Historical usage of Khukuris

Manoucher Moshtagh · May 12, 2002

Is there any historical records of using Khukris or koras in conjunction with a shield? If yes which one? Does it resemble the Indian all steel round shields?

Regards,

Manoucher

Bill Martino · May 12, 2002

Khukuris and shield yes. I'm not sure about koras. The shield does resemble Indian round shield.

John Powell · May 12, 2002

The Nepalese used a small round shield similar to the Indian "dhal" and they used a unique shield with a spike coming out from the side of the shield plus a hook shaped or circular finial on the other side. These actually came from an Indian tribe called the Santals from Central Bengal.

Bill Martino · May 12, 2002

I think we have a picture of one on the FAQ or the Hi site. Beo will know.

beoram · May 13, 2002

I think there's some sort of shield pictured on the Gurkha page of the HI site - but it's not like what JP's talking about.

Have a look at these two from Oriental Arms:

http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/OA/items/000407.html

http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/OA/items/000340.html

--B.

Howard Wallace · May 13, 2002

Does anyone know what the spike and the ring were used for. The blade-shaped spike does not appear sharp and has a blunted tip. One of the linked websites calls them "handles." I can't help but wonder how they were used. The use is not obvious to me.

Walosi · May 13, 2002

Only a guess, and purely uneducated, but if I wore that on my left forearm, the ring (with the slight gap and ball-end) would be used to trap a blade as its' strike glanced and slid into the ring, and a twist would hold it long enough for a counter-blow, or even a disarming move. The blade, blunt now, but who knows about earlier, would really put an accent on an elbow strike.

beoram · May 13, 2002

Originally posted by Howard Wallace
Does anyone know what the spike and the ring were used for. The blade-shaped spike does not appear sharp and has a blunted tip. One of the linked websites calls them "handles." I can't help but wonder how they were used. The use is not obvious to me.

I think many of them have had a sharp tip replaced with a blunted tip.

Bill Martino · May 13, 2002

Thanks for interesting stuff.

John Powell · May 13, 2002

I should have been clearer in my first answer. The shield I described was used and is fairly rare, but the usual piece was a "buckler" as shown in the Egerton book and from the pix shown from the Museum in Kathmandu.

Sorry for the confusion.

The spike could have been used offensively and the ring could definitely be a blade breaker. I have only handled 4 of these shields so that's the best I can do.

Bill Martino · May 13, 2002

Thanks for more expert help.