Added 26-9-2010
Updated 11-9-2012
I am pretty sure I don't have a drop of Gurhka blood in me, but I regard the kukhri as the traditional family weapon. I grew up familiar with kukhris.
My father served in Malaya during the Emergency. He found that trying to climb in and out of an armoured car wearing a machete was not very practical, so it wasn't long before he acquired a kukhri. When he left the army the kukhri stayed with him.
For most of my childhood that kukhri was on display in our house. Last time I saw it, it was in my father's bedside drawer, still ready to serve the family. You don't want to burgle dad.
Perhaps not surprisingly, as soon as we could find a source, both my brother and myself acquire kukhris of our own.
Back in the mid-80s kukhris were not that easy to find in the UK. I found a tiny classified ad that stated Battle Orders of Eastborne had a some available, so brought one for myself and my brother. I think the price was less than £5, which was ridiculously cheap even in mid-80s prices.
Thanks to the internet, finding kukhris has become progressively easier. So much so that I can now have models custom made for me in Nepal.
Please excuse the mixed units. It is easier to visualize thicknesses in millimetres. Blade length is measured in a straight line from the centre of where the blade joins the grip or guard to the tip of the blade. This measurement may differ from the nominal length given by the manufacture. Also bear in mind many of these kukhris are hand-made so may differ slightly from one example to another. Length given for the handle is mainly concerned with the graspable area so does not include such features as guards or pommels. Overall length will therefore be greater than the values given for blade + handle. Width refers to the widest part of the blade. Thickness is measured at the spine just before it joins the hilt.
“Kukhri” is a Nepali word and there appears to be no standard system for converting Devanagari into English spelling. Spelling variations include kukri, kukhri, khukri, khukuri, khookree and kookerie. Variations in spelling do not indicate a variation in pronunciation, as I have seen occasionally claimed.
This was the first kukhri I acquired, the one from Battle Orders. This is a 12" bladed kukhri with the word “INDIA” punched into the blade. Blade is about ¼" thick. The main distinguishing feature of this Kukri is that it looks crude and ugly, particularly in the carving on the handle. Battle Orders were mainly known for producing replica and decorative weapons so the kukhri's low price made me wonder if I had been landed with a mild steel “wall hanger”. I got a friend down in the workshops to test the blade and he declared it was tempered. Some of the blade showed signs of wear. In fact it looks like someone had tried to chop though wood with a nail through it at one point so this kukhri may have been Indian Army Surplus. This may be an army blade that has been refurbished as a wall hanger. The sheath is pretty poor and the supposed karda and chakmak are just thin sheet metal that rusts easily. Similar poor karda and chakmak come with my other Indian-origin kukhris.
I found that regrinding the bevel of the blade greatly improved the edge I could put on this. I also had the upper point of the pommel plate rounded off since potentially it could dig into and blister my palm.
Blade 11¾" Width 2" Thickness 6mm Handle 4 ¾" Weight 22oz.
Many years after I had acquired my first kukhri, a fellow kukhriphile informed me that a company in Aldershot was selling kukhris. I brought two examples from them, this being the larger.
The Lion's Head kukhri is so called because the pommel is formed into the shape of a lion's head. The term “Assam Rifle's” is usually associated with this style, although the actual soldiers of this regiment don't appear to have carried this style. The style seems to be produced purely for civilian sale and is from India. Blade is on the plain side with the suggestion of two broad fullers. Flare of the grip is a bit less pronounced and the grip is less bulky so weight feels a little more forward than for the India Model. That said, it is a rather nicely finished example of a kukhri. I keep this one on display in the living room. Like my older India kukhri this has a 12" blade of about ¼" thickness.
Blade 12" Width 2 1/8th" Thickness 5mm Handle 5" Weight 18oz
I acquired this from the same source as the Lion's Head kukhri. “INDIA” is etched on the blade. The term “Officer's Model” may simply be a marketing ploy. What was novel about this (at the time) was that the blade was only 10" (shorter in actual fact). Grip is of black buffalo horn. For a time this was to become my favourite kukhri, the smaller size seeming much more convenient for general use. I never got to put this example to any use in the field but a friend of mine who also had one got a lot of use out of his.
Blade 9 ½" Width 1 13/16th" Thickness 6mm Handle 4 ¼" Weight 13oz
The Officer's Model Kukri made me curious about smaller bladed kukhris. Like so many people interested in survival, I was seeking the ultimate survival knife design.
I brought this kukhri off ebay. Unfortunately, like many kukhris on offer there, this was produced as a display item. While the metal of the blade seems acceptable, the grip has been scaled down to keep it in proportion with the blade. The knife is useable, but far from ideal, even with my small hands.
Blade 8 ¼" Width 1 ½" Thickness 6mm Handle 3 ¼" Weight 11oz
The years roll by. One day I am looking at webpages and come across the website of Khukuri House, Thamel in Nepal. Not only does this company offer genuine Nepalese kukhris, they also offer kukhri blades mounted on a variety of non-traditional handle styles. What intrigues me is that some of their variants include a half-guard. I like the traditional kukhri handle design. From a lifelong familiarity with kukhris, I know it is one of the best designs for the job. However, I also feel that a half guard would be a useful addition to the basic kukhri design.
I make enquires by email and KHT assure me they can fit a traditional handle with a half guard for a very reasonable price. Making use of their bulk shipping discount I order several kukhris.
This is one of my custom made kukhris. Experience with my Officer's Model caused me to opt for a 10" blade. Officially, it is a Junky Jungle Plus model with an added guard. I don't recall asking for a lanyard hole, but KHT thoughtfully provided one for me.
I'd assumed that the blade would be of a similar thickness to that of my other kukhris. Instead, the blade is nearly a centimetre wide at the spine.
This is a really nice kukhri, although a little heavier than I would like.
This model has been added to their standard range as the JJ Plus Guardwala. The example shown on the KHT website is the actual kukri I own.
Blade 10 3/8th" Width 2" Thickness 9mm Handle 4 5/8th" Weight 20ozMy other custom kukhri. Technically it is their Mini-Jungle model with a guard. KHT made the grip a bit shorter on this one. It might have been too short but luckily the presence of the guard compensates for this. The guard increases the contact area with the hand. The result is my hand is squeezed between the guard and the pommel, giving a very good grip. However, if my hand was a bit larger, this wouldn't have been the case. A shorter blade does not always mean the grip should be shorter too.
Both the 10" and 8" are really nice knives and it is hard to choose between the two. The 10" has the better grip and its length gives more potential cutting power, but the 8" is a better weight for a camping/emergency item.
Blade 8" Width 1 3/8th" Thickness 7mm Handle 4 1/8th" Weight 12oz
Sirupate is a style of kukhri blade that is lighter and slimmer than the more familiar blade styles. However, the blade is still circa 8mm+ thick and broader than many survival knife blades. Sirupate blades have much to recommend them. Their lighter weight makes them fast and responsive. They seem to be ideal as combat blades, yet capable of most heavy duty tasks too. Currently this is the kukhri that rests by my bedside, ready for any eventualities.
Blade 12 1/8" Width 1 ½" Thickness 8.5mm Handle 5" Weight 16oz
This is one of KHT's alternate grip variants. The grip design was inspired by the Kabar knife made famous by the USMC. The Kabar handle was made from a stack of leather washers. It was a clever way to make a handle, but not noted for giving a particularly good grip when the hands were wet. Apparently sanding the grip to an oval cross section helped a bit.
KHT's version of the grip is made from attractive rosewood rather than leather. It is round in cross section but oval in basic shape, so gives better grip than the cylindrical USMC KBar grip. Having spent quite a bit of money already I brought the 6" bladed “Mini” version rather than the 8".
I'm still undecided about this model. The grip is nice but I'm not sure about it with this blade. Probably the 8" model would be more useful.
Blade 5¾" Width 1" Thickness 6mm Handle 4 ½" Weight 5oz
The Mini-Siru is a small version of the Sirupate with an 8" blade. It is also referred to as “The Skinner”, since this is a common job for such a knife in Nepal. The Mini-Siru is an interesting blade but rather let down by the grip, which is too short at around 3". The upper point of the pommel pokes into my palm.
This is one of KHT's blades that would be really improved by one of their non-traditional grip styles. The antler grip would be appropriate for a skinner, but the Ka-bar, Ultimate: No.5, I-saw or Ur-mate handles might all suit this blade better.
If you are interested in a Mini-Siru it might be a good idea to ask them to fit a longer handle or different handle style.
Blade 7 ½" Width 1 1/8th" Thickness 7mm Handle 3 ½" Weight 6oz
Many Years ago I designed a survival knife I called the “Alphamega”. Not surprisingly, it has some kukhri-like features. The Mini-Jungle Plus bore some resemblance to the Alphamega so interested me.
This has a blade-style similar to that of my 8" with Guard. The notch (kaudi/cho) has been redesigned to function as a hex wrench and probably to facilitate this it is further up the blade than usual, which gives an odd appearance. The part of the edge nearest the guard is the part of the blade usually used for fine carving with most camping knives, so I have to question the wisdom of this design. Grip is of a pale wood that is not particularly attractive but is improved by the addition of a little linseed oil. The grip shape is somewhat bulky and of a rectangular cross-section but comfortable. KHT have shaped the handle but thankfully resisted the temptation to add finger grooves, which gives the user more options. The wooden gripable area is 5 ¼" long, so one can hold the handle further down if one needs more slashing power. It may be possible to sand the grip into an even better shape although the full width tang and rivets might hinder this.
Worst feature of this knife has to be the butt. My Alphamega design had this part shaped to act as an ice chipper, nail-lifter and wire breaker. The MJ+ has a square projection that has no function other than providing a lanyard hole and extends the handle length to 6". Weight and length could be saved and the aesthetics of the knife greatly improved if this projection were filed down and rounded off. It may have been more prudent to reduce the butt and run the lanyard hole through the wood of the grip.
The MJ+ has potential to be a very good camping knife, but the design needs a few more tweaks.
Blade 8" Width 1 ½" Thickness 7.5mm Handle 5 ¼" Weight 16oz
There appear to be two major exporters of kukhris in Kathmandu, Khukuri House Thamel (KHT) and Khukuri House Handicraft Industry (KHHI). Many of their products look similar, while each has their own exclusive ranges too. Just to confuse things even further, KHHI has several webpages under different names.
Christmas was approaching and I needed a present for my knife-loving new girlfriend. I decided to see what KHHI had to offer.
I decided to buy a 10" Sirupate for my girl, and decided I'd like one for myself too.
One of the first things I did was compare my 10" KHHI Sirupate to my 13" KHT Sirupate. Interestingly, although the KHHI model has the shorter blade its handle is a centimetre longer. This makes a surprising amount of difference. The grip feels more comfortable and more secure. The pommel is well away from my palm, so there is no danger of its upper point digging into my palm, which has been a potential problem with some kukhris.
The sheath of one example was a little stiff, but draw has become smoother with wear.
Blade 9 7/8th" Width 1 3/8th" Thickness 9mm Handle 5 ½" Weight 15oz
Although nominally the same model, my girlfriend’s kukri differs slightly from mine. She calls it “The Prince of Darkness” and it really is a light, agile, beauty of a weapon. It has been drawn to defend herself on a number of occasions, so has been money well invested.
Blade 10 ½" Width 1 4/5th" Thickness 9mm Handle 4 ½" Weight 15ozFear the Black is one of KHHI's exclusive designs. It features a black finish on the blade, a solid rubber handle and is claimed to be rust-free. The blade is 11" long, heavy and fullered. There is no cho.
KHHI include an information leaflet on what to do if the sheath is too loose or too tight and I was soon to appreciate why. The Fear the Black was shipped separate from its sheath. It was very difficult to insert the blade for the first time. Then when I drew it for the first time the blade got stuck halfway. Actually it jammed and it took me at least 20 minutes and copious amounts of muscle and WD40 to free it again. All the time I was wondering just how sturdy the sheath was and worrying that the heavy sharp blade might slip and cut through to my fingers. When the blade finally freed, several patches of the black coating had scratched off. If the coating is what is making the blade rust-free, the scabbard soon cancelled that. Small spots of rust have appeared on the unpainted bevel.
The scabbard has improved with regular drawing and sheathing but my experience with one of the Sirupate sheaths as well seems to indicate tight scabbards are a common problem with KHHI. All of the KHT scabbards I have have exhibited no problems.
The “modern style” grip is a good size for my hands. Bigger handed individuals may possibly have problems. The grip could do with slightly more flare towards the pommel, which would help counter some of the blade heaviness of this design. The heavy blade of this kukhri feels like it can take and dish out a lot of punishment. However, its weight means it would not be my first choice for either combat or travelling.
This model has been relegated to home defense. In this role I can keep it unseathed and do not have to deal with the tight scabbard.
Blade 11" Width 1 7/8th" Thickness 9.5mm Handle 4" Weight 31ozThis was my final purchase from KHHI.
Training weapons always pose a dilemma. Make them too light and they give an unrealistic impression of how the real weapon may handle. Make them the same weight and they may cause injury, even if blunt.
The KHHI training kukhri is much lighter than a real kukri but is carved with quite a fine edge. Potentially this might break skin. This training weapon is probably best used for teaching defences against a kukri.
Blade 10 ¾" Width 1 7/8th" Thickness 10mm Handle 5¼" Weight 4oz
I was rather intrigued by the KHHI 10" Sirupate, particularly the longer handle. I got in contact with KHT to discuss the possibility of combining a Sirupate blade with a half-guard and a longer handle. At the time we also discussed a “martial arts” kukri with a full guard, and KHT's new Sirupate Special with a 15" blade and Ur-mate handle. Wires seem to have got a bit crossed, so not only did KHT produce a 10" Sirupate with guard but also a 15" version. They offered me the pair for $50, which is too good to say no to.
KHT liked my combination of Sirupate blade, guard and longer handle and intend to add this to their range.
I've decided to name this variant of kukhri the “Scrapboard Survivor”.
To say I like this kukhri is a massive understatement, since it combines all of the features I have ever wanted in a kukhri. It is light, fast, agile, responsive and effective.
The extra length of the grip is very comfortable and offers a greater range of gripping options. Grip is the same length as the KHHI 10", the difference in measurements given being because the guard was not included for this kukhri. The grip feels a little thicker than that of the KHHI, although if you place them side by side there is no discernable visible difference. The Scrapboard Survivor also felt a little heavier in the handle when I first handled it. In actuality, the balance point is only a thumbwidth different from the KHHI, and in practice this makes no difference at all. The Scrapboard Survivor cuts and handles exactly as it should.
Part of the reason for the difference in feel may be that like my other KHT kukhris with guards, KHT decided to give it a full width tang. I once had occasion to cut through live wiring, so tend to notice if a tool lacks a fully insulated handle. Theoretically the exposed metal on the grip may cause problems in very cold weather. This is easily rectified by bandaging the handle if you are deploying to cold climates, which will also provide camouflage for the grip. These things said, I find the grip of the Scrapboard Survivor one of the best I have. The ring around the grip is particularly nice, having a more distinct step on its upper part than some kukhris. I particularly like the fact that this has been carved with a grove around it, since it reminds me of my father's kukrhi.
I've often written that an infantry squad should carry a mix of kukhris and barongs. This is the model of kukhri they should be carrying. It would be nice to see a “Tactical” variant of the Scrapboard Survivor with non-reflective metalwork and a Coyote Brown or Flat Dark Earth colour grip and sheath.
Blade 10 1/8" Width 1 5/16th" Thickness 7mm Handle 5" Weight 17oz
At 15", a kukhri becomes more of a sword than a knife. The 15" has the same grip as the Scrapboard Survivor and its length and handling traits help balance the blade. The 15" sits ready beside my other bed!
Blade 14 5/8" Width 1½" Thickness 5.5mm Handle 5" Weight 25oz
The Biltong is so called because a number were ordered by a South African for cutting meat. While the handle is only 3", its shape means the butt tends to nest comfortably in one's palm. I've yet to put this to any use, but it is an interesting knife. My girlfriend loves this knife and I have been hard-pressed to keep it. Currently it is beside my chair and has often been used to open parcels.
Blade 5" Width 7/8th" Thickness 6.5mm Handle 3" Weight 3oz |
| Scrapboard Survivor and 15" Siru Guardwala |
 |
| Scrapboard Survivor and Biltong |
By the Author of the Scrapboard : | |
|---|---|
 | Attack, Avoid, Survive: Essential Principles of Self Defence Available in Handy A5 and US Trade Formats. |
 | |
 | Crash Combat Fourth Edition Epub edition Fourth Edition. |
 | |
 | |
