All About Pocket Knives

This is a bit of an oddity; Whilst it looks a bit like a Kukri, it is definitely not. Markings are for Cossipore Arsenal (India) 1920. The whole thing is about 14" long. Does anyone have a clue?

I'm confused. Why do you "definitely not" think it's a Kukri. Looks like every one I've ever seen (pictures of). Do a Google search on "Kukri images" and this is what you get ---> https://www.google.com/search?rls=com.m ... ZOi_-oJEg4
Since I've never held one in my hand (wanted one for a long time though but afraid I'll end up with a cheap Pakistani knock-off), is there something I'm missing here? Please educate me.

That is actually a very good question jerryd6818 and not an easy one to answer!
The Indian and British were producing Military Kukris at this time, manufactured to a specific design (known to collectors as the Mk2). The design of this knife omits the cho/kaudi (notch) which ALL Kukri have, also, the handle doesn't compare to any Indian Kukri, before or since. It is a much more inferior tool/weapon to a Kukri, there's no balance and feel in its design. A Kukri is not just a 'knife', it is part of the Indian/ Nepalese culture. All parts of a Kukri have a name and meaning. It's a bit like calling a Ka Bar a Bowie knife.
Is it a machete? The size is no different to Kukri, so why produce it, when a Kukri would do the job? The British already had an excellent machete design, as did the Indian army, with their Golok.
I can only assume it was produced as a general purpose knife/weapon/machete. The fact that very few of these have survived, just goes to show (in my opinion) that it wasn't much good for anything!
Does this make any sense to you? as I said, it's a difficult one to answer.
A picture of a Mk2 Military Kukri, a far more elegant design.

I've collected khukuri's for nearly 36yrs and I believe that's a ww2 chindits khukuri, pretty rare knife

You guys are way over my head. Thanks for your reply.

Ok I just went through my paperwork on khukuri's , this actualy is a between the wars model ,carried by Gurkhas in India, black handled versions marked 1920 usually with ginger grooves, designed for stabbing as well as chopping

zed6309 wrote:I've collected khukuri's for nearly 36yrs and I believe that's a ww2 chindits khukuri, pretty rare knife

The knife is dated 1920, so definitely not Chindit, as you now know! I think any odd or rare Indian knife/weapon/tool gets attributed to the Chindits. I've read plenty of books about the Chindits and the only large bladed weapons mentioned are Kukris, Goloks/Machetes and the Burmese Da.
A fellow Kukri collector, then!

I was Bob, I've only got about 5 now 3 old and 2 new,I've been using one for camping since the 80's, Love them

Currently I have no Kukri or kukri types. Just wanted to mention it as I just received my news from the OKCA that the knife that will be contested by the makers is this coming year the Kukri. The makers who enter will be supplied the blank and they will go from there. Next April I believe. The winter show is coming up shortly. If there is a show that should be attended at least once it is the big one in the spring at Eugene. There are not just one but probably many of any type knives available from Bowies to Auto's. It or the show last year was just unbelievable. A bunch of really good people. Hopefully Dale or some of the other vendors from there will weigh in. Don't know if it happens every year but 2017 was doubly great as there was a gun show on the premise also. I am an avid gun nut and I never made it to the gun venue. I don't think there is any way you could actually look at every individual knife for more than just a cursory glance in eight hours. If you have a few knives to sell bring them along there are buyers aplenty.
moss

I just did some reading on the Cossipore gun, and shell factory.
Quite the story!
They are the single oldest surviving factory in India, and that alone is worth note.

Is there any reason you doubt the knife is authentic?
To me it would suggest a plain utility knife made in that era. Every region has their own style that is popular with the masses, and a Kukri style of utility knife made in that plant seems reasonable.

So says the 20 minute research guy on the net!

I have no doubt that the knife is genuine, I was just curious as to where it fits in, seeing how they had the Kukri and machete already? Maybe an attempt to produce a combined weapon/tool. As a note, the weight of this knife is near the centre of the blade, whereas the Kukris is much nearer the tip, hence it doesn't feel like a Kukri in the hand.

Well to ME, All knives can be considered as weapons. Even a pen knife.
But looking at certain designs it is easier to say :weapon or tool. The "look" of the knife you posted does not say 'weapon" to me. It looks like a utility knife or what we would call bush knife.(regional machete)?
That's just my opinion of it.

I guess they was trying to turn it into a stabbing type weapon as the khukuri is really a chopping tool, I find the sirupate style blades slimmer and less curved so could be used in more a stabbing motion,I use a sirupate for camping,it's not as choppy as a full bellied Khukuri but more a alround tool ,the two on the left are sirupate style blades compared to the usual full bellied version

This photo recently turned up; Indian Army WW2;

Well looky there...
It looks like a dead ringer.
Look at that last pin placement. I'd say that you found it!