from Yvsa :) -- I replaced it with a piece of white-tail deer horn stained with a bit of India tea.

Question is - can you tell which piece is the replacement? :eek: ;)


ww2i-bl.jpg


ww2i-han.jpg


handle-horn2.jpg


handle-horn1.jpg
 
The clean one. :)

Maybe you could soak the other ones in some denture cleaner to even out the color. :D

Is that a copper buttcap?
 
Originally posted by Bill Martino
The white piece that nees more stain?
Click to expand...

Do you mean the little ivory piece closest to the butt-cap on the one side (the side in which the khukuri tip points to the right)?
 
That came out very well. I remember when you first showed us the knife, with the missing handle scale. It is almost impossible to recreate the original coloration, especially when you are trying to match very different materials. You are probably as close as you can come to it without re-manufacturing the whole handle.

n2s
 
Your third picture down shows the bottom edge of the tang. Are those markings on the tang?

n2s
 
Originally posted by Walosi
A Englishman can do anything with a good stout cuppa....and a li'l help :D:p
Click to expand...

;) - thanks Walosi - my father and I worked on it, and I think we did well

Originally posted by N2S
That came out very well. I remember when you first showed us the knife, with the missing handle scale. It is almost impossible to recreate the original coloration, especially when you are trying to match very different materials. You are probably as close as you can come to it without re-manufacturing the whole handle.
Click to expand...

Yes. Actually, for those who haven't spotted it - the replacement piece is the large middle piece in the 3rd photo.

Originally posted by N2S
Your third picture down shows the bottom edge of the tang. Are those markings on the tang?
Click to expand...

No, it's actually the horn you're seeing there and not the tang - there is cracking/crackling in the horn there.
 
Great Job Ben!!!!
I'm glad to have been of service.:)

I've never tried rubbing glycerin on my bone or horn artifacts to give them the appearance of being really old like I have animal fat which works really well.
But glycerin is supposed to be very good for maintaining ivory so I'm thinking it would also be good for the bone or horn.
The glycerin is supposed to help keep ivory from cracking.
 
Ben, thanks for the pics I have a similiar one bit the same bit different. I dont know how to send pics here but if i get one taken will send to you. Rod
 
I'm really mad of this knife! I love the curve of the blade, and the handle is really original.
 
Several gun owners who have ivory grips on pistols/revolvers have told me that they use plain ole Johnson & Johnson Baby Oil to kepp ivory from checking/cracking.
 
Beo, for some reason given the age and the look of the "ivory" pieces, I wonder if its not really bone. Seams rather more porous than regular elephant ivory. Then again, its hard to tell sometimes without a magnifying glass. Anyways very nice job on the restoration job.
 
Federico - I thought it was bone at first, but subsequent investigation (e.g. w/ magnifying glass) showed it to be ivory. The one photo which shows a close-up of the non-replaced side makes the ivory look more porous than it is. The dark brown areas are just discolouration.

--B.
 
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