OK, before I even ask it, I know that this is a stupid question, but here goes: what is the proper way of carrying a khukuri -- how do the Gorkhas carry them? In the pictures I've seen, Gorkhas carry then on their back hip, off-side (left, if they're right-handed), then draw them from behind with their right hand. However, the way the frogs are positioned on the khuks I've bought, this doesn't seem right. So, how are the Gorkha khuks actually carried and what is the preferred way of drawing them? Thanks.
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Carrying Technique
- Thread starter Steven F
- Start date
- Joined
- Mar 9, 1999
- Messages
- 1,440
Steven,
The khukuri scabbard is grasped by the right hand behind the back, withdrawn with the left and transferred as needed. In a proper scabbard it always takes two hands to pull out the knife whether it's left hip, right hip or stuck in a sash in front.
See Bills instructions so you don't grasp the scabbard improperly and do some serious digit damage.
Hope this helps.
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JP
The khukuri scabbard is grasped by the right hand behind the back, withdrawn with the left and transferred as needed. In a proper scabbard it always takes two hands to pull out the knife whether it's left hip, right hip or stuck in a sash in front.
See Bills instructions so you don't grasp the scabbard improperly and do some serious digit damage.
Hope this helps.
------------------
JP
Thanks, John. On a video about the Gorkhas, I saw it being done exactly the way you described, but I assumed that the individual was left-handed because of further assuming that the khuk was always drawn with the strong hand. Now I know -- and I'm glad I finally asked the question because it's been bugging me for awhile. But I still can't help but wonder why the process is not reversed -- is there a reason that Gorkhas don't draw with the strong hand, or is it kinda like the rings on khuk handles, it has always been done that way and nobody really knows why?
- Joined
- Mar 5, 1999
- Messages
- 34,096
In times of actual conflict when it is down and dirty hand to hand I think the Gorkhas wore and drew the khukuri any way they wanted. Could be wrong, but it's what I hear.
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Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
http://members.aol.com/himimp/index.html
[This message has been edited by Bill Martino (edited 04 November 1999).]
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Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
http://members.aol.com/himimp/index.html
[This message has been edited by Bill Martino (edited 04 November 1999).]