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Is there a standard thickness for this model . Are they thinner than say an Angkola ?
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WWll thickness ?
- Thread starter hauntedchild
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All HI blades are handmade with traditional tools, so there is some variation within each model.
That said, the WWII tends to be one of the thicker blades. I'd say the spine thickness is usually between 3/8" and 7/16". Also, the kamis try to keep the various dimensions proportional, so a longer WWII is likely to be a little thicker than a shorter one, but again subject to individual variances.
The AK model tends to be a little beefier, but the main difference is probably in the edge geometry. The AK is pretty much a dedicated chopper, while the WWII is more multipurpose, but still very heavy duty..
That said, the WWII tends to be one of the thicker blades. I'd say the spine thickness is usually between 3/8" and 7/16". Also, the kamis try to keep the various dimensions proportional, so a longer WWII is likely to be a little thicker than a shorter one, but again subject to individual variances.
The AK model tends to be a little beefier, but the main difference is probably in the edge geometry. The AK is pretty much a dedicated chopper, while the WWII is more multipurpose, but still very heavy duty..
I believe this is an original WW2 era, Indian made, khukuri. Whether it is miliary issue or sold commercially after the war, I don't know. Based on when I purchased it, it could have been an estate item from a WW2 veteran that the antique store picked up. WW2 rations included cigerettes, and those guys smoked liked chimney's, a lot of two pack a day guys, and they were also dying off like flies due to smoking related illnesses in their 50's. None of the story matters because this knife fits the pattern of the WW2 era Indian issue khukuri's.
and as you can see, it is not that thick. Especially compared to some modern khukuri's.
I do not have any other vintage khukuri's, but I do believe this is typical thickness and weight. Times have changed, people back then, especially poor people, did not have cars. They walked everywhere, and they carried their stuff on them. Therefore weight was undesirable at the end of a 10 to 20 mile walk. However today, the average buyer is an obese person, sometimes morbidly obese, who does not walk anywhere, except to the garage to get in the vehicle. An if that person goes out into the woods, it is on the back of an all terrain vehicle. Therefore weight is not an issue, because the vehicle carries the person and all their gear.
I am of the opinion this is why there are so many very heavy knives on the market, compared with the 1960's. The WW2 generation remembered hiking up the hot, steamy, tropical hills of New Guinea, slipping and sliding carrying 90 to 100 lbs of gear, and they did not like it at the time, and they sure did not want to be un necessarily burdened with heavy gear after the war.
and as you can see, it is not that thick. Especially compared to some modern khukuri's.
I do not have any other vintage khukuri's, but I do believe this is typical thickness and weight. Times have changed, people back then, especially poor people, did not have cars. They walked everywhere, and they carried their stuff on them. Therefore weight was undesirable at the end of a 10 to 20 mile walk. However today, the average buyer is an obese person, sometimes morbidly obese, who does not walk anywhere, except to the garage to get in the vehicle. An if that person goes out into the woods, it is on the back of an all terrain vehicle. Therefore weight is not an issue, because the vehicle carries the person and all their gear.
I am of the opinion this is why there are so many very heavy knives on the market, compared with the 1960's. The WW2 generation remembered hiking up the hot, steamy, tropical hills of New Guinea, slipping and sliding carrying 90 to 100 lbs of gear, and they did not like it at the time, and they sure did not want to be un necessarily burdened with heavy gear after the war.
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From the inscriptions and grind and general quality to me I think it is a tourist model that might have been bought in the seventies but doesnt look like a military issue compared to what i have seen. Just my opinion tho im no expert so dont take that to the bank. No more markings?
Bawanna
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I'm no expert neither but I agree. Pretty sure it's tourist.
The "Tempered Steel, made in India" stamp is characteristic of a class of kukuri's that were probably made during WW2. There are also blades stamped "Allied".
This web page claims to have solved the origins of whom and where the Tempered Steel, made in India knives
KUKRIS
A mystery solved!
Collectors have been debating the origins of kukris stamped "TEMPERED STEEL MADE IN INDIA ALLIED"
Recently we purchased items from a family who were able to answer the question of who produced these and when were they made: "my father, a machine tool engineer, was commissioned by General Slim to manufacture at great speed many thousands of these weapons.
Field Marshall William Slim was a British WW2 Commander in the China/Burma/India theater.
I would be interested to see proven post WW2 kukuri's with the same stampings. From what I have seen, this stamping is peculiar to the WW2 period.
This web page claims to have solved the origins of whom and where the Tempered Steel, made in India knives
KUKRIS
A mystery solved!
Collectors have been debating the origins of kukris stamped "TEMPERED STEEL MADE IN INDIA ALLIED"
Recently we purchased items from a family who were able to answer the question of who produced these and when were they made: "my father, a machine tool engineer, was commissioned by General Slim to manufacture at great speed many thousands of these weapons.
Field Marshall William Slim was a British WW2 Commander in the China/Burma/India theater.
I would be interested to see proven post WW2 kukuri's with the same stampings. From what I have seen, this stamping is peculiar to the WW2 period.
I have several WWII era khukuris of different models, and the corresponding modern versions by HI. Without exception the vintage blades are thinner and lighter weight, but still very strong. That makes sense, since they were military issue and intended as both weapon and tool, whereas the new versions are unlikely to ever be used in combat. Even the Gurkhas nowadays are more likely to use assault rifles and helicopters.
Here's one comparison. A vintage 18" M43 returned by a U.S. serviceman from the WWII Pacific Theater that weighs about 24 oz, and a modern HI 18.5" M43 by Kumar that weighs about 36 oz.
Of course the modern HI khukuris vary a lot in weight, since they are handmade, but the above comparison is somewhat typical. My vintage M43 is marked "QEYOOM BROS, 1944." I read somewhere that Qeyoom Bros was an Indian company that made khukuris for the British during WWII, and that they were in a part of India that became Pakistan after the partition.
View attachment 1945564View attachment 1945565
Here's one comparison. A vintage 18" M43 returned by a U.S. serviceman from the WWII Pacific Theater that weighs about 24 oz, and a modern HI 18.5" M43 by Kumar that weighs about 36 oz.
Of course the modern HI khukuris vary a lot in weight, since they are handmade, but the above comparison is somewhat typical. My vintage M43 is marked "QEYOOM BROS, 1944." I read somewhere that Qeyoom Bros was an Indian company that made khukuris for the British during WWII, and that they were in a part of India that became Pakistan after the partition.
View attachment 1945564View attachment 1945565
Excellent post.
In high school I worked for a WW2 veteran who was on the first "troop ship" to Australia, Jan 1942. Pearl Harbor was Dec 7 1941. Boss said the ship was a passenger liner and machine gun mounts were being welded onto the deck. Which he claimed would have been useless against Zero's and Kate's.
Anyway I proudly showed him my Western Bowie, purchased at K Mart. This is new compared to mine.
This Bowie is a big honking knife, and my Boss exclaimed "Imagine carrying that!". And what he meant, more or less, was imagine carrying such a boat anchor and all your equipment. Boss made it through the Philippines, various island battles, and he remembered the weight of all his gear, and decades later, he still remembered the pain and exhaustion of forced marches. Forced marches were killers, men did drop out and die of heat exhaustion.
People back then carried only the weight necessary. This period of history has been forgotten by those living in today's automobile centric society. The famous Green River knives are very light compared to the two tenths of an inch sharpened "pry bars" being sold today as "survival knives".
Heavy knives are fun till you have to carry them.
I recall a Civil War story I read. At the start of the war, blood lust, fighting fever extended through out society. And one town purchased big Bowie knives for their local boys in the local Regiment. The expectation was that in their fantasy war of constant hand to hand fighting, those big Bowies would be cleaving enemy heads from shoulders. Alas, either the first 20 mile march, or the second, most of those big Bowies were tossed to the road side by boys with aching shoulders.
A fighting blade can get its strength from width rather than thickness. The Moro Barong, for example, is a wide blade, not very thick, but these weapons in the hands of an expert warrior were famous for cleaving British soldiers in half, back in the day. Expertise is the key. If the blade is swept in a perfectly parallel swing it will cut very deeply. If it is swung at an angle, the width can drag or even turn the blade.
My own Moro Barong is put away, but here's a picture of another almost identical one (mine doesn't have the engraving on the blade). Specs: Spine thickness is 1/4" at the handle, tapering down toward the edge and the point. Blade width at the belly is 3", overall length is 20.5," blade length is 14.5", weight is only 22 oz. The handle is carved from a beautiful piece of hardwood burl, extremely comfortable in the hand. This is fairly small for a Barong. I chose a smaller one because it takes up less space, but it is an imposing blade.
My own Moro Barong is put away, but here's a picture of another almost identical one (mine doesn't have the engraving on the blade). Specs: Spine thickness is 1/4" at the handle, tapering down toward the edge and the point. Blade width at the belly is 3", overall length is 20.5," blade length is 14.5", weight is only 22 oz. The handle is carved from a beautiful piece of hardwood burl, extremely comfortable in the hand. This is fairly small for a Barong. I chose a smaller one because it takes up less space, but it is an imposing blade.
The khukuri and barong are fearsome fighting knives, no doubt. Up close they are capable of incredible damage. The problem is, since the introduction of cap and ball revolvers, and cartridge firearms, getting up close to a firearm armed individual became suicidal.
A Vietnam veteran I know, recounted a combat incident he witnessed. A Vietnamese man, encased in bamboo armor and armed with a bamboo spear attacked an M60 machine gun team. He lasted long enough to plunge his spear into the throat of the machine gunner. He did not last long after that.
That was a brave man, he knew he was going to die, he took bullets as he came in, and with whatever energy he had left, he killed his opponent. Few people are that dedicated, and those that are, don't go back for seconds.
