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Stranger than Fiction

How’s this for a coincidence? In Magnum’s August 2019 edition, I wrote an article titled “More Knife Nostalgia” in which I described several knives which readers had very kindly given me as gifts over the years. Among these was a genuine Gurkha official military-issue kukri, which was given to me by an officer of a Gurkha (Nepal) regiment. I had never previously met him. He contacted me to say he was a Magnum reader who wanted to meet me, and he invited me to dinner at the Durban Club. We met on the premises, and enjoyed a splendid dinner. He had brought with him a copy of my book, Rifles for Africa, and asked me to sign it, which I did. He then presented me with one of the most remarkable gifts I’d ever received – the kukri – which left me astounded.

We parted, and as he worked overseas, I never saw him again. That was many years ago, and when I came to write the August 2019 article, I added that I was ashamed to admit I could not remember his name, but hoped that if he read this, he would contact me.

Four months later, received an email addressed to me, which they forwarded. Attached was a scan of the title page of showing my penned inscription to the Gurkha officer by name, and signed by me. The email simply said: “Durban Club, Dear Gregor, It was a good meal and a fair swap.” I immediately replied to thank him for contacting me, and he told me an