Gurkha's close fighting technique was much like Geronimo running around among the enemy so fast and furious that the enemy would be confused & disoriented
As a knife smith I really appreciate your thorough outline. My first three kukri are Nepalese which truly convinced me these are the king of knives. I now forge many of these amazing blades. Well done video, much appreciated.
Hi, thanks for this. As with much about the Kukri, I want to say both "yes, absolutely" and "no, not really" to your comments, but that is true of most Kukri videos and I am sure that anyone listening to me on the subject would have the same reaction. I hope you won't mind a relatively lengthy comment on your film. While I might disagree with you on a number of issues, I hope I haven't been disagreeable. The first thing to remember is that Kukri (no matter how you spell it) is basically a word that means "knife". Women might carry a personal "Kukri" that is like a small billhook (I think KHHI sell a version). It looks nothing like any of the Kukris in your collection, but it is still called a "Kukri". Even if we limit ourselves to the usual meaning of the term, Kukris vary from one side of Nepal to the other and they vary through time. Some of the oldest Kukri (in museums in Nepal) have very large blades, with little or no concave section after the Cho and hardly any recurve, while others are very long and slender and have almost no belly. There is one in the Kathmandu Museum which is almost semi-circular and has a blade very similar to a sickle, except somewhat wider/deeper blade. In addition, while many Kukri, esp. those resembling the modern military model, have thick spines, a sharp shoulder and differentially heat-treated and even differentially sharpened blades, there are others that have a relatively slender tapering spine and a razor edge for the full length of the blade. I have examples of both types, those with thicker spine, which are great multipurpose blades, and those with slender spines, a more curved outline and a consistently sharp edge, which seem to be intended as personal sidearms or battlefield weapons. (Interestingly, it is this type which appear most often in both photographs and cartoons of the 19th century - at a time before standard issue. The more angular type, while still varying from a short and very deep chopper to a slightly more slender blade, such as the WWI Mark 1 model, seems to be more visible in photos from that period. That is not to say that the angular type did not exist before.) When it comes to the Cho, no one seems to know what it means. While it is probably religious in nature, it seems unlikely that a smith would cut a notch into a blade just as a symbol, when Kukri can and do have some decoration on the blade, such as two lines just below the spine. So, it probably had some functional purpose which has been lost. I knew of the "female genitalia" interpretation, but I assumed this was linked to the worship of the goddess Durgamata (Kali in another guise) and the festival where a Buffalo is beheaded with a single blow (admittedly, by a large, two-handed, blade.) The myth that a Gurkha must not return the blade to its scabbard is just that, a myth. In village life, a Kukri is used for many tasks and the risk of infection from a lot of tiny cuts is just too great, esp. in a time before modern hygiene or band-aids. Also, since soldiers often used their Kukri for non-combat tasks they would risk impairing their fighting efficiency, since even tiny cuts can hurt and a number of them would hurt a lot. It is also quite easy to cut yourself very badly, with even only the slightest contact. I once brushed my knuckles against a sheathed Kukri that I did not know was in a drawer and I sustained a cut that bled freely - the sheath was old and had split and the belly of this particular Kukri was extremely sharp. At first, I did not even know I had been cut until I saw a lot of blood around me. Finally, while I accept that large Kukri are not intended for subtle close in work in the same way as a Kerambit, I would qualify that by pointing out that Simon Hengle (of Tora Blades) argues that a Sirupati makes an excellent and very fast self-defence knife (and he teaches the same in his martial arts school.) However, I don't think he is advocating the kind of very large Sirupati shown in your collection. There is a kind of Sirupati with a closed cho which actually appears in your video at 9:07, which is quite slender and perhaps just a little longer than the British Standard Issue Kukri and that would be quite nimble. Matt Easton, of youtube channel Scholagladiatoria, has a film comparing a Kukri with a Sykes-Fairbairn Commando Dagger and is quite fair in his discussion of pros and cons of both. As for the Kukri not needing much training, with all due respect, I think that is nonsense and fails to understand the traditional culture of the Kukri. Whereas a modern English or American soldier might not encounter a bayonet until they enlist, a Nepalese boy would grow up with a Kukri in the same way as English and Americans used to grow up with pocket knives. There are examples of children's Kukri, with all the same features, but designed for smaller hands and bodies. Children would learn how to use their knife from a very early age and especially how to cut and chop. And there is a definite technique to chopping or large cutting movements. As with any sharp knife, the Kukri really requires an element of drawing on a cut and even a simple chop is less effective if the blade is simply used like an axe. I have seen large and thick blades (that should have been good splitters) get jammed in tight-grained logs and I have seen smaller Kukri, used properly, split the same material. I am disabled, although fairly strong and I failed to split a log with a Mark 1 Kukri. I was expecting to chop into it and then baton it, but I failed to even dent it. I gave the blade to a friend and despite being stronger and more mobile, he failed, too. I offered the knife to our female companion and she refused as it was too heavy for her. However, she asked if she could try with a small - 8 or 9 inch blade at most - Kothimora (a presentation knife in a highly decorated sheath and quite valuable). I was hesitant, but after giving her some idea of how to swing and pull the blade at the same time, I let her go ahead. She split it cleanly into two chunks in one blow. Of course, we men must have weakened it first.😉But seriously, there was no way she was stronger than either of us. However, she listened to what I said, did what I said and combined the swing with dropping into a squat at precisely the right time. Finally, a mass battlefield scenario obviously does not give a great deal of scope for the sophisticated techniques of one on one martial arts. Nevertheless, the Gurkhas who first encountered the East India Company, in circa 1812-13, developed a technique of squatting under bayonetted muskets and parrying the bayonet on the spine and then standing up as they cut the abdomen of the British troops. This required both speed, athleticism and timing and therefore must have required training or at least, practice. It was this sort of technique which first impressed the British officers, alongside the Gurkhas' courage and fortitude, of course. A version of this used to be seen in the 1970s British version of the "Kukri Dance" that was designed to demonstrate fighting techniques. Unfortunately, the modern versions of the dance show a lot of twirling of the knife and some squatting, but without a clear functional purpose to the squat. The fact that Gurkhas have used the Kukri in mass clashes against WWI & WWII bayonet infantry suggests that they had not entirely lost the skill. In the Falklands campaign, on one occasion, the British managed to get a group of young Argentine conscripts to surrender, without any bloodshed, simply by announcing the presence of the Gurkhas and asking a Gurkha sergeant to wave his Kukri in the air. To me, that is the height of technique, even if it was aided by an Argentine press campaign that magnified the horror of the Gurkhas and undermined their own troops' confidence.
I always wanted a Falcata. The falcata is a type of sword typical of pre-Roman Iberia. The falcata was used to great effect for warfare in the ancient Iberian peninsula, and is firmly associated with the southern Iberian tribes, among other ancient peoples of Hispania. It was highly prized by the ancient general Hannibal, who equipped Carthaginian troops with it during the Second Punic War.
Khukuris now days are a super great vale in a large custom or handmade, forged knife. I have several and they are powerful tools, affordable, even if a little too larger for common carry. Great vale from Nepal, Khukuris avail online and with lots of styles, priced well. Recommend those kukhs for the big knife guy or girl.
Loved these types of videos you do Desert Dog!! Whether it be these Khukuri knives or a significant rifle or cartridge. As always your videos are very informative. Thank you!
Super blades, I bought one from Himalayan Imports several years ago, I was surprised by the quality of the blade considering the inexpensive price I paid, it was incredibly sharp when I received it. I was concerned the edge would chip or 'roll over' with heavy use. I had some small Mesquite trees in my yard that I wanted to remove so I went at them with my Khukuri I was surprise at how well it chopped considering the Mesquite is quite hard and there was no deformation of the edge at all, not even a single nick or chip. And the edge was still razor sharp when I was done.
Good content,I worked with Gurkhas for 10 hrs. Amazing men.very peaceful people but there motto is Kaphar hunna bhanda Marni.in. English " it is better To die than to live like a coward".this is why they fight to the death, with honour.
Thanks for presenting this.. As a long-time khuk user and collector, I appreciate learning as much as I can about my chosen blade! Nice selection you have there, I'm particularly intrigued by the small, fancy one. I've noticed over the years the size of the fighting khuk has gotten smaller, the issue blades are now down to 10" or even less. My own favorite is the Indian-produced ww2 khuk w/12" arrow-marked blade used in the jungles of Burma and S.E. Asia by British Ghurka troops. Khukri purists will tell you that such blades are "not really khukris", but they were used in combat by Ghurkas, soooo... I've used mine extensively for camp and woodcraft chores and it has never failed. Are there "better" khuks? Probably sure, but that one is MINE and I can USE it. Thanks again! I hope to see you do something on the American bowie knife in future 🤠.
My limited exp and view same, the Kuks getting smaller and leaving behind the 12 tp 15 blades. I pers think you are not getting full advantage or utility out of the blade design with less than 12 inches, but, yes, a qualifiers, don't get one too thick, and too heavy. Kukur4is House knives are fine, if money is tight and you just need a sturdy too. They will never be cheaper than they are now, sold on line too.
@ronalddunne3413 There isn't much research on Kukri history, but some of the oldest blades in the museum in Kathmandu and in the former Royal Armory (bought out by a USA company a while back) have very small handles on very large blades, some of this can be put down to a different style of grip and not necessarily men with extremely small hands. Nevertheless, as we get closer to the present the handle length increases (even with rat-tail half-tang construction) and the blades tend to get somewhat smaller, relatively speaking; although I have seen photos from the 1940s-1970s of rural villagers wearing very large blades. So, in a sense, the British Army have followed a trend. However, I think the real reason is economics. The blades worn in the 1970s were around 2 inches longer, but somewhat deeper and heavier and the modern issue is clearly cheaper to make. (But that raises an interesting question as to why the Army reintroduced the companion knives - the Karda and Chakmak - as these were not included in official issue blades in WWI and not, I think, in WWII. Some youtube films argue that these small knives are useless; if that is the case, why would the British Army bother to make them and why would any Gurkha carry them?) The second main reason is, I think, that modern Gurkha is a highly trained soldier, no longer limited to a Rifleman role. Modern warfare is more technological and as such the Kukri is no longer a main sidearm. Whilst an individual might use one in self defence, the idea of a Kukri charge or a silent night attack - both well-documented in the 19th and 20th C. - is really a thing of the past. As such, the Kukri has returned to its use as a utility knife and personal sidearm. On the other hand, while a big Kukri is undoubtedly formidable simply due to its size, I know that a correctly balanced and correctly used small Kukri can still deliver devastating impacts, even without the mass of its bigger cousins.
Traditional Filipino blade hilts were also constructed like the traditional kukri hilts, the tang was small and pointed, burned into the wooden hilt with natural glue, it was not pinned, riveted or pegged. Nice to see some similarities here.
you men Indonesian knives the smiths of Java taught the technologically (to this day) backward Philippines when trade prior to Portuguese were common (Philippines forget their Malay roots).
I like to thing that the notch on the kukri is a personal signature to show off the craftsman’s still. A way to tell the world “My work is good, and here is my proof.”
Worn proudly as a badge of honor, I’d say that the Khukuri blade is akin in prestige/status to both Indian and Nepalese men, as the Colt Single Action Army and Colt 1911 are to American men of long ago.
While the "cho" notch does have traditional, religious significance, Kailash Blades in Kathmandu state its primary function was as a stress release at the most stressed part of the blade, adds strength, and also acts as a shock absorber to minimize shock to the hand on impact and to regulate the vibrations going through the steel on impact thereby increasing the blade's resiliency. There's a ton of other explanations such as to prick the finger, blood runoff, etc, but Kailash is pretty confident this is the original reason. I trust their Smith's assessment!
I have a question I have a khukuri it's got GORKHA AR 19:38 MY stamped on the top edge edge it also has a serial number stamped at the base of the blade where the handle starts could anyone tell me about my khukuri as I would really like to know it's history cheers
Since the Cho existed in the 19th century and well before modern bottle caps, I find it highly unlikely. Also, there are many different designs of Cho, even if you exclude modern blades, where the designers seem to want to come up with very unusual shapes. Some sirupati Kukri have a completely circular Cho, where the cut-away section is within the blade, unlike the usual open shape and so they cannot have a single function.
Most accurate historical video I have seen on ku!ris. I truly appreciate how you properly designated legend vs fact. I've never felt the need for the notch as I don't have confidence in any practical use.
The notch is used to prevent blood of the enemy from coming to the handle. To grip a Khukri mainly the thumb and the following two fingers are primarily used.
Wrong. As a bladesmith, the forging and tempering process of making a kurkuri is the back of the blade is left soft only the edge is quenched. The notch relieved the stress at the hilt. Without it, the blade would snap at the hilt.
@@georgemarcouxjr6192 Can you please explain how the cut would act as a stress reliever? I've been trying to find out how but there doesn't seem to be any info on it. No other blades have this and they look more like stress risers than anything. Plenty of khukuri and khukuri copies are made without the kaudi and have no issues. Seems as long as the tang is made proper without deep corners, there's no more risk of breaking than any other blade.
Sorry no, it will not prevent blood or any fluids from getting on your hand. If you have that much running down the blade in the first place, it's not all magically going to go do the kaudi, and not run along the flat or the spine.
Always thought the blade style was a gimmicky way to sell blades. As i learn more about it, it seems like a must have in your blade collection!! I was looking for a big chopper that i can baton with, but a Kukri will do the job for me i know it will!!🎉😂
I expect that various enemy units thought that, until the Gurkhas fell upon them armed only with their Knives. There are verified accounts of Gurkhas ordered to charge the enemy who immediately switched their Rifles to their left hands and drew their Kukri. On at least one occasion, they took out machine gun nests - admittedly not via a frontal assault, but by climbing a cliff in the rear.
I have five Khukuri's, that I bought directly from Khukuri House of Thamel. Located in Katmandu, Nepal. I will only buy a Khukuri that comes from Nepal.
@longrider42 - I thought long and hard about buying from Nepal via online stores because some of the vendors seem to be more concerned about appealing to Western ideas or creating flashy "movie" items than genuine Kukri. Until a few years ago, I would only buy old Kukri and then only by personal viewing, as that way I could avoid the tourist tat that comes out of India (and in more recent years, out of Nepal, itself. My brother bought me a Nepalese Kukri, highly decorated scabbard and flashy blade , because he thought it would be more valuable and more attractive than the plain Kukri on sale in the market places in Kathmandu. It was a tourist blade, very over-done and purely for display - if I could bring myself to show such a garish piece of work. A few years ago, I did get a modern Tora Kukri blade - but I did so because it was made in Nepal and is supposed to be an exact copy of a much older original - apart from having a larger handle (for big Westerners, which is actually too big for me.)
I have two, one my wife bought for me in Nepal, it's more a Ceremonial knife. But I bought a real old one from the old Empire. It just Fing cool and has a soul.
@lavida57 - unless it is a sacrificial blade - which is usually a very large two-hander - most Kukri do not seem to be purely ceremonial. While it is highly likely that royalty and nobility would have had more ornate furniture (handle and scabbard and fittings) than the common person, most more recent decorated Kukri are either tourist objects: highly over-decorated and garish, but of poor quality, or they are Kothimora. These are usually normal, functional, Kukri blades with somewhat more ornate handles and scabbards covered in velvet or silk and with silver mountings. These were and are given to respected individuals, e.g.; retired officers or friends of the regiment and can be seen on the belts of some older serving Gurkhas in the British Army, e.g.; at the Edinburgh Tattoo. Although such a Kukri might have a decorated blade, the decoration is usually minimal and the edge is typically still somewhat sharp. Although though they are not intended as a workaday tool or even as a weapon, they could be used if needed. I once tried to cut a thick log with a large-ish Mark 1 (WW1) Kukri with a 15 inch blade and I failed. A friend tried and also failed. A young woman with us asked to try and finding that the Mark 1 was too heavy, used a 8-9 inch bladed Kothimora and split the log completely in two with one blow. However, I spent quite some time explaining correct technique and how to use bodyweight to power the blow. As such, I disagree with Desert Dog as to Kukri not needing much technique or training.
The Khukuri pre-dates both Nepal and India. Stop looking at places as countries in a historical context. Nepal didn't exist until 1768 and India didn't exist until 1947. There were many kingdoms and dynasties that ruled portions of the Indian subcontinent. Many of these kingdoms overlapped modern Nepal, India, and other countries where Gorkha people freely roamed. When the British Empire drew boundries post-WWII, there were Gurkhas all over, and the British formed Gurkha units in present-day Nepal and India. The oldest known Kukhuri knife references are actually in Hindu temples in modern day India. So, "sorry BRO", the Kukhuri has history in both Nepal and India bro.
![The FEARED Kukri! [What You NEED To Know]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/w6ZIY2i1t2s/mqdefault.jpg)
![The FEARED Kukri! [What You NEED To Know]](/img/tr.png)
Gurkha's close fighting technique was much like Geronimo running around among the enemy so fast and furious that the enemy would be confused & disoriented
As a knife smith I really appreciate your thorough outline. My first three kukri are Nepalese which truly convinced me these are the king of knives. I now forge many of these amazing blades. Well done video, much appreciated.
What's the price of yours
Hi, thanks for this. As with much about the Kukri, I want to say both "yes, absolutely" and "no, not really" to your comments, but that is true of most Kukri videos and I am sure that anyone listening to me on the subject would have the same reaction. I hope you won't mind a relatively lengthy comment on your film. While I might disagree with you on a number of issues, I hope I haven't been disagreeable.
The first thing to remember is that Kukri (no matter how you spell it) is basically a word that means "knife". Women might carry a personal "Kukri" that is like a small billhook (I think KHHI sell a version). It looks nothing like any of the Kukris in your collection, but it is still called a "Kukri". Even if we limit ourselves to the usual meaning of the term, Kukris vary from one side of Nepal to the other and they vary through time.
Some of the oldest Kukri (in museums in Nepal) have very large blades, with little or no concave section after the Cho and hardly any recurve, while others are very long and slender and have almost no belly. There is one in the Kathmandu Museum which is almost semi-circular and has a blade very similar to a sickle, except somewhat wider/deeper blade. In addition, while many Kukri, esp. those resembling the modern military model, have thick spines, a sharp shoulder and differentially heat-treated and even differentially sharpened blades, there are others that have a relatively slender tapering spine and a razor edge for the full length of the blade.
I have examples of both types, those with thicker spine, which are great multipurpose blades, and those with slender spines, a more curved outline and a consistently sharp edge, which seem to be intended as personal sidearms or battlefield weapons. (Interestingly, it is this type which appear most often in both photographs and cartoons of the 19th century - at a time before standard issue. The more angular type, while still varying from a short and very deep chopper to a slightly more slender blade, such as the WWI Mark 1 model, seems to be more visible in photos from that period. That is not to say that the angular type did not exist before.)
When it comes to the Cho, no one seems to know what it means. While it is probably religious in nature, it seems unlikely that a smith would cut a notch into a blade just as a symbol, when Kukri can and do have some decoration on the blade, such as two lines just below the spine. So, it probably had some functional purpose which has been lost. I knew of the "female genitalia" interpretation, but I assumed this was linked to the worship of the goddess Durgamata (Kali in another guise) and the festival where a Buffalo is beheaded with a single blow (admittedly, by a large, two-handed, blade.)
The myth that a Gurkha must not return the blade to its scabbard is just that, a myth. In village life, a Kukri is used for many tasks and the risk of infection from a lot of tiny cuts is just too great, esp. in a time before modern hygiene or band-aids. Also, since soldiers often used their Kukri for non-combat tasks they would risk impairing their fighting efficiency, since even tiny cuts can hurt and a number of them would hurt a lot. It is also quite easy to cut yourself very badly, with even only the slightest contact. I once brushed my knuckles against a sheathed Kukri that I did not know was in a drawer and I sustained a cut that bled freely - the sheath was old and had split and the belly of this particular Kukri was extremely sharp. At first, I did not even know I had been cut until I saw a lot of blood around me.
Finally, while I accept that large Kukri are not intended for subtle close in work in the same way as a Kerambit, I would qualify that by pointing out that Simon Hengle (of Tora Blades) argues that a Sirupati makes an excellent and very fast self-defence knife (and he teaches the same in his martial arts school.) However, I don't think he is advocating the kind of very large Sirupati shown in your collection.
There is a kind of Sirupati with a closed cho which actually appears in your video at 9:07, which is quite slender and perhaps just a little longer than the British Standard Issue Kukri and that would be quite nimble. Matt Easton, of youtube channel Scholagladiatoria, has a film comparing a Kukri with a Sykes-Fairbairn Commando Dagger and is quite fair in his discussion of pros and cons of both.
As for the Kukri not needing much training, with all due respect, I think that is nonsense and fails to understand the traditional culture of the Kukri. Whereas a modern English or American soldier might not encounter a bayonet until they enlist, a Nepalese boy would grow up with a Kukri in the same way as English and Americans used to grow up with pocket knives. There are examples of children's Kukri, with all the same features, but designed for smaller hands and bodies. Children would learn how to use their knife from a very early age and especially how to cut and chop. And there is a definite technique to chopping or large cutting movements.
As with any sharp knife, the Kukri really requires an element of drawing on a cut and even a simple chop is less effective if the blade is simply used like an axe.
I have seen large and thick blades (that should have been good splitters) get jammed in tight-grained logs and I have seen smaller Kukri, used properly, split the same material. I am disabled, although fairly strong and I failed to split a log with a Mark 1 Kukri. I was expecting to chop into it and then baton it, but I failed to even dent it. I gave the blade to a friend and despite being stronger and more mobile, he failed, too. I offered the knife to our female companion and she refused as it was too heavy for her. However, she asked if she could try with a small - 8 or 9 inch blade at most - Kothimora (a presentation knife in a highly decorated sheath and quite valuable). I was hesitant, but after giving her some idea of how to swing and pull the blade at the same time, I let her go ahead. She split it cleanly into two chunks in one blow. Of course, we men must have weakened it first.😉But seriously, there was no way she was stronger than either of us. However, she listened to what I said, did what I said and combined the swing with dropping into a squat at precisely the right time.
Finally, a mass battlefield scenario obviously does not give a great deal of scope for the sophisticated techniques of one on one martial arts. Nevertheless, the Gurkhas who first encountered the East India Company, in circa 1812-13, developed a technique of squatting under bayonetted muskets and parrying the bayonet on the spine and then standing up as they cut the abdomen of the British troops. This required both speed, athleticism and timing and therefore must have required training or at least, practice. It was this sort of technique which first impressed the British officers, alongside the Gurkhas' courage and fortitude, of course.
A version of this used to be seen in the 1970s British version of the "Kukri Dance" that was designed to demonstrate fighting techniques. Unfortunately, the modern versions of the dance show a lot of twirling of the knife and some squatting, but without a clear functional purpose to the squat. The fact that Gurkhas have used the Kukri in mass clashes against WWI & WWII bayonet infantry suggests that they had not entirely lost the skill. In the Falklands campaign, on one occasion, the British managed to get a group of young Argentine conscripts to surrender, without any bloodshed, simply by announcing the presence of the Gurkhas and asking a Gurkha sergeant to wave his Kukri in the air. To me, that is the height of technique, even if it was aided by an Argentine press campaign that magnified the horror of the Gurkhas and undermined their own troops' confidence.
I always wanted a Falcata. The falcata is a type of sword typical of pre-Roman Iberia. The falcata was used to great effect for warfare in the ancient Iberian peninsula, and is firmly associated with the southern Iberian tribes, among other ancient peoples of Hispania. It was highly prized by the ancient general Hannibal, who equipped Carthaginian troops with it during the Second Punic War.
Khukuris now days are a super great vale in a large custom or handmade, forged knife.
I have several and they are powerful tools, affordable, even if a little too larger for common carry. Great vale from Nepal, Khukuris avail online and with lots of styles, priced well.
Recommend those kukhs for the big knife guy or girl.
Loved these types of videos you do Desert Dog!! Whether it be these Khukuri knives or a significant rifle or cartridge. As always your videos are very informative. Thank you!
I’m glad you mentioned the cold steel kukri, I have one with the carbon V steel. It’s an amazing blade.
Great history lesson.
Super blades, I bought one from Himalayan Imports several years ago, I was surprised by the quality of the blade considering the inexpensive price I paid, it was incredibly sharp when I received it. I was concerned the edge would chip or 'roll over' with heavy use.
I had some small Mesquite trees in my yard that I wanted to remove so I went at them with my Khukuri I was surprise at how well it chopped considering the Mesquite is quite hard and there was no deformation of the edge at all, not even a single nick or chip.
And the edge was still razor sharp when I was done.
Good content,I worked with Gurkhas for 10 hrs. Amazing men.very peaceful people but there motto is
Kaphar hunna bhanda Marni.in. English " it is better To die than to live like a coward".this is why they fight to the death, with honour.
Absolutely GREAT Video! Thank you so much for this! Best Greetings from Germany.
Thanks for presenting this.. As a long-time khuk user and collector, I appreciate learning as much as I can about my chosen blade! Nice selection you have there, I'm particularly intrigued by the small, fancy one.
I've noticed over the years the size of the fighting khuk has gotten smaller, the issue blades are now down to 10" or even less. My own favorite is the Indian-produced ww2 khuk w/12" arrow-marked blade used in the jungles of Burma and S.E. Asia by British Ghurka troops. Khukri purists will tell you that such blades are "not really khukris", but they were used in combat by Ghurkas, soooo... I've used mine extensively for camp and woodcraft chores and it has never failed. Are there "better" khuks? Probably sure, but that one is MINE and I can USE it. Thanks again!
I hope to see you do something on the American bowie knife in future 🤠.
My limited exp and view same, the Kuks getting smaller and leaving behind the 12 tp 15 blades.
I pers think you are not getting full advantage or utility out of the blade design with less than 12 inches, but, yes, a qualifiers, don't get one too thick, and too heavy. Kukur4is House knives are fine, if money is tight and you just need a sturdy too.
They will never be cheaper than they are now, sold on line too.
@ronalddunne3413 There isn't much research on Kukri history, but some of the oldest blades in the museum in Kathmandu and in the former Royal Armory (bought out by a USA company a while back) have very small handles on very large blades, some of this can be put down to a different style of grip and not necessarily men with extremely small hands. Nevertheless, as we get closer to the present the handle length increases (even with rat-tail half-tang construction) and the blades tend to get somewhat smaller, relatively speaking; although I have seen photos from the 1940s-1970s of rural villagers wearing very large blades. So, in a sense, the British Army have followed a trend.
However, I think the real reason is economics. The blades worn in the 1970s were around 2 inches longer, but somewhat deeper and heavier and the modern issue is clearly cheaper to make. (But that raises an interesting question as to why the Army reintroduced the companion knives - the Karda and Chakmak - as these were not included in official issue blades in WWI and not, I think, in WWII. Some youtube films argue that these small knives are useless; if that is the case, why would the British Army bother to make them and why would any Gurkha carry them?)
The second main reason is, I think, that modern Gurkha is a highly trained soldier, no longer limited to a Rifleman role. Modern warfare is more technological and as such the Kukri is no longer a main sidearm. Whilst an individual might use one in self defence, the idea of a Kukri charge or a silent night attack - both well-documented in the 19th and 20th C. - is really a thing of the past. As such, the Kukri has returned to its use as a utility knife and personal sidearm. On the other hand, while a big Kukri is undoubtedly formidable simply due to its size, I know that a correctly balanced and correctly used small Kukri can still deliver devastating impacts, even without the mass of its bigger cousins.
Desert Dog videos get me interested in stuff that I didn’t know I was interested in!
Traditional Filipino blade hilts were also constructed like the traditional kukri hilts, the tang was small and pointed, burned into the wooden hilt with natural glue, it was not pinned, riveted or pegged. Nice to see some similarities here.
you men Indonesian knives the smiths of Java taught the technologically (to this day) backward Philippines when trade prior to Portuguese were common (Philippines forget their Malay roots).
I like to thing that the notch on the kukri is a personal signature to show off the craftsman’s still. A way to tell the world “My work is good, and here is my proof.”
Amazing stuff brother Dawg, that is one I don't have, and probably should.
I'm really impressed by Kailash Blades.
Great presentation Chris. Thank you.
Worn proudly as a badge of honor, I’d say that the Khukuri blade is akin in prestige/status to both Indian and Nepalese men, as the Colt Single Action Army and Colt 1911 are to American men of long ago.
I have a khukuri and I'm a young American male and I swear by it
Well done thank you!
While the "cho" notch does have traditional, religious significance, Kailash Blades in Kathmandu state its primary function was as a stress release at the most stressed part of the blade, adds strength, and also acts as a shock absorber to minimize shock to the hand on impact and to regulate the vibrations going through the steel on impact thereby increasing the blade's resiliency.
There's a ton of other explanations such as to prick the finger, blood runoff, etc, but Kailash is pretty confident this is the original reason. I trust their Smith's assessment!
You are someone who knows what they are talking about. Thank you.
Where do they state any of that? From what I've seen, their explicit assessment is "no one knows".
@billmelater6470 Pretty sure it's on their web site. Look for it. They've also mentioned this on blade forums as well.
I have a question I have a khukuri it's got GORKHA AR 19:38 MY stamped on the top edge edge it also has a serial number stamped at the base of the blade where the handle starts could anyone tell me about my khukuri as I would really like to know it's history cheers
The notch or 'cho' is used as a bottle opener.
Since the Cho existed in the 19th century and well before modern bottle caps, I find it highly unlikely. Also, there are many different designs of Cho, even if you exclude modern blades, where the designers seem to want to come up with very unusual shapes. Some sirupati Kukri have a completely circular Cho, where the cut-away section is within the blade, unlike the usual open shape and so they cannot have a single function.
Most accurate historical video I have seen on ku!ris. I truly appreciate how you properly designated legend vs fact. I've never felt the need for the notch as I don't have confidence in any practical use.
The notch is used to prevent blood of the enemy from coming to the handle.
To grip a Khukri mainly the thumb and the following two fingers are primarily used.
Wrong. As a bladesmith, the forging and tempering process of making a kurkuri is the back of the blade is left soft only the edge is quenched. The notch relieved the stress at the hilt. Without it, the blade would snap at the hilt.
@@georgemarcouxjr6192 Can you please explain how the cut would act as a stress reliever? I've been trying to find out how but there doesn't seem to be any info on it.
No other blades have this and they look more like stress risers than anything. Plenty of khukuri and khukuri copies are made without the kaudi and have no issues. Seems as long as the tang is made proper without deep corners, there's no more risk of breaking than any other blade.
Sorry no, it will not prevent blood or any fluids from getting on your hand. If you have that much running down the blade in the first place, it's not all magically going to go do the kaudi, and not run along the flat or the spine.
proud be Nepali❤❤😊
Always thought the blade style was a gimmicky way to sell blades. As i learn more about it, it seems like a must have in your blade collection!!
I was looking for a big chopper that i can baton with, but a Kukri will do the job for me i know it will!!🎉😂
Thank goodness for steel, gunpowder, & cartridge cases
I expect that various enemy units thought that, until the Gurkhas fell upon them armed only with their Knives. There are verified accounts of Gurkhas ordered to charge the enemy who immediately switched their Rifles to their left hands and drew their Kukri. On at least one occasion, they took out machine gun nests - admittedly not via a frontal assault, but by climbing a cliff in the rear.
I have five Khukuri's, that I bought directly from Khukuri House of Thamel. Located in Katmandu, Nepal. I will only buy a Khukuri that comes from Nepal.
@longrider42 - I thought long and hard about buying from Nepal via online stores because some of the vendors seem to be more concerned about appealing to Western ideas or creating flashy "movie" items than genuine Kukri. Until a few years ago, I would only buy old Kukri and then only by personal viewing, as that way I could avoid the tourist tat that comes out of India (and in more recent years, out of Nepal, itself. My brother bought me a Nepalese Kukri, highly decorated scabbard and flashy blade , because he thought it would be more valuable and more attractive than the plain Kukri on sale in the market places in Kathmandu. It was a tourist blade, very over-done and purely for display - if I could bring myself to show such a garish piece of work. A few years ago, I did get a modern Tora Kukri blade - but I did so because it was made in Nepal and is supposed to be an exact copy of a much older original - apart from having a larger handle (for big Westerners, which is actually too big for me.)
I have two, one my wife bought for me in Nepal, it's more a Ceremonial knife.
But I bought a real old one from the old Empire. It just Fing cool and has a soul.
@lavida57 - unless it is a sacrificial blade - which is usually a very large two-hander - most Kukri do not seem to be purely ceremonial. While it is highly likely that royalty and nobility would have had more ornate furniture (handle and scabbard and fittings) than the common person, most more recent decorated Kukri are either tourist objects: highly over-decorated and garish, but of poor quality, or they are Kothimora. These are usually normal, functional, Kukri blades with somewhat more ornate handles and scabbards covered in velvet or silk and with silver mountings. These were and are given to respected individuals, e.g.; retired officers or friends of the regiment and can be seen on the belts of some older serving Gurkhas in the British Army, e.g.; at the Edinburgh Tattoo. Although such a Kukri might have a decorated blade, the decoration is usually minimal and the edge is typically still somewhat sharp. Although though they are not intended as a workaday tool or even as a weapon, they could be used if needed. I once tried to cut a thick log with a large-ish Mark 1 (WW1) Kukri with a 15 inch blade and I failed. A friend tried and also failed. A young woman with us asked to try and finding that the Mark 1 was too heavy, used a 8-9 inch bladed Kothimora and split the log completely in two with one blow. However, I spent quite some time explaining correct technique and how to use bodyweight to power the blow. As such, I disagree with Desert Dog as to Kukri not needing much technique or training.
I own multiple HI blades 👍🏻 my ww2 khukri is 28 oz! 😱
The expressions on the ghurka's faces explains the efficacy of the khukri
Kukhkuri is Nepali origin centuries back.
I think Crocodile Dundee would have said now that’s a knife.😉
The notch is to deflect the blood away from the handle.
That’s a big Kukuri.
4th is the right answer
Should have named those two small knives Fran and Ollie (yeah, a real groaner Dad joke 😁)
SUPER
the notch is to open Indian beer
Nepalese beer
Nepali beer not indian
It's to deflect the enemies blood from flowing into the handle causing for a loosened grip
You truly do have an utterly ridiculous amount of stuff hahaha. Makes your videos better though so I’m not complaining 👍
I do. When I leave this world, there is going to be one hell of an estate sale!
❤😮
I have a Bura sirupate, that is my prized possession.
I belive the cho is to catch an attacking blade and stops blood getting to the handle.
Cringe
@@HeldIntegralis that aimed at me?
The notch is for opening beer bottles 😂
Khukri Like Object aka KLO
When a axe and a machete really love each other then has a baby who’s name I can not spell even with spell check.
Prayers for the kid that wants to take this dudes daughter to prom.
i just dont like its shape , even with the crazy history ' i'm a machete or bowie guy
Sorry bro khukuri is for napeli bro not indian😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
The Khukuri pre-dates both Nepal and India. Stop looking at places as countries in a historical context. Nepal didn't exist until 1768 and India didn't exist until 1947. There were many kingdoms and dynasties that ruled portions of the Indian subcontinent. Many of these kingdoms overlapped modern Nepal, India, and other countries where Gorkha people freely roamed. When the British Empire drew boundries post-WWII, there were Gurkhas all over, and the British formed Gurkha units in present-day Nepal and India. The oldest known Kukhuri knife references are actually in Hindu temples in modern day India. So, "sorry BRO", the Kukhuri has history in both Nepal and India bro.
@desertdogoutdoors1113 it is originally from Nepal, not india and has notihng to do with india
look like a bent golok, a far better knige.
Hey brother the bowie knife is the ultimate all purpose knife, if an individual knows how to use it and it's 100 percent American.