Jung Bahadur (The Ruler)

Deadly and brute like its creator
The name itself speaks for the identity and history of the kukri. It was widely used during Jung Bahadur Rana’s dynasty in the 19th and 20th century so the name follows. Jung Bahadur Rana was the first prime minister of Nepal of the Rana dynasty who came to power in 1846 AD. His powerful Rana dynasty of hereditary prime ministers that lasted till 1951 for 104 years is considered to be as the “Dark Days of Nepal”. The basic rights and opportunities to the people were seized/taken away and forced into slavery. Jung Bahadur Rana was also known for his fondness of women and weapons. He had tons of collection of modern and antique weapons among which kukri was one of his favorites. It was immensely used by him and his generation until they were strip from power.

This Jung Bahadur Kukri is a replica of the original one owned by Jung Bahadur Rana himself. The shape of this kukri knife is similar to the ‘Aitihasik’ type used by Gorkhali Sainik, however slightly curved and longer. The unusual section of the kukri is the handle which is imitated from antique swords. The handle is made from solid iron/metal rod with hand guard on both sides as shown in the picture. A metallic arch made from iron sheet is fixed to the front guard of the handle. The metallic handle gives the ever-lasting strength and hand guard provides much needed protection to hand during hand-to-hand combat. The handle is given a suitable shape/design to go with the blade. This kukri as a whole appears to be fearsome, faithful and destructive. The scabbard is made from wood from inside and carefully wrapped by buffalo leather as in regular kukris.

Jung Bahadur khukuri is a perfect show piece and a collection item with historic background rarely found today. It is also a superb cutting kukri knife having a rock-hard metallic handle.

Kot Parva (Court Massacre); how Jung Bahadur Rana came into power
Kot Parva (Court Massacre) was the most dreadful even in the history of Nepal in which several numbers of influential and high ranking people were killed, and from where the country took a completely new turn into the dark and destructive era. Briefly speaking in 1846 September, King Rajendra Shah’s second wife Queen Rajya Laxmi Devi’s favorite man in power, Gagan Singh Bhandari was mysteriously murdered. This outraged the queen and ordered Jung Bahadur Kunwor (later Rana) to immediately call a meeting in Royal court in Hanuman Dhoka palace. In no time the meeting turned ugly and there was over heated discussion of blame game that was crushed by Jung Bahadur and his associates for which they were already prepared and planned well ahead. He killed around 40 ministers, military officers including the PM Fateh Jung Shah, and subsequently seized all power to himself. After the Kot Parva (Court Massacre) he exiled the king, put the queen under house arrest and further killed all the threats to him and his regime. He later declared himself the new prime minister and supreme commander of the army and ruled Nepal through his direct Rana dynasty for 104 years. This phase is well known in history as the DARK DAYS of NEPAL.

Specifications
Blade Size (in): 14
Handle Size (in): 6
Handle Material: Iron
Actual Weight (gm): 900
Overall weight (gm): 1150
Shipping weight (gm): 1700
Blade finishing: Unpolished
Blade sharpness: Standard (very sharp)
Blade material: 5160
Place of Origin: Dharan, Eastern Nepal
Accompanying knives/B-up: None
Blade thickness (mm): 9
Handle finishing: Chemical Painted
Sheath: Water buffalo leather scabbard
Tang type: Rat-Tail
Fixture: None
Edge grinding: Semi convex
Edge Hardness: 55-57 hrc