A question for our historians

S

Steven F

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Oct 12, 1999
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In a book titled "The Outdoor Almanac," author and camping expert Len McDougall recommends "Kukris" as camp knives. According to McDougall, khuks are "best known as the constant companion of Gurkha tribesmen in India and Burma." (Interestingly, he fails to mention Nepal.)
I know khukuris have a long history of use in India, but were they commonly used in Burma also? Anyone have an answer?
 
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Steven it will take more of a historian than me to answer your question, but the way the statement is worded it appears that Mr.McDougall was talking only about the Ghorkas and perhaps he ment the time that the Ghorkas served in Burma?

I am going to have to read up on that one of these days. So little time, so Many Books!!! And I like history written in the style like
"The Devil's Brigade" was/is written in. Some history writers put me to sleep. Burton's "Book of the Sword" as good as it is is one of those for me, especially when it's late and I am sipping a good single malt like I am right now.
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>>>>---¥vsa---->®

Each person's work is always a portrait of himself.

---- Samuel Butler.

Khukuri FAQ
Himalayan Imports Website
 
Steven, that had me wondering too. My haphazard research led me to believe ( OK, make that a stupid wild-axe guess ) that khukuris were common from Nepal,Sikkim (India), Bhutan, down into the Northern Burmese tribes. A reference I remember vaguely suggested the tribes along there were related in some way.

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" You can crop a jackass's ears, but that still don't give him no horse-sense. "

Himalayan Imports Website
 
As he says "gurkhas in burma and India" I think this comes from the fact that the gorkhas were a vital part of Orde Wingate's djungle warriors, the Chindites during the fighting in Burma WWII.These "gurkha rifles" were parts of Indian infantrydivisions under British flag.
 
Well, I was going to spout off a long, complex (but really, really interesting) reply to this 'un... Then I read what Sgt D wrote.
I'll get my coat on then.

David - out-Davided
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"Kaphar Hunno Bhanda Marnu Ramro"
 
Sorry if I ruined your fun, David,didn't mean to....

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boys newer grow up,it's only their toys getting more expensive....
 
Somewhere I have an old martial arts magazine with an interview with Dr. Gyi, the foremost practitioner of Bando in the USA. (I think he's credited with bringing Bando to this country.) In the interview he discussed his WWII service with the Gurkhas, and he mentioned that some of the Gurkha troops were <b>recruited</b> from Burma - even mentioned units I think, but can't remember which ones. One of the more graphic comments I remember was that during a fight the blood covering the khukuri was as if you'd poured a can of motor oil over the whole blade, handle and hand. He also remembered a soldier cutting off his own hand by accident during the heat of a battle. In Bando (which as I understand it is the traditional Burmese martial art) the usual bladed weapon is a khukuri.
 
To my knowledge the chindites contained at least one battalion of "Burmese rangers" alongside gorkhas,british,Indian and other troops recruited from local tribes.Burmese rangers were good djungle soldiers perfectly suited for recon missions.They all served under british flag.I don't know if other than british officers and Nepali soldiers served in gurkha riflebattalions. I'd love to hear an expert on the subject...

Daniel
 
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