1. What is a Khukuri?
Kukris are ancient forward curving Nepalese knives made popular by its use by Gurkha Soldiers fighting for the British during World War II and more recently by the NATO forces serving alongside American soldiers in Iraq and Afganisthan. They are well known amongst the knife enthusiasts for their large, sharp blades which can chop and cut with authority, which are thick and well made enough to easily shrug off continuous pounding and hacking.
Learn more about what a Kukri is...
2. Genuine & Handmade:
It is important for the amateur knife user and collector to be sure you are purchasing the genuine Khukri and not untempered “tourist Khukris” which are unsuited for anything other than decoration.
A genuine authentic Khukri is made by hand forging and hammering red hot steel over and over again to give it its shape. There are lots of machine made khukri knives that sell for much less money, but genuine khukuris are handcrafted and specially designed to be heavier for the front of the blade. Perhaps most important aspect of making a Khukri is the differentially heat treated edge, as it is simply a Khukri shaped piece of steel without this crucial process. They are made by blade-smiths (or “Kamis”) that pass on their knowledge and experience to their children for generations. This is important to give the blade more chopping power with minimal effort, making it very suitable to cut small bush and branches during camping and outdoor adventures. They often are said to combine the utility of a larger knife, with the chopping power of a hatchet.
3. High Carbon Steel:
Traditional Khukuris are made out of high carbon spring steel from recycled cars/truck suspension leaf springs which makes them super-tough and keeps them sharp for a long time. However, please note that these blades, if uncoated, may rust if not maintained properly. Exceptional care maybe required if the blade is used or housed in an area close to the ocean and salt air. To avoid rust, keep the blade clean of grime/sap/blood etc, and avoid contact with water and apply light coat of oil on the blade after every use and during storage.
4. Full tang blade:
Is your kukri made out of an entire tang? Full tang blades stretch all the way through the handle making it extra-tough for hard work. However, this is not very important for light outdoor activity.
It is more traditional for Khukris to have what is called a “rat-tail” or stick tang. The handle is often secured to the tang via a very strong plant based glue, as well as peening (hammering the very end of the heated tang to flatten it) the end of the tang over a brass butt cap. These have been used by warriors and peasant farmers alike for centuries. With modern tools and materials available, many Khukris are able to, without a great deal of effort on the part of the smith, able to incorporate full tangs on their Khukris. Such Khukris will have slabs or “scales” of a either natural or man-made material which is usually bolted/riveted to the tang, and are absurdly strong, and are often capable of soaking up the most abusive treatment imaginable. Though it must be noted that a Khukris (or any knife’s) weakest point will be the handle material whether done in the traditional style, or the full tang variant.
5. Handle with Care:
Please use special caution when it comes time to handling your kukri. These blade are great for chopping and can cause serious injuries if not handled with care, especially when drawing and re-sheathing.
We’re taking stitches and severed limbs and here.
There are several decorative kukris available which are smaller and might be recommended for casual users, collectors, and admirers of Nepali/Gurkha culture. Some feature intricate engraving and filing on the blades themselves, others feature beautiful silver-work done on the scabbards. Occasional sharpening and honing of the blade may be required which can be performed by the smaller blunt knife that comes with most Kukuris, however other major sharpening is best left for the professionals, otherwise you are likely to damage your blade and its all-important temper. One of the best ways to hone the edge of a Khukri that has lost its “bite” is to strop the blade (moving the blade away from the edge, on both sides, similar to how a barber would hone an old fashioned shaving razor) on a thick piece of leather, as this will remove minor dings and burs along the cutting edge without removing much material.
