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BCMarc
11-04-2012, 08:00 PM
This knife was something my dad had as long as I could remember. It just sat in the garage so when I was over at moms tonight, I grabbed it. I don't know anything about it. Don't know where it came from or it's origins. But it's a neat looking piece that needs some clean up.

Anyone have any idea where it may have come from or been used? Also, advice on how to best clean it up and make it pretty again would be appreciated.

unfortunately the sheath is pretty much destroyed. Some thin wood strips wrapped in leather

http://i1170.photobucket.com/albums/r528/BCMarc/ED1ACCFF-7CC1-4795-8A70-BD7F50D570B5-9918-00001710D6BE7DFA_zps4fc2b63d.jpg

The blade is pretty ruSty. I can't seem to see any markings on it anywhere
http://i1170.photobucket.com/albums/r528/BCMarc/1472584B-DE66-4574-8DD6-228AD8A64B5A-9918-00001710F514EE33_zpsbe66f8e4.jpg
http://i1170.photobucket.com/albums/r528/BCMarc/3E468424-A3A0-46C1-ABE0-D5854BF06A4C-9918-00001710E7D4EADA_zps2be38d94.jpg

The handle is pretty worn near the bottom. This knife saw some use at some point in its life.
http://i1170.photobucket.com/albums/r528/BCMarc/C0527531-B2BA-4CAB-B19D-DDD394B594FB-9918-00001710DFD8C92B_zps0f27a808.jpg

And as a whole it's a pretty imposing knife. The blade measures roughly 12-13" alone.

http://i1170.photobucket.com/albums/r528/BCMarc/859FDAB3-EC13-4593-8BC0-3C2ABADA68EB-9918-00001710FA7D5F91_zps372b496d.jpg
Yak
11-04-2012, 08:04 PM
It's a kukuri knife, from or at least originally designed in Nepal. Their military made them famous. I bought 2 from out there a few years ago. I Cary one sometimes in my pack, great for cutting firewood instead of a hatchet.
Yak
tanker
11-04-2012, 08:12 PM
my neibour had one and he is from nepal we were kids like 10 years old but he said it was for kutting sheaps heads off when you pull to kut it just does all the work for you is what he yousto say i haveent got a clue if thats true but lookig back it was pretty funny



tanker
BCMarc
11-04-2012, 08:46 PM
I'm sure this one has some stories in it. Unfortunately dad passed away about 5 years ago so he's not telling.
BCMarc
11-04-2012, 09:04 PM
My condolences and apologies if I struck too close.

No, not at all. I don't think I'll ever get to the bottom of its story though. For the time being, I'll just have to figure out how to clean it up...and see if I can find the two smaller ones that were once with it in the garage somewhere.
The Dude
11-04-2012, 10:26 PM
Your Mom must know something about it. Did he travel to Nepal? Where he bought it, how long he had it, why it has a deer antler on the handle, etc.
If it was MY dad's knife I'd wanna know! Cool find!
The Dawg
11-04-2012, 10:28 PM
Ask Blacktail how to clean it up and not destroy anything .

Hes the resident knife guy.

Its a beaut, and wouldnt want it to get broken. Especially since it was Dads
BCMarc
11-04-2012, 10:30 PM
Your Mom must know something about it. Did he travel to Nepal? Where he bought it, how long he had it, why it has a deer antler on the handle, etc.
If it was MY dad's knife I'd wanna know! Cool find!

Ha, all mom knows about it is that it was big and scary and she was happy to see it gone from the garage!
Singleshotneeded
11-05-2012, 12:32 AM
I'm thinking fine steel wool and metal polish...interesting!
Gateholio
11-05-2012, 12:44 AM
Yup, it's a Kuhkri knife. Never seen one with a deer antler handle, I assume someone replaced it's original handle years ago. I have one from Nepal, and I used to use it daily around the property. The Gurkha soldiers use them for fighting, to great effect.
RiverOtter
11-05-2012, 08:52 AM
Soaking the blade in vinegar will pull the rust out, leaving the metal black looking. From there you could fine emery(sp) cloth it, then wheel buff to restore it.

All depends on what you want, a shiny new looking knife, or an old character knife....
2tins
11-05-2012, 09:13 AM
Was your Dad a military man, did he ever serve over seas?
BCMarc
11-05-2012, 09:45 AM
Was your Dad a military man, did he ever serve over seas?

My dad was not. He was a military brat, however, and spent time bouncing around my grandfathers various European stationings.
BernDawg
11-05-2012, 11:52 AM
My dad was not. He was a military brat, however, and spent time bouncing around my grandfathers various European stationings.

It would stand to reason then that your Dad probably got it from your Grand-dad, no? Truly a family hierloom then and well worth the restoration effort.
Mountaintop
11-05-2012, 04:36 PM
I pulled out my kukuri and mine even has the same grooves engraved as yours. My son brought it back from Nepal when he was there a few years ago. To get rust off an old heirloom like that don't use caustic chemicals but try a molasses bath. About 1 part molasses to 9 parts water and soak for a few days to a week or so. Amazingly the rust will mostly dissolve off and you can clean up the rest with a bit of brush work. Probably would not hurt the antler handle either
The Dude
11-05-2012, 04:44 PM
Molasses bath is a good idea. Even some vintage car restoration guys use it.
thumper1
11-05-2012, 05:25 PM
Keep looking in the garage, and you might find its leather sheath, with two little knives (with about 2" blades) attached to the top of the sheath. I've never seen one with an antler handle though.
Singleshotneeded
11-05-2012, 07:39 PM
Your grandad probably got it from a friend of his in the British Army when he was over there, and left it to your dad.
BCMarc
11-05-2012, 07:52 PM
Your grandad probably got it from a friend of his in the British Army when he was over there, and left it to your dad.

Entirely possible. I know that grandad served on a couple of different occasions, the later flying various Allied officers from base to base...after the hockey career didn't pan out. In fact, here he is retiring from the Canucks (PCHL days) to rejoin the Air Force.

http://i1170.photobucket.com/albums/r528/BCMarc/gramps.jpg
Backdraft
11-05-2012, 07:59 PM
They were also issued to Canadian snipers and scouts during WW I & II.
Singleshotneeded
11-05-2012, 08:03 PM
They were also issued to Canadian snipers and scouts during WW I & II.

Thanks, I didn't know they were ever used by the Canadian Army...
BCMarc
11-05-2012, 09:13 PM
Thanks everyone for your thoughts and ideas. It has helped a lot in figuring out what this is and where it may have come from. I know the two littler knives existed with it at some point, I remember seeing them years ago. Mom is going to rummage through the garage this week and see if she can come up with them. Dad used to have a lot of German WWII items but as he was a stamp collector and not a Militaria collector, traded most of it for stamps. I am not sure if the other knives went in one of the trades or not.