THIS is a knife

[Tom Y]

The two smaller knives are called the karda and the chakmak. The karda is a small accessory blade used for many tasks. The chakmak is used to burnish the blade and it can also be used to start a fire with flint. The flint is sometimes carried in a pouch attached to the scabbard.

Found this which gives some good info on the kukri:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kukri

Hope this helps.

Dan

The flint was probably similar to these Brown Bess musket flints from a long overdue housecleaning at the Royal Nepalese Armory.[attachmentid=55297]

A bunch of muzzle loading era patch knives appeared out of the dust, too.[attachmentid=55299]

[Hauptmann]

The flint was probably similar to these Brown Bess musket flints from a long overdue housecleaning at the Royal Nepalese Armory.[attachmentid=55297]

A bunch of muzzle loading era patch knives appeared out of the dust, too.[attachmentid=55299]

Hi Tom,

WOW! Just as a knife collector I'd love a knife like that one in my collection... it's a beaut!!!!

Thanks so much for posting that one. I'll now have to keep my eye out.

Thanks,

Dan

[Tom Y]

Just got this officer's patch knife from the same source. It's about 7 3/4 in. long with a horn and brass hilt and hand forged blade. I imagine the tang is peened over under the pommel. The second one doesn't show in the scan, but there are 2 brads through the pommel.

Edited October 12, 2006 by Tom Y

[Laurence Strong]

...both Indian Gorkhas and, I assume, British Gurkhas as ...

Whats the significance of the different spelling?

[Hauptmann]

Just got this officer's patch knife from the same source. It's about 7 3/4 in. long with a horn and brass hilt and hand forged blade. I imagine the tang is peened over under the pommel. The second one doesn't show in the scan, but there are 2 brads through the pommel.

Hi Tom,

Another "nice" one. Actually you can see the other one up near the top... but it's only barely visible.

Dan

[Michael Johnson]

...both Indian Gorkhas and, I assume, British Gurkhas as ...

Whats the significance of the different spelling?

Each is the official spelling used by the Indian and British Army for their regiments recruited from Nepal.

[Michael Johnson]

11th GR - raised in India after 1947, in large part to absorb transfers from British Gurkha regiments, mainly from the 7th and 10th GR

Gorkhas from the Rai and Limbu clans were recruited into the 7th and 10th G.R. As both of these regiments went to Britain, Rais and Limbus who opted for India needed a regiment.

I have an Indian Independence Medal, War Medal pair to Rfn. Dalasor Rai, 11th G.R. The Independance has his pre-`47 British regimental number (114575) and the other his post (9402213). From the former it is clear that he was 10 G.R.

Edited October 20, 2006 by Michael Johnson