Ivory handle Ghurka knife question

[Military Trader]

I know there are a lot of varities of these -- what do you think about this one? It shows some age. Is it a tourist deal or ceremonial? the coins look Indian perhaps. What do you all think?

As always thats for your time and opinions.

[Military Trader]

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[Military Trader]

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[Military Trader]

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[Military Trader]

More photos if needed of the top of handle and tip of scabbard ect.

Thanks

[Military Trader]

I figure these are Nepalese or Indian coins -- this Ghurka has a razor sharp edge and has a few nicks -- somebody was hitting it against something. Any idea on age?
It has the wooden scabbard (covered in leather) but I suppose they still use those today.

[pzrwest]

Is it fact or fiction that if a Ghurka withdrew his knife from the scabbard the knife had to draw blood before it was allowed to be put back in the scabbard?

[2/31st]

Nice knife,
The coin in the last photo is a Napalese 5 Paisa piece (1957-1963),pity the other side isnt visable as you could get a date.
The bottom coin on the scabbard looks like theres a date on it.can you give us a close up of that one ?
Cheers Mick

[Bond]

The handle looks to be bone rather than ivory. Not a military issue, probably a tourist item.

[JamesT]

IMO typical tourist Kukri - I'm fairly certain that all British Army kukris would have had the ordnance crow's foot stamp near the hilt.

There is no truth in the drawing blood thing. Kukris needed to be cleaned and oiled and this would probably have been done daily so they were regularly taken out of their sheaths.

Happy new year

James

[peter monahan]

James

Definitely tourist, but a nice [old?] example. The work on the blade is typical of tourist stuff - just a rust trap on a working blade. A bone handle is unusual too, at least for a 'real' blade. The kukri was an agricultural tool as well as a weapon, remember, and made to last, which bone handles and 'engraved' blades do not do as well as plain wood and steel.

No truth to the 'blood' myth. probably invented by some sharp 'jawan' [lad] so he wouldn't have to keep pulling it out to show to tourists! Keep in mind that the Gurkhas, mythology aside, are simple peasant lads from a very poor country. The kukri is simply a tool and weapon, not a magical totem.

All service weapons - Indian Army and British Army - I've ever seen have plain blades and, if British, the broad arrow stamp on the blade and on the scabbard. Also, for some reason, often the 2 small knives on the inside of the scabbard, which do NOT appear often on civilian knives.

Happy New Year!

Peter

[JamesT]

The two small knives are for general use for tasks where a large knife is unsuitable: like a pocket knife. I have one that also has a piece of rough cloth folded in behind the skinning knives which is for keeping the blade in nice shape. It is a civilian kukri by the way.

All the best

James

[nickn]

bone handled tourist piece

[Military Trader]

bottom coin

[2/31st]

The coin was minted in the year 2015 of the Bikram Samvat era (VS).
which equates to 1958 in our year system.
Cheers Mate