History of the Khukuri

S

SkepJ

Joined
Feb 1, 2005
Messages
24
I've been fascinated by the khukuri knife for about eight years now, and now that I finally own one I'm even more curious about their history. The encyclopedia has been some help, but it doesn't really go into pedantic detail, which is the level of detail I'm looking for.

So the basic curved Nepali knife design has been around at least a thousand years, and probably closer to two. What of the individual styles though? When did the ang kola, chitlangi , sirupati etc. styles come into existence? Have those styles always been called that? What do the words mean to someone who understands the Nepali language? By that I mean do the words have any meaning other than simply being the name for that particular knife style? e.g. the name Philip means "lover of horses".
 
SkepJ said:
I've been fascinated by the khukuri knife for about eight years now, and now that I finally own one I'm even more curious about their history. The encyclopedia has been some help, but it doesn't really go into pedantic detail, which is the level of detail I'm looking for.

So the basic curved Nepali knife design has been around at least a thousand years, and probably closer to two. What of the individual styles though? When did the ang kola, chitlangi , sirupati etc. styles come into existence? Have those styles always been called that? What do the words mean to someone who understands the Nepali language? By that I mean do the words have any meaning other than simply being the name for that particular knife style? e.g. the name Philip means "lover of horses".
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So many impossible questians in one go.;)

These arnt ford cars or Remingtons rifles recorded , drawn & photoed throughout history.

They are at 500 years old, tools & weapons, mostly made & owned by cannon fodder & peasents who could niether read or write.there are many theorys about thier origin, Nepal, South India, Greek or Roman swords etc. But they are all just words & ideas, no one realy knows. There is no evidence, just suppositions & theorys.

Anyone who tells you they do is mistaken.
.

Terms I know some in Nepal use include.

Ang Koala means "Back valley."

Sirupate means "Siru leaf" {a type of grass.}

Lambendh means "long handle."

Chitlangi is a mostly Limbu town in eastern Nepal,

Bhojpure is a town in Eastern Nepal.

churipate means "broad leaf."

I dont know anyone who witnesed a Limbu one day say, "my skinny kukri looks just like a siru leaf know, I realy like it." so with this & the others its rather harn to say when such terms came about.:eek:

Literatre tends to just call them all kukris untill well into the 20th century.

Spiral
 
To get a basic understanding of the kukri it might be best to understand the men who carried them, the Gurkhas. There are a few books out there on the Gurkha history. "Imperial Warriors," by Tony Gould, was recommended by the Curator of the Gurkha Museum. As for the kukri, spiraltwista has been the best source of information so far. There is a lot of misinformation out there, spiraltwista seems to know what is right and what is wrong.
 
cybrok said:
Well, maybe God. But he died a while ago :p
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Dayum! Sorry too hear that Cy! Sure glad that my Great Mystery and Grandfather are still in residence, but then They are ageless and always will be...:p ;) :cool: :D
 
C.S. Graves said:
Here I was thinking it had something to do with a eucalyptus eater. :D
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And here I thought it was something we all had in common, but each one different in its unique way just like we are all unique in other ways.;) :o :eek: Something having to do with the north side of all southbound folks, eg; back valley.;) :D
 
Thanks Yvsa, Cybrok, I do ok but I am still learning myself.

Here a very recent thread where others input helped my education & conclusians develop further.

http://forums.swordforum.com/showthread.php?t=81691


Such discusians & seeing more kukris & hearing ideas, help enourmously. That particular thread & discusin will probably develop more, but we shall see. Its all good learning I think.


Spiral
 
I Find History Fascinating...I need to do more research. Thanks one and all that sparked my interest!!!!
 
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