That Khukuri Curve

K

kscarter1825

Joined
Nov 28, 2006
Messages
68
So I have a question about the curve in the spine of the khuk. It might be opinion or it might be function, but is there a purpose in the difference between khuks that have a very angular bend, say like a CAK, and ones that have a more organic curve like the M-43 that was posted in the thread below

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=828771


Is there pros and cons to either style or is it mostly cosmetic/personal preference?

If anyone has both types, can they tell a difference and if so what might that be?????
 
This is a good question and one that has been asked a lot but I doubt is ever fully answered. Mostly because no one knows.

The fact is that many of the older WWI & WWII military and village (work) models had the rounded spines. Then after WWII, the military went to a much smaller kukri and bigger production numbers and changed to the spine with the hard angle. I have been told that there is only one reason for this, it is easier. It also took a great amount of skill and time to make the rounded spine. Add to that, the spine is not only rounded, it is evenly and masterfully tapered from bolster to tip and also from spine to edge. Oh yeah, and they could repeat that, kukri after kukri after kukri. No doubt for the modern production numbers it is certainly much easier to have a template and grind out that angled spine than do it the old way entirely by eye and hammer.

I except that explaination to a degree but I think that there are other reasons as well. The main one would be personal preference. Some people simply like it that way. And just like some people like a fast car and others like a big car, no two people like exactly the same thing in a kukri. If you place both types side by side you will see that the bulk of the blades mass is the same and I highly doubt that an M43 with a hard angle would perform differently than one with a rounded spine if all the other variables are kept the same.

Personally, I love the curved spine and leaf shaped blade of theMKII (M43) and others like the Bonecutter and Ganga Ram.

Bill
Virginia
 
IIRC, the early Malla model Khukuri, which had the hard angle, was modeled after an ancient Khukuri found buried under the shop floor. There was a recent "Malla" with the rounded over spine, but it looks nothing like what would be commonly recognized a Malla.

My point being that if it is easier to produce, it's very possible they've been doing it for far longer than Post-WWII. However, I have no first hand knowledge of the subject so take what I know with a grain of salt and a teaspoon of sugar.
 
Military kukris would have needed a mass produced shape that was nearly identical every time so that the HOLSTERS/SCABBARDS that were mass produced would all fit.
 
Thanks for the info fellas. I didn't think there could much of a performance difference but I thought it was better to ask before i buy my first khuk than to purchase something and find out later it's not exactly what I wanted.
 
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