Indian Army issue khukhri

[Katana]

Was visiting a friend and member of IFG this afternoon when he pulled out this khukhri to show me. He was presented this specimen by someone in the Army. Surprisingly it is of terrible quality and the stories that I heard of the Gorkha men going back to their villages in Nepal to have individual blades made seem all true now!

The scabbard is Army issue camo cloth, the kind that folks in rural areas have covers made for their suitcases or jeep seats. A couple of draws and the cloth edges started coming loose from the wood. One of the smaller knives that accompany the blade was missing. On asking him he replied that it just came loose and fell off.

The hilt is some red coloured wood, not buffalo horn. Probably pine?

The blade itself does not seem to be tempered or hardened. Seems the khukhri that I made as a student in our "metalworks" days is of better standard!

[Rajat]

The wood is not pine. It can be something else like acacia, ollock (desi name), saal etc. Has to be a hardwood. It can be some other locally available wood. It is not Sheesham, teak or rosewood definitely.

Is this really army issue or just a cheap thing someone got made to give around as a present or for decoration etc.?

[Katana]

I know the officer who gifted it to him. Absolutely no way you can go wrong with both the guys, the giftor and the giftee, so to speak~

[Subal das]

I got very similar one from Janpath Tibetan market in Delhi, steel not tampered and soft, more easy to polish I guess. To get sharp edge impossible.
he can remove handle and tamper it, I did it few times with local made machetes and results quite good.

[miss_3006]

AFAIK no unit of the Indian Army is issued these knives as std equipment. Officers and other ranks buy their own personal blades to carry in certain terrains only like the North East etc. Pvt manufacturers in DDoon etc make these knives which are sub standard at best and are sold to anyone and everyone as people like to buy them as curios.

[viks4guns]

AFAIK no unit of the Indian Army is issued these knives as std equipment. Officers and other ranks buy their own personal blades to carry in certain terrains only like the North East etc. Pvt manufacturers in DDoon etc make these knives which are sub standard at best and are sold to anyone and everyone as people like to buy them as curios.

[Katana]

I get the feeling that this is made by Windlass in a mass production fashion.

[hellfire_m16]

Hi Katana,

The Khukri in the post does not look like a Indian Army Issue.

I have one that my dad exchanged with his NDA course mate. The Khukri is about 50 years old and has seen a lot of use and abuse. The sheath is made out of leather and is still in good condition despite not beng maintained very well. The Khukri has a very sturdy aluminium handle. The Kharda and the Chakmak have been long lost and I have been unsuccessful in getting replacements.

The Khukri is the standard issue of the Indian Ghurka Regiments......for all ranks.

The Regiments have their inhouse blacksmiths who follow age old traditions.

Through my dad have requested his friend who retired as a CO of one of the Ghurka regiments to source me one/two Khukris.

Will post Pictures later.

Best

[Katana]

hellfire,

Can you post some pics of the khukkri that your father has? Lets also remember that 50 years ago the quality of workmanship would have been much better that it is today. There is a pair in my family for the past 75-100 years. These are extremely heavy, are larger but without scabbards. The workmanship on those I have yet to see in newer examples. But again they require some restoration.

[brihacharan]

Hi Guys,
> Cant understand why our ordanance factories produce such sub-standard items - no design aesthetics / no ergonomy in handling / poor finish............
> During my visit to Katmandu almost 20 years ago to attend a SAARC conference, I saw the Khukhris issued to the Nepalese army - boy what perfect design and finish - the metal catching the glint of sunlight - the grip & heft all these very appropriate for its use.
> The security chief of the hotel where I was staying helped me in buying one from a local shop - the blade made of lorry leaf spring & polished, the handle made of Yak horn & the scabbard made of buffalo hide. It cost me all of 300 bucks then & worth every paise!
> Believe me knife / sword / khukhri making is an art - can't me mass produced.
Cheers
Brihacharan

[Subal das]

some khukri made by Himalayan Import can be imported to India for example that one called Ang Khola 12" in total, I assume blade will be less then 9"

http://yhst-7333098713883.stores.yahoo. ... nchak.html

very informative web site dedicated to Khikhri mostly
http://www.himalayan-imports.com/khuk1.html

[hellfire_m16]

Hi Katana,

I am posting pictures of the Indian Army Khukri (One with the Aluminium Handle) and that of a Normal Khuri which was gifted by a friend which he picked up for INR 75 in Darjeeling/Siliguire......do not remember excatly where out of the two places........via the Airforce Wives Welfare Association when his dad was posted there. Not a bad piece for INR 75. Came with some Chroming/Buffing which was rusted and hence preped and blued the metal. My friend had tried the Khukri on a steel rod, causing a nic on the balde which I hammered back into shape.

I was discussing with dad about the histrory of the Indian Army Khukri .......he told me that in the 60's there was dearth of good metal in India and basically the Ghurka's used steel from damaged/old spring plates of trucks form their unit and neighbouring units........especially they used to have a infromal tie up with the EME and ASC chaps.......more with the EME guys.

As the Khukri is a part of the Uniform of the Other Ranks of the Ghurkas and basically Ceremonial wear for the Officers.......the Ghurka Units used to have a designated post of a Black Smith who's job was basically to make Khukris to cater to the demand of their respective units. The Sheath was covered with Buffalo Hide and the Handle is Solid Aluminium Cast........which itill date has no play shake in it.

Not that I am anyway a expert on baldes but, the Indian Army Khukri with me has been used and abused.........have also tried ages ago to fling it on a wooden door and narrowly escaped getting my foot cut badly when the Khukri Boomeranged back........now that I think of it.......was not a very intelligent thing to do..........the Khukri has been hammered at and God only knows what all it has gone through..........but is still in reasonable shape.........the only active duty it is put to nowadays is to chop weeds and bushes around the house.....the blade retains a nice edge when sharpened........and when compared with some of the more expensive Khukris sourced from Nepal that I have seen with friends the Indian Army Khukri is no way inferior when it comes to the Practical side of things.....the finish is another matter as it is a no frill finish.

Have been thinking to take the blueing off (done my me), get a replacemnet Kharda and Chakmak, sharpen the blade and make it my regurlar workhorse.

The Ex CO of the Ghurka regiment recently visted us in Mysore and mentioned that bascially the Khukri is still reproduced in the earlier fashion along with the Occasional Ceremonial Khukris and the huge Khukris used for the annual Buffalo Sacrifice.

My apologies for posting the pictures late as I was tied up with work.

Best Regrads,
Vinayaka

http://s264.photobucket.com/albums/ii19 ... CN0227.jpg

http://s264.photobucket.com/albums/ii19 ... CN0226.jpg

http://s264.photobucket.com/albums/ii19 ... CN0229.jpg

http://s264.photobucket.com/albums/ii19 ... CN0228.jpg

[ckkalyan]

Great images and useful information

AFAIK - Khukri's were indeed standard issue. I had an old one at home, Leather covered, wooden scabbard, with some army markings painted on crudely on the reverse of the sheath.

I have one Khukri with me right now, received as a gift, I would appreciate expert comments. Is this a usable Khukri or merely one for display, workmanship?

Nepali Khukri: Brass bound Horn Scabbard. Overall Length 48 cm; Blade 30 cm, Solid Brass Grip 15 cm.

Link to images https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/U ... directlink

[eljefe]

A while ago, actually a long while ago, one of our memnbers had posted a link about the exploits of a 18-19 year old sepoy from Gurkha or Naga Regt, who had 'handled' about 8-10 insurgents with his standard khukri-somebody forgot to tell him it was substandard ...for the insurgents, it was the finest katana

[ckkalyan]

Gentlemen / Khukri Gurus - I would appreciate your response and feedback.

Another Q - any ideas on taking such knives back to Canada by Sea Freight as used, personal display items?

I have one Khukri with me right now, received as a gift, I would appreciate expert comments. Is this a usable Khukri or merely one for display, workmanship?

Nepali Khukri: Brass bound Horn Scabbard. Overall Length 48 cm; Blade 30 cm, Solid Brass Grip 15 cm.

Link to images https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/U ... directlink