A Very Fine Presentation Kothimora Khukuri

  • A Very Fine Presentation Kothimora Khukuri

  • A Very Fine Presentation Kothimora Khukuri

  • A Very Fine Presentation Kothimora Khukuri

  • A Very Fine Presentation Kothimora Khukuri

  • A Very Fine Presentation Kothimora Khukuri

  • A Very Fine Presentation Kothimora Khukuri

  • A Very Fine Presentation Kothimora Khukuri

  • A Very Fine Presentation Kothimora Khukuri

  • A Very Fine Presentation Kothimora Khukuri

A Very Fine Presentation Kothimora Khukuri
Engraved: "To Charles Ellis Hay Erskine" "From: the Maharaja of Balrampur"
Maharaja Court of Balrampur, British Raj (Balrampur, Uttar Pradesh, India)
Ca. 1901
Steel, elephant ivory, wood, velvet, silver
Blade: 28cm
Hilt & Blade: 39,4cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: 43,2cm
Collection Date: 2022
Collection Number: 261

Ex. Harry Wagner Collection, Columbus, Ohio, USA (2022)
Ex. Oriental Arms: Haifa, Israel (http://oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=8333)
Ex. Private South American Collection
Ex. Oriental Arms: Haifa, Israel
Ex. Late John D. Powell Collection

A very prestigious Indian Khukuri from Balrampur near the Indian- Nepali border. This one engraved and a gift from the Raj court. The steel blade is single- edged with a slight crystalline contrast. Twin fullers near the spine. Steel bolster. One-piece carved elephant ivory grip. Wood sheath covered by green velvet and high-grade silver repoussé floral locket and chape.

This was likely a retirement gift to Captain Erskine around 1901.
Charles Ellis Hay Erskine (B. 1866 - D. 1902) acquired the rank of Captain in the Indian Staff Corps, Indian Army (1886 - 1901). He is part of a greater lineage of Scottish ancestors who served as civil servants in British India from the late 18th century.

Charles Ellis Hay Erskine (B. 1866 – D. 1902) – Rank of Captain in Indian Staff Corps, Indian Army (1886 – 1901).
Father of Charles: George Elphinstone Erskine (B. 1841 – D. 1912) – Major General in Bombay Cavalry, Indian Army. Held Office of Justice of the Peace.
Grandfather of Charles: George Keith Erskine (B. 1809 – D. 1849) – Captain in the Bombay Light Calvary, Indian Army.
Great Grandfather of Charles: David Erskine (B. 1772 – D. 1847) – Ceylon Civil Service, Hailing from Cardross, Argyllshire, Scotland.

This knife is featured in the draft of John D. Powell's unfinished book titled "The Khukuri," in Chapter 3, "Kothimora," written from 2002. The reference can be found on the "kilatools" website (formerly "Heritage Knives") (https://kilatools.com/kukrihistory/JP/). The third to last photo shows Mr. John Powell standing in front of his collection with this specific example seen in the top-right corner, third knife down while the second to last photo is an expanded view of his Khukuri wall.

The last photo is of Maharaja Bahadur Sir Bhagwati Prasad Singh (B. 1879 – D. 1921) - Raja of Balrampur: 1900 – 1921. Also, President of the British Indian Association of Oudh, Member of the Legislative Council of the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, Honorary Fellow of the Allahabad University. Succeeded to the state in 1893 until recognition of the distinct personal title of Maharaja of Balrampur.