Kukri Knife..real or fake?

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Jamming

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So I picked up one at a garage sale 30 years ago and still have it. Looks old, even when I bought it 30 years ago ;) . It's pretty much been hanging on the wall of my reloading room because I think it's cool. It's in a sheath.
How do I know if it's the real deal or a fake sold to tourists? Fake or not, it still looks cool on my wall and it'll stay there. A buddy of mine saw it recently and asked if it was real or fake. I've been researching on the web and it's about as clear as mud. Any insight here?
 
India usually means fake, while Nepalese is more likely to be an actual knife. Pics may help, but you probably won't have an idea if it's a real knife unless you're willing to test different part of the blade with a file.

Either way, oil it occasionally (both handle and blade, if it's horn or wood), and enjoy. :)

John
 
How do I know if it's the real deal

First, what do you mean by "real"? Real British Gurkha regimental issue or real made in Nepal or a real working kuk regardless or nation of origen?

Does it have any markings that would help identify place? Is the handle white horn or bone or black wood or horn? Is the sheath leather over wood or just leather?

Second, without pictures we can't tell you anything about it without a meticulous description (a thousand words are worth a picture, or something like that).
 
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A bit of history: https://www.craiglawrence.co/about-the-kukri.html
There have been many kukris made for export, just as Japanese sword patterns have been knocked off and Nazi daggers replicated. Some kukris were made by the brits and bore the broad arrow. Most do not give much information regarding origin or date of manufacture. There are good resources out there, and videos by those who knows:
 
I was given a kukhri a couple years ago. No markings, awful sheath, the two smaller knives (one is actually supposed to be used as steel for sharpening the big blade in the field) are just laughable, but it has proven to be a beast of a camping tool. It even has a full tang, so I can wail away on small trees without fear that the tree sap-based laha glue used on a lot of authentic kukhris will fail in mid-chop.

Himalayan Imports sells many versions of the real thing, and the prices for most won't drain your bank account.
 
I was given a kukhri a couple years ago. No markings, awful sheath, the two smaller knives (one is actually supposed to be used as steel for sharpening the big blade in the field) are just laughable, but it has proven to be a beast of a camping tool. It even has a full tang, so I can wail away on small trees without fear that the tree sap-based laha glue used on a lot of authentic kukhris will fail in mid-chop.

I'd rather have a quality-made kukri-style knife than anything else camping. And I do!
 
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I knew a kid in my Infantry outfit that carried one, likely a repro but who knows. He was a small wiry pacific islander and honestly looked "right" with the thing in fist. He had to keep it in the Arms room along with two other knives, medium length machettes that he danced with.

You see he would get gigs to dance at German Night Clubs in "Authintic Native Dances" where he wore a leather breech cloth, greased himself up and danced with torches and the Machette to the amusment of Herman The German and His Frau. The kid made more money in a couple of weekends dancing than a months pay for a PFC. After a German questioned the lethality of his flat blades I kept first them and later the Kukri sharp for him.

Before we got our "never been to the field with actual Infantry" Company Commander, he would draw that Kukri from the Arms room for alerts and Combat Alert Site duties and lash it to the pistol belt at the small of his back. With his complexion and size I half expected to hear "SHAI GHURKA!!!!" and screams of pain and dismemberment in the dark on patrols.

-kBob
 
I have a Kukri but don't really know much about it as it was a gift from my brother when he was in the Army. He use to buy a lot of things like that back then and if he didn't have a use for them he would pass them along to me.
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Here's some pictures. The sheath is leather over wood and it does say "India" on it. The handle is wood. It's been hanging on my reloading room wall for 30 years because I think it's cool ;) . All my friends that see it take it down and look at it. I've never oiled it, sharpened it, nothing. Just curious. Thanks for the info...my apologies for not posting pictures first. ;)
 

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Just an fyi, with most "rat tail" tanged kurkris, the end is peened over the back in addition to the glue. The rat tail has plenty of meat. Given a choice between a well made full tang and rat tail, my preference is the rat tail.
 
rust collector

Typically once a year I will clean it up and polish the blade and brass fittings with Flitz. The handle appears to be made of wood painted black. Still have the leather sheath and the two little knives that go with it.
 
It looks like an atlanta cutlery kukri, the turkey track is the broad arrow mark. "Official issue " not sure if that is really true. I have one and have used it hard. No issues
 
Here's some pictures. The sheath is leather over wood and it does say "India" on it. The handle is wood. It's been hanging on my reloading room wall for 30 years because I think it's cool ;) . All my friends that see it take it down and look at it. I've never oiled it, sharpened it, nothing. Just curious. Thanks for the info...my apologies for not posting pictures first. ;)


I have one just like it from the late 70s, I bought it from the back of Guns magazine ads and they were advertised as official Issue British . I researched it years ago and found that in the recent history the British did issue that style and made at their approved Indian factory. There are Nepal made ones cherished by Ghurkkas and were also allowed. The stories I read is the Indian forge ones were usually better steel and that style you pictured stronger than most Nepalese ones. My Ghurka discribed like yours is now down to grand children, who are still abusing it like their fathers did. I kept it very well , yes they like oil :)
 
I ordered this thing from a maker in Nepal. It is supposedly as issued to Gurkhas in the British Army. Fairly reasonably priced at @ $100 shipped. Tracking proved it was shipped from Nepal. It took 3 days to travel 1/2 way around the world. It’s intended use is as a wall hanger. The OPs pics seems to look authentic. IMG-0301.jpg
 
That is a good looking example. I asked Google who supplied knives to the gurkha, and it pointed me to this outfit: https://www.thekhukurihouse.com/#:~...f high,campaign gives us immense satisfaction.

I believe there have been many producers over the years, and I have seen many variations. Some were obviously shoddy and would never have been trusted in life and death matters. If it is well made of good materials, it was probably produced for the Gurkha. If it is crudely or cheaply made, it was likely produced for tourists and souvenir collectors.
 
That is a good looking example. I asked Google who supplied knives to the gurkha, and it pointed me to this outfit: https://www.thekhukurihouse.com/#:~:text=KHHI nepal: Maker of high,campaign gives us immense satisfaction.

I believe there have been many producers over the years, and I have seen many variations. Some were obviously shoddy and would never have been trusted in life and death matters. If it is well made of good materials, it was probably produced for the Gurkha. If it is crudely or cheaply made, it was likely produced for tourists and souvenir collectors.
. Your link is where I bought mine
 
I've got a pair of British issued kukris from the 1890s that I like pretty well, although I can't get myself to use them as they should be used.
I've got more modern stuff for that.
I'm in the process of building scabbards for them.
Somehow, I just can't put them in kydex, and the spines on these old blades are too thick to fit in newer production scabbards.
 
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