Khukuri Specs Guide

Kora with scabbard

Koras side by side.

Regimental 4th GR

4 diamond handles
Here are some examples of the miniature khukuris. The longest is 6 3/8". The tiny ones
are jewelry pieces I was lucky enough to find.

Gives you an idea of how I try to show off my "Gurkha Stuff".

'baby' kothimora:

Incredible tin chirra blade and overall workmanship. The
scabbard once had red velvet but it had been painted brown. I sent this back to
Nepal and the kamis added a new silver chape but again I sent it to Terry for
finishing and it came out great. Probably belonged to a young prince in the
Royal Court around 1860-1880.

belly: 1 3/8"
BL: 7"
drop: 2 1/8"
OAL: 10 3/8"
HL: 3 1/4"
width @ R: 2.1/10"
width @ B: 2/10"
w: 7oz

John Powell (Center) with Yangdu Martino and Kami Sherpa.

1815 Sisneyri blade

This particular knife is positively identified as early 19th c. by the
experts at the Gurkha Museum.

The scabbard is a copy from an old drawing of a new Goorkha soldier working
for the British identified as a "sepoy from the 1st Nusseree Corps, 1815".
This would be from the original Gorakhpore Hill Corps, then G H Rangers
formed in 3 April, 1815. They were stationed in Malown and Subathoo at the
British Garrisons. This troop eventually became the 1st Goorkha Regiment in
October of 1861.

Getting back to the scabbard: the chape while done here in leather is
supposed to be steel or brass. Terry didn't have the facilities to work in
those mediums but it will be refitted soon.

The knife itself was in terrific shape and covered with a nice protective
layer of oily paint. It cleaned up beautifully.
OAL: 16 1/8"
BL: 12 1/4
Grip: 3 1/8
Drop: 3 1/4"
Belly: 2 7/16"
Width at ricasso:  3.2/10"
"    "   belly:  2.9/10"
Weight: 1lb 6oz

A good shot comparing Sisneyri to standard fullers.

For what it's worth, I consider this a perfectly shaped handle. Can you
imagine this in ivory or Honey Locust?
 
 
 
 

Here's a interesting knife I just had shipped from England. Talk about a
well defined tin chirra blade.  (4/2000)

Check out the engraved blade on this old forward curving khukuri.
I have never seen anything like it.

Got the 'lion' kothimora today and I have to do a whole lot of rethinking. I
took it it my jewelers (he is an old Russian guy who collects antiques and
knows his stuff) and he says all the engraving on the blade is completely
hand done. No machining like I thought from the photos. The scabbard silver
is exquisite and everything is older than I guessed. Probably 1860/1870
latest. The carving on the hilt is very detailed and unlike any of the
'garudas' I have seen. I also think it may be Rhino but I will have to send
off a few scrappings to the lab to be positive and that process takes
forever.

The kothimora was presented by 'khukri contractor Kehar Sing' to the 'R.C. 8
G.R.' in 1938

This piece is of the khukuri family, has a form fitted open sided
scabbard and is ancient.

A comparison of 3 metal gripped knives from:
1870/80 (bottom) steel
1915 (middle) pot metal
1944 (top) aluminum

all well made with scabbards to match.
 

2 big old compare: is a 20" Sisneyri that I am showing in comparison to my
18th c. tin chirra. I  think it is 1830-1860 which would be strange for a
knife of this size and mass, but the large grip, scabbard, karda and chakma
all point to this time frame. The other interesting feature is the detail of
the grip on the 'new' knife vs. the cho detail on the 18th c. See the photo
2 big old CU. Same style only one is brass and one is gold. The older
khukuri is much better crafted.

kora:
speaks for itself but the mystery here is it Indian or Nepalese with a
tarwar grip. Too many Nepalese features, but no tell tale 'disc' or 'eye' on
the blade. ???

Copyright (c) 1999-2000  by Howard Wallace, all rights reserved.
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