Kukri or hukuri (Europeans write kukri, Nepalese - khukuri), is undoubtedly the most famous type of the Nepalese knives . Old style Kukris are rare, they mostly belonged to famous historical figures and have a similar structure, differing in size and geometry of the blade. Kukris in 17 - 18 centuries where used mostly by peasants and soldiers. Good steel was precious then and anything made of such steel was of great value and for the poorer Nepalese apparently was not customary to just keep the old blades. If a Kukri become damaged or break ( and that sooner or later happens with any military weapons and tools ), they gave it to the smiths for a reformation.
For one of the closest relatives of the kukri is known as the scimitar, the first known to us samples of these weapons belong to the XV century.
It is likely that the kukri and scimitar had some common weapon - a prototype. The Nepalese kukri - the weapon of the foot soldier. Highly effective and fairly simple to make, obviously these were the basis for selection of the type of weapons to arm the Ghurka soldiers of XVII - XVIII centuries.
There are two main types of Kukri - late 18 - early 19 century. Both types are characterized by a sufficiently smooth arc of the handle - butt of the blade without the expressed hump on the butt.
The first type, with a narrow blade, called hanshee ( arch ) , frequently had elongated handle and blade .
The second type is called budhume ( big belly), it is more massive , with a wide blade. The total length was usually equal to 17 - 19 inches ( 430 - 480 mm) 8 - 10 mm thick spine by the handle.
Budhume was the mid 19th century basic model of military kukri. These Kukri were often used by military personnel before the second world war, until the blade thickness was thinned later during factory production.
Also produced (in small quantities) where large size fighting Kukris, they had blades of hanshee or budhume types, while keeping the traditional handle.
A weapon with a back curvature blade and sickle or S- shaped cutting edge is optimized for the application of very powerful chopping blows. This is facilitated by the angle at which the blade cutting edge comes to the target, with the weight balance shifted closer to the edge of the blade. With its large mass and velocity, the blade cuts the target with greater power. The physics of the impact of the blade is different from the blow of a sword. The cutting edge begins to move simultaneously in its entirety, raising the blade up, and stores potential energy along its entire length. In the fall of the blade the potential energy converts into kinetic energy simultaneously along the entire blade length. Therefore, at each point of blade contact with the target cutting is achieved primarily due to local energy stored in the part of the knife located above this point. Consequently, there is no need to transport energy in the direction along the cutting edge (as with the saber stroke), and there is no restrictions, stemming from the finite speed of propagation of energy. The same scheme is applied to the strike of such highly effective mechanisms for cutting as the guillotine and guillotine-shears for cutting metal sheets.
All Kukri are handmade by caste of blacksmiths - kami . As expected in the caste system, the profession of a blacksmith is a family tradition and the art of forging metal was handed from father to son for centuries. Work in the forge began as a 5 - 6 years old child. Responsibilities included cleaning the smithy, the delivery of coal and water, and in the same time to start learning the basics of the craft. By 12 - 14 years, the junior smith becomes a full-fledged journeyman and he helps his father and grandfather. Capable apprentices already trusted for manufacturing of simple construction and agricultural tools.
Master Kami blacksmith, as a rule, becomes of age of 40, by which time it has perfectly mastered the blacksmith, locksmith, and sometimes some jewelry skills, and could teach their own students. Most of the blacksmith and locksmith tools, grinding wheels, emery tape, where manufactured in their own studio. Large Studios and famous masters could afford, if necessary, more sophisticated imported equipment and higher-quality steel. The Master catered for the most responsible jobs, such as the manufacture of weapons, sophisticated instruments and mechanisms.
Nepal produces large number of models Kukri, differing in size, weight and geometry of the blade. This is due to specific models variations, as well as traditional techniques employed from various schools of blacksmiths. In addition, for individual orders, the customers needs are taken in to account thus leading to even more variations along the length and shape of the handle and blade. Usually the different models are called by the district name in which kukris are made: (Bhojpure, Darjeeling, Ang Khola, Chainpuri, Chitlangi, Dhankuta) or associative attributes (budhume - potbellied, hanshee - arch, sirupati - leaves of grass, banspati - bamboo leaves) etc.etc.
Enjoy DanS
