Kukri scabbard, 1930 (c)

A souvenir or privately purchased weapon and scabbard, brought back from Italy after World War Two (1939-1945) by 2nd Lieutenant Ryszard Niktar Plesner, 3rd Carpathian Division, Polish Army.

The kukri, with its recurved blade, is an iconic weapon synonymous with the Gurkhas of Nepal.

Most kukris and scabbards are usually quite plain but presentation weapons can be highly decorated. The kukri is often accompanied by two smaller knives designed for less warlike activities. With Gurkhas serving with the British Army, the kukri became a service issue weapon alongside the bayonet. During World War Two (1939-1945), non-Gurkha units serving in the Far East also adopted the weapon. The vast majority of kukris, especially those carried by troops in Burma during World War Two, were anonymous, commercially produced weapons.