Modern warfare and khukuris

A

arty

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Oct 18, 2003
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I know someone who may soon be called up to go to the sandlot. He was trained in artillery, but was told to expect new training in security.

Do any of you know any stories about the use of Khukuris in the modern military setting? Security miliatry people have handguns, rifles, and other gear. Do they actually get that closeup and personal - where the khukuri would be more useful than, say, a bayonet?

I know that some of the members have people overseas (friends or family), and I was interested in getting informed input. I have a number of khukuris, and I can see how useful they could be for dealing with some animals (2 or 4 legs), but what about in a combat setting? I'd like to hear your views and ....
 
Do a search on Gurkhas, Gurkas, or Gorkhas... they've used khukuris as their sidearm for well over a century, including WWI, WW2, Falklands, etc.
According to military folks here, a small tough folder like a Benchmade or a Leatherman supertool is a lot more useful in Iraq than a big knife. A pal of mine is in the Marine reserves, I bought him a Leatherman ST when he finished training, and I've got him a Greg Covington Combat special (7" blade Bowie) for when he deploys.
I'd get him a 12" AK, or a JKM or Kumar Karda. BIG knives tend to get confiscated- depends on his superiors. Remember he is more likely to be cutting open crates, etc than hacking down trees. The Villager 12" AKs were great little slicers, I regret trading mine. A 10" BDC would be good as well. I would go with wood handles due to horn not liking dry climates so much.
If you want a larger one, the 15" BAS is based on the current British Army Service model, and is not so big. A little workhorse, if he needs to chop, dig, cut, etc. Might want to get a custom sheath made with a camo cover, to make it blend in better.
Best of luck to your friend.
 
MOS will probably be an important consideration. I was one of two guys in my company who took kukris with us on field problems (both infantry). It was a little easier for me, since I was a mortar guy, and we were supposed to have a machete in our TOE anyway.

John
 
the ideal khukri is the penknife,i had one of these little breutys and it could handle the big jobs and the small. for example i tested it against a ww11 khuk and chopped a large limb of a dead fruit tree ( VERY TOUGH WOOD) first with the ww11 then the same thickness with the penknife khuk and it was great a few more chops but no problem.
as for in combat this little khuk is one fearsome weapon, fast and deadly , could easily take of your arm ,hand leg ect. my son is in to martial arts and he couldant put it down,he loved it,the control and power he got from that blade was as he put it unbeatable.
as for all day useage it can slice and dice vegies meat ect no problem, :)
unfortunatly i donated this lovely penknife khuk so as to help out pens brother who had lost his job. 60% of the sale went to him the rest to me.to cover postage.
i dearly regret losing that khuk it nearly broke my heart. :( not the donating it part , just the fact i didant have it any more.
its like the old thing when you give away something you give your best item. :) and i am an invalid pensioner with a very limited income so it was a big step for me. .WELL THERE IT IS MY VOTE GOES TO THE PENKNIFE. :) :) :)
 
Two of my friends are over there with khukuris I got from UB & sent them. Both were BAS models. One of them, I've been told, has been up close & personnel on more than one occasion with its' user coming out unhurt.....though not his opponents. Both knives are being used a lot & both say they are more useful than any other blades they carry.
 
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