Circa 1800's. Extremely rare ornate Officers knife. Scabbard is made of water buffalo horn. Knife handle is water buffalo horn and bone or ivory. Trim is brass with silver rivets. Ornate scroll work with birds, etc on both sides of blade and on scabbard trim. Scabbard is missing the bottom brass diamond shaped piece (last pic shows example, in case buyer wants to have a replacement piece made). The Gurkha Kukri is possibly the most recognizable and famous fighting knife ever developed. Indigenous to the mountain Kingdom of Nepal, home of the Gurkhas who were "absorbed" into the British sphere of influence with the Treaty of Seguli in 1816. These ferocious fighters were infamous for their valor and for using the kukri an amazing "Tool of Death". It is a forward leaning leaf shaped blade, which provided the user with leveraged striking power. The kukri became an everyday tool as much as it was a deadly weapon. Introduced long before the British arrived in the early 19th century, the Kukri became standard equipment for Gurkha Regiments serving in the British Army.