Famous as a military fighting knife, the Kukri is the most commonly used multipurpose knife in the fields and homes of Nepal and Northern India.
This kukri was brought to the UK by Walter James “Bill” Tyrrell, who served as a rigger with 615 Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force during WW2. 615 Squadron served in India & Burma from 1941 through to the end of the war.
The 315mm hollow ground blade has a thick, ridged spine, measuring 7mm at the shoulder and tapering to a hatchet point. The blade is in good used condition with some small, use-related nicks in the edge and a couple of small patches of shallow pitting, the largest being towards the point on one side. The blade is decorated on both sides with three chiselled lines below the spine.
The Cho at the base of the blade serves to stop blood, sap or other fluids from running onto the handle and making it slippery. The Cho is also believed to be a symbolic representation of a cows’ foot, a sacred animal to all Hindus.
The hardwood hilt has a steel bolster. The grip flares to a broad oval at the base allowing the user a very good grip. The grip has some mild wear and chips to the central raised ridge and pommel but is in overall good condition. The blade is firm in the hilt.
The wooden, leather covered scabbard is in good condition and is complete with its the Karda and Chakmak. An additional pouch used to hold flint and tinder is also present.
This is a good Nepalese or Northern Indian Kukri dating to the first half of the 20th Century and brought back to the UK after World War 2.
