Grandfathers poker Kukri (Gurkha Knife )

coinhound1983

Sr. Member
Aug 22, 2012
349
138
So I was unpacking from a recent move across the nation, while doing so I found my grand fathers old Kukri... Here's how the story goes according to my immediate family. Mind you my family has been in every conflict since WW1. Pretty good accounts so I do not believe its BS.

My grand father Charles Stanley Danna was AAF during late WW2 he flew P-51s across the channel escorting bombers to Germany..
During the Korean War he flew C-46 Dakotas I believe, whatever was before the C-130... Well while in Japan the day before another hump into Korea , he was playing poker with some Brits.. An older NCO was attempting to call a large bet, didn't have enough cash so presented this Kukri and explained he had taken this off a fallen Gurhka during the Burma campaign WW2, well he lost the bet my grand father won and looks like it was just put aside by my family after he passed...
I'm about to embark on a restoration journey as I have much respect for the Gurhkas and history in general... Hope you enjoy the small story and the pics.. ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1438384655.656994.jpg ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1438384666.656337.jpg ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1438384678.961077.jpg ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1438384690.375429.jpg
 

Upvote 5

releventchair

Gold Member
May 9, 2012
22,393
70,704
Primary Interest:
Other
Very nice kukri, and interesting provenance. Tough old piece of high carbon...
A touch piece of history and of your grand dad.
Looks like the sheath allowed for a chakmak or karda or both.
 

Subterranean

Silver Member
Jan 31, 2012
3,964
8,892
Southwest Missouri
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
2
Detector(s) used
Garrett AT Pro (Julio), Garrett AT Max (Medusa), Garrett Pro Pointer, White's Prism V, Lesche Digger.
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Awesome Kukri, And with great respect for the fallen Gurhka soldier. The Japanese feared them greatly! You have a super heirloom piece with a great story behind it. Like relevantchair noted, the little knife and file would have been stored in the little sheath on the side of the big one. They tended to get lost through the years. Congrats! Sub 8-)
 

Plumbata

Bronze Member
May 13, 2012
1,342
2,189
Wyoming
Detector(s) used
White's
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Nice piece, I was worried it might have been a tourist item the British fellow was trying to pass off as real but it looks legit to me, very nice! Kukris are pretty amazing work knives/machetes BTW, very good design.
 

OP
OP
coinhound1983

coinhound1983

Sr. Member
Aug 22, 2012
349
138
Thnx guys.. 3 time iraq vet myself.. The sheath is busted in parts on either side and the wooden handle slides off now as well. When I get the time and money this will be a restoration project for me. Again I hope everyone appreaciates the short history. Will post pics when I start.
 

Top Member Reactions

Users who are viewing this thread

Top