Kukri Identification

[csgrv]

Does anyone know were to find Identification information on Kukri style knives?

I have searched the internet but come up with a bunch of things on the older collectors pieces.

I think the one I have dates to the 40' or 50's but would just like to know. I will post photos if needed but don't have it with me right now.

Thanks

[PT7]

Does anyone know were to find Identification information on Kukri style knives?

I have searched the internet but come up with a bunch of things on the older collectors pieces.

I think the one I have dates to the 40' or 50's but would just like to know. I will post photos if needed but don't have it with me right now.

Thanks

First time I've heard of a Kukri-style knife. Found some "off-topic" discussions about them on BladeForums.com. From reading some of those discussions, it appears to be that your task of "identification" is the most challenging one there is for owners of authentic Kukri knives.

On the BF site, this article was referenced: https://chinesemartialstudies.com/2012/ ... ary-kukri/ It is quite long with history, pictures of various Kukris, and a lot of info on attempts to identify and date these knives. I don't know if this will provide anything helpful, but I'm listing it for whatever it might be worth.

Also I suggest you might do some searches on the BF web site. There is a very large membership there; there may be more current discussions than the off topic ones I've looked at. Also saw some beautiful pictures of one of the knife craftsman's creation of a Kukri, which he made out of modern blade materials. Incredible-looking knife.

Best in your hunt. Pictures of your knife would be interesting to see.
PT7

[csgrv]

Thanks PT7,
I will post photos later this week. I will look at the links and check out BladeForums.....should be interesting.

[csgrv]

IMG_1057.jpg

[PT7]

Thanks PT7,
I will post photos later this week. I will look at the links and check out BladeForums.....should be interesting.

Those photos are fantastic, Csgrv. I thought the BF fellow who made a Kukri out of modern blade materials had a good-looking knife. For the estimated age you think yours is, it runs circles around his brand new replica.

BTW, those markings are exceptionally clear on your blade; surprisingly so against the photographs I saw in the blog article link I posted. You really have a very sharp-looking knife in hand. I don't think you would, but don't let it get away!! If you learn anything further, sure hope you post to the Forum.

PT7


P.S. I'm going to re-visit that blog and look at those photos one more time. You've got me quite interested again...

[csgrv]

I will let you know if I find anything new. Tried it on a small tree branch today and it works very well as an axe......lol

[bmur66]

I would say that is a Gurkha Kukri. Here is a similar one.

https://www.kukrimart.com/139/Mero-Pana ... viver.html

[PT7]

I would say that is a Gurkha Kukri

From what I've read so far, I tend to agree, Bmur66. Still haven't finished wading through the lengthy article I posted, but it might have some specifics to the markings on Csgrv's knife. His question re. identification information for his knife is still unanswered. Just hoping this article, and the pictures, might shed some light on that.

Early on the author posed the purpose in his research:

For the average collector the most frequently sought after military knives are the British pattern kukris issued to the Gurkhas during WWI and WWII. Nepalese military kukris are a different story. I felt like the British knives were already understood, and I wanted to make a contribution to the kukri community. The relatively fuzzy world of Nepalese military knives seemed like a good place to start.

Since you noted your thoughts that it is a Gurkha, I looked for that specific detail. Found the Gurkha term in this definition on a web sales site for Kukris: http://www.gurkhakukriknife.com/what-is-khukuri/ If you clicked on the "Shop" link, under "Nepali Khukuri" there are five sub-models or designs of these knives. Hard to imagine that originally, most of these knives were completely hand-made!

All above to say, the search is "deep," interesting, and fun.
Onward.

PT7

P.S. There is one crazy detail I'm looking for. It would be something else, if the markings on Csgrv's knife came close to markings on one of the many military knives photographed in the article. A needle in a haystack is what that is!

….should be interesting.

[bmur66]

The engraved KM led me to kukrimart.com. Maybe they made it? Also the bolster style is almost identical. At the bottom of the page there is this info that shows you can order custom markings:

Note:
•On your order, We can accept your special text, any logo or other particular images you want print on the blade of the Khukuri you purchase with additional charge however a dragon print can engrave on free of costs.

I don't know I just enjoy the internet research on things that interest me.

https://www.kukrimart.com/139/Mero-Pana ... viver.html

[csgrv]

I figure you are right about Kukrimart. Not that it matters to me, I was really just curious. Still I think it was a great deal and a good blade.

[PT7]

Back to your OP question, Csgrv. I've finally waded through the article info on your attempt to identify your knife as a possible Nepalese military Kukri. And I do mean waded! Found other research articles, but won't list those here. The research out there on this knife style is huge.

I think finding a definitive answer to your original question leans toward nigh-near impossible. My general impression of that conclusion comes from this author's often-stated difficulty in identification, particularly because of lack of markings, and the literal fact so much has been unable to be translated. A couple of words he uses more than once are "mystery" and "opaque." As examples when dealing with kukris that even had some English language stamps on them he wrote:

English language stamps are actually seen from time to time on all of the preceding types of kukris that we have reviewed. In my collection I have Sirupates, Budhumes, CGAKs and SGAKs that all have English language stamps. The exact meaning of these marks, and who made them, remains a mystery.

Then he again looked at the Gurkha:

If the SGAKs are something of a mystery, the “Late Gurkha Army Kukris” are positively opaque.

Here are my final comments. With the scope of the research done in this article, I actually wondered who the writer was. So I dug around on the "Kung Fu Tea" sight and found the author is a Ph.D. in Political Science. The blog is an academic blog. No wonder the research was so detailed and organized.

Under the heading link "CV," this professor listed his email for contacting him. I would bet he would answer an email inquiry from you, especially if you submit your Kukri photo(s) to him. That would be the closest you might come to an answer to your inquiry. Here is that contact info.

Curriculum Vitae
Benjamin N. Judkins, Ph.D.
Email: ben.judkins@gmail.com

Sure would be interesting to hear what you learn if you pursue this contact. I hope the fellow would be willing to help. If I had your knife, I'd definitely make the inquiry to him.

Thanks for your post.
PT7

Does anyone know were to find Identification information on Kukri style knives?

I have searched the internet but come up with a bunch of things on the older collectors pieces.

I think the one I have dates to the 40' or 50's but would just like to know. I will post photos if needed but don't have it with me right now.

Thanks

[bmur66]

I figure you are right about Kukrimart. Not that it matters to me, I was really just curious. Still I think it was a great deal and a good blade.

Absolutely. That is a handcrafted beauty!