IS YOUR thumb becoming a festering sore??

DannyinJapan

DannyinJapan

Joined
Oct 9, 2003
Messages
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"Tradition holds that the fierce fighting Gurkhas from Nepal could not return their kukri to the sheath unless blood was drawn.
This was fine if the knife was used on meat, animals or other humans, but if no blood was drawn then the gurkha had to cut his own flesh - usually his thumb.
To prevent his thumb becoming a festering sore, the smaller knives are included so if the kurkha just wants to cut some fruit or whittle wood, he does not need to draw the main dagger. "


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but if no blood was drawn then the gurkha had to cut his own flesh - usually his thumb.

Poor guy; imagine what he had to do every time he chambered a round.... :rolleyes:

n2s
 
not2sharp said:
but if no blood was drawn then the gurkha had to cut his own flesh - usually his thumb.

Poor guy; imagine what he had to do every time he chambered a round.... :rolleyes:

n2s
Click to expand...

That's why they carried a pair of .22 pistols in addition to the .303. :rolleyes:
 
I think the Gurkha Brigade website debunks that myth. If not, then Nepal was a very very bloody country!
 
I don't know if I've ever said anything about this belief or not but I have mentioned my Uncle Floyd that told me about the Ghorkas in WW II, although he called them Ghurkas.
Uncle Floyd told me the same tale about the Ghorkas having to draw blood with their kukri if it was drawn just to show it to someone or for a use that wasn't going to shed blood as that's what a Ghorka he had made friends with told him.
I'm beginning to think/wonder if this isn't a tale that the Ghorka started themselves so as to not be pulling the kukri to show everyone that wanted too see it.
I'm pretty dayumed sure that there isn't a man here that wouldn't ask to see a Ghorka's knife if he hadn't seen one before, and maybe even if he had, just too see if it was different than another one he had seen.
And if we were told that the man had to cut himself because of an oath or whatever that we wouldn't ask the man to cut himself.
Although if I was told something like that I would no doubt offer to cut myself just too be able to see an unusual knife.
The reason I offer this theory up is because it sounds like something I might say or do myself just too keep from being bothered.:D :rolleyes:
Never said I wasn't ornery.:p
And we should all know that the Nepali people are on the ornery side from some of the stories Uncle Bill has told about them.;)
 
Now I understand why in the Gurkha regiments no one ever wants to carry the flamethrower!
 
you hit it spot on yvsa, the ghurkas told that tale so they didant have to show all the time, i read this in one of my ghurka books. :)
 
Yep, one of those great myths. Can't speak from my own knowledge, but both John Powell and a friend of mine who served in British armed forces have told me this wasn't true. I"ll take their word on it. I cut myself enough by accident that I figure I'm safe either way. ;)
 
BIG myth that got many a smile from all the Gurkhas I had a chance to ask. I get the feeling that they did let people think this to increase their mystique. Probably in the same vein of, "If I tell you, I have to kill you...". Their sense of humor is very, very acute.
 
i just had a thought a much better tale would have been,

every time i draw my khukri
[i must cut the person who asks to look at the khukri] :p :) :D

that would stop em askin ha ha
 
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