Khukuri ? Someone please educate me.

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drac noroc

Joined
Aug 11, 1999
Messages
215
I know nothing about this type of blade. Why is it so popular? I need info. What I have seen on this forum is making me very curious.
Thank you for your time.

Drac noroc
 
Khukuri?

1. Made in Nepal.
2. History: believe to be originated from Greek Kopis @ Falcata - brought to Nepal by Alexander The Great - over a long time it took the curvy shape and finally the current angled shape - made famous by Gorkha army.
3. Blade material: 5160 High Carbonized Spring Leaf Steel.
4. Blade shape: Crooked!
5. Blade treatment: Zone hardened - the sharp edge is about 56 to 60 RC.
6. OA Length from buttcap to tip: 6", 9", 12", 15", 18", 20", 24" & 38".
7. Blade thickness: 1/4" up to 1/2".
8. Handle: Water Buffalo Horn, Deer Horn & Wood Handles with bolster & eye shaped buttcap.
9. Scabbard: Wood wrapped in Water Buffalo Hide + frog.
10. At least acompanied by Karda (small utility knife) & Chakma (burnisher).
11. Models: Ang Khola, BAS (British Army Service), WW II, Sirupati, Chainpuri, Gaggaola, Dhankuta, Salyan, Tin Chirra, Hanuman, GRS (Ganga Ram Special) ... one day we will have Uncle Bill Special or Yvsa Special (who knows!).
12. Why so special: It is different & unique - suitable as general utility knife @ camp knife @ jungle knife - very sturdy & strong - best for chopping, cutting etc - beautiful wall decoration piece.

A lot more ... get 1 from Pakcik Bill & you will know more about Khukuri!
 
Thank you, Mohd for the very nice work you have done for me. If you ever get to the US I have a job for you if you do not mind working for dalbhat.

Uncle Bill
 
Thanks for the info Mohd. This is a blade that I will definitely have to look into. Thanks again for your input.

Drac noroc
 
i'm thinking about getting one of these and giving up on the Cold Steel kukri. i base this on the number of good things i've heard about HI kukris, and the warranty. let alone the price of the cold steel kukri is 239.99 and warranty is five years. can anyone tell me what the comparable type of kukri would be to that: a 12 inch blade, doesn't need anything fancy as handle. wondering what kind of steel is used (is there just one type), and is there really a lifetime warranty? i love how these things feel in my hand and how quickly they turn for cuts. i'd like to combine the moves with escrima play. that way i have a camp knife and also a "peace of mind" knife. do they offer a catalog or is there just one basic model for 12 inch? sorry for all the questions. above all, it's good to do business with a company that really seems to have a moral imperative about their work. thanks all.
 
Comparable khukhuri to CS.

The 18" WWII model is comparable in size and weight. Overall length on the WWII models are 17.5-18" and the CS is about 17.5". The weight of the CS is about 635 g and the 18" WWII model is about 680 g. The CS is slightly better for cutting. The 18" WWII has a substantial lead in performance in chopping. The WWII does not get stuck and penetration into wood is quite good.

The 16.5" WWII model is also close to the CS. It is lighter around 580 g. Chopping and cutting are almost identical between the two khukuri's. The H.I. does not get stuck though. It is quicker than the CS and 18" WWII if that’s really important.

Wondering what kind of steel is used (is there just one type),

Not sure what kind of steel is in either. H.I. uses real spring steel which by consensus is 5160. CS uses Carbon 5 on their Gurkha khukhuri.

Is there really a lifetime warranty? By all accounts "YES". The H.I. warranty seems to be excellent and Bill aims to satisfy his customers. See how the broken tangs and cracked handles are handled by H.I. H.I. handles are made from natural materials and will eventually crack. Most owners simply fix them up with epoxy. CS handles are not as tough and will wear. The only downside is that the H.I. warranty is valid only for yours or Bills lifetime.

Do they offer a catalog or is there just one basic model for 12 inch?

Both CS and H.I. offer catalogs. CS has a better catalog. There are only 4 CS models all with 12" blades. H.I. has an incredible variety of khukuri's. Different models excel in chopping, felling, or cutting. I have seen mention of 9"-38" overall lengths. I own H.I. khukuris from 14-22" overall length. I have the CS Gurkha and LTC.

If you are really concern about the price, follow Rusty's buying recommendations and start with a village model from H.I. Most are under $100. The one that I got has one of the best steel/heat treat combinations I have seen on any knife. Also, I agree with Ysva that the 18" Ang Khola from Shop 2 is one of the best deals around. At 900 plus grams this may not be what you want. I think these are under 200 dollars.

Note there is a deal on a damaged 18" WWII model. If it is not sold already, its a deal.

Sorry for all the questions.

Sorry for all the rambling.

Will

 
no apology needed; what you call rambling i call excellent info. thanks, and i think i'm gonna get me one of these.
 
Kelt34, I have a 17" Over All Length village chainpuri with a 12" blade that weighs 14 ozs.

I also have a 20" OAL HI Salyan with a 12" blade that weighs over 4 lbs (64+ ozs).

Both are extremes. Bill got a bunch of villagers about 16.5" to 19" with Sirupati blade and Chainpuri handles for between 50 and 90 plus 10 shipping. If he gets more in, grab one. figure the handle at between 5 an 6 ", subtract from OAL and you have blade length.

Oh, horsefeathers. Do you have any guns or motorcycles you can sell to raise money? Get one and you'll wantthem all.
 
As I always say, my customers are better salesmen than me. Many thanks for going my job, Mohd, Will, Rusty.

Uncle Bill
 
Uncle Bill

Can you cut dalbhat with a khukuri? I'm just guessing, but I bet dalbhat is not meant for the dinner table! If it's Nepali for nitrogen, maybe I can still win a Busse knife.
smile.gif
 
Uncle Bill,

If you really want to know what your khukuris are made of, I know a service that can do it for you if you send them a 1 square inch section and a check for $25.

I suspect H.I. khukuris are made of several different steels. Of which 5160 is most common.

 
Hi goat:

I am no steel expert by far but what I do know for certain is that shop 2 khukuris are made of leaf springs. That is the only steel used. What type of variations might be found in these springs I am not sure. Shop 1 will use only springs if they have springs available. If they do not they will slip in a piece of railroad rail without telling us and hope for the best which is generally very good.

However, I would be interested to get the address of this analysis outfit for future reference. I am trying to figure out how to get them the 1 square inch.

And, Ivy, you guessed wrong. Dalbhat is the standard Nepali fare of rice and lentils -- common for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I will never eat it again -- unless I am starving and maybe not even then.

Uncle bill

 
Here it is:

Metal Test, 1205 5th ave S, Kent, WA 98032

I've never used them myself, I got this from a couple of blade smiths who did. They can give you a list of 30+ elements. More than you need for cutlery steel.
 
Since there are several different spring steels, one thing you can do is have the kamis give you a sample of the common springs they use. You'll then see if they're all the same spring steels.
 
I like khukuris, and have been wanting one a while, and I'm leaning towards Himalayan Imports, but there is one question I have;

WHAT THE HECK IS UP WITH THAT WEIRD CUTOUT AT THE BASE OF THE BLADE?!

I have heard more stories as to it's significance; everything from religous symbol to representation of female genitalia, and even some sort of "knife sight" for aiming as you run to cut off somebody's head.

So, what's the deal?
 
Bill can correct me in the morning, but to my recollection explanations of the "cho" have run the gamut from a variation of the Spanish notch ( on Bagwell bowies ) thru all the things you mentioned and more. Given that these things have been made in the region for up to 400 years and the makers are of the untouchable caste and unlikely to be literate, you could probably get 40 kamis, swearing their great grandfather told them the meaning the cho was 40 different things. And they'd probably all believe it well enough to pass a polygraph.
 
Hi Snick,
Welcome to this end of the tracks. Rusty about said it all regarding the cho. But stick around you might like this place.
Dan
 
goat, logged the address with thanks. Rusty, you said it just about as well as anybody could and thanks.

Uncle bill
 
So the cho(that's what it's called, right?) is kind of a mystery then? Unfortunate. It still looks cool.

I think I heard someone mention that some were "closed" which would lead me to believe that they are, in those cases, just a hole bored through blade. Is that correct?
 
Snick, scroll down to thread " The Gelbu Number One Special". The picture there is of the enclosed, or Chainpuri ( Chainpur district ) cho. It still has that little spike at 12 o'clock coming down like in the regular cho.
 
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