Which HI khukuri is most like the khukuris the Ghorkas used?

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On the Himalayan Imports website, there are pictures of Ghorkas and their khukuris...and I noticed that the blade shapes were more slender, more pointed and have more of a gentle curve rather than a belly. Go to the website and click on the link where it shows a number of Ghorkas doing khuk practice. The first top two pictures show the kind of khuk I am interested in.

Which of the khuks sold by HI are most like those? I own an 18" WWII by Bura and it has much more of a belly than the ones shown in the pics. I also own an 18" GS, also by Bura, and it seems most like those khuks except that the blade is less wide and has a fuller...
 
The BAS is modelled on (a) design of khukuree issued by the Army to gurkha troops. but it seems that gurkhas often use khuk 'from home', from a local kami for actual use, so - though the one photo at least one would presume to be the gurkha's 'dress' khukuree.

I would say the BAS or one of the sirupati khuks is closest to the khuks in the two photos you refer to...some of the variance in fullness of the belly &c. is dependent not just on what the 'catalogue' name of the khuk is but also on who made the khukuree, and even then of course each khukuri is at least somewhat different from any other.

--B.
 
The last half dozen pix of Gorkhas in the field with khukuris didn't show a BAS as I recall. Last one I saw looked more like a GS with less fullering -- but had eye of dove cho and was almost certainly from a village kami.
 
John Powell noted the ( head of the Ghurka Museum ? ) telling him that in the field, they were allowed to carry whatever khuks they wanted, and that often serving Ghurkas were sons and even grandsons of former Ghurkas, thus carried their fathers khuks, which had sometimes been passed down to them from their fathers, and so on. Or possibly they were given one made specially for them by their village kami to the best of his ability when they went off. Who knows?
 
I noticed that the blade shapes were more slender, more pointed and have more of a gentle curve rather than a belly.
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Good observation. Sometimes we have to remind ourselves that the average Gurka has probably been using his khukuri every day since the day after he learned to walk. He has the skill to use a slender and pointier khukuri. The rest of us would probably just wreck them in record numbers. I suspect knife makers know this and adjust their designs accordingly.

Older knives, of all types, were of lighter construction then their present counterparts.

n2s
 
Thanks for the replies, guys. I may not have the skill to use a more slender, pointier khuk of lighter construction than the ones we most often see from HI; however I would still like to own one of the same shape and construction as depicted in the ghorka pics.

It always struck me that *most* of the HI khuks were made with an eye towards extreme strength. Even the GS, which I would consider to be a weapon grade khuk, has a thick spine that would put to shame just about any other bladed weapon other than another khuk. I think this is the kamis' way of making sure that their products don't break when we use them - period. After all, these khuks are their livelihood and they don't want to give us the impression that their blades are weak.

However, I believe there comes a point where a blade can be too strong for its own good. Take for example the Japanese katana. Tales abound of its lethality, its ability to chop through three men in a single blow, etc etc. Yet, katana were not designed to be unbendable, much less unbreakable. Old Koto blades, supposedly the pinnacle of sword making technology in Japan, can be bent even when used to cut nothing more strenuous than wara. There was an understanding that sufficient strength is required for a blade to be stiff but too much strength can make a blade unwieldy.

Case in point...the Cold Steel Ghurka khuk has a pleasing blade shape, weight and balance...but it has a godawful handle, a uniform heat treat, and no soul. Suppose the kamis at HI were to make their own version of the Cold Steel Ghurka khuk, but with a dark rosewood handle...that would be quite something to see, wouldn't it?
 
The closest blade shape to the Cold Steel khuk like objects in the HI line I think is the M43. And yes, they seem to be lacking in the "soul" department.

Wanna buy mine? :)
 
Have you seen an M43? Thinnest spine I've yet seen. And it's model came from an original Terry Sisco supplied. The 24 oz. 20" khuk on the current ( Hot August Nights ) deal might also qualify. I like a 1/1 ratio - one inch length to one ounce weight. I've a 17" 14 oz. village chainpuri. I'd love to see a 16 oz. 20" chainpuri. But then I've got that Wilkinson Enfield bayonnet w/ 17" blade to rehandle to a dirk.

edit having now seen Bruise's post, I'm wondering if he meant the cold steel was lacking in the soul department, or that the M43 seemed to have less presence than other HI khuks. Mine seems fine now I've made it into a bit more of a hanshee handle.
 
Thanks for more replies guys. I liked the M43 except that I thought its handle could be just a little bit longer. I like the WWII on Terry's page...I'll have to email him about it and ask some more questions.

I still can't help wondering if the kamis at HI can make a khuk similar to that WWII on Terry's page, complete with rosewood handle...
 
I was talking about the CS blades having a sterile no soul look and feel. I don't own an M43. But a 24 oz. 20" blade sounds like a good size for me.

I like the bigger blades but find them too heavy for extended usage. Maybe I'm just weak.
 
Originally posted by BruiseLeee
I like the bigger blades but find them too heavy for extended usage. Maybe I'm just weak.
Click to expand...

Bruise perhaps you should get a pair of the original sized GRS's and practice your Tai-Chi with them.
You wouldn't be weak long I bet, but if you weren't careful you might wind up lookin like the pic of your avatar with what appears to be a blody stump.

The mention of stump doesn't relate in any way to any size comparisons related to Bruise's stump, it's just a figure of speech so to spoken. :p :p :p :p
 
have this example of 1943 ghurka indian regiment issue,
16.5 inch blade,2.7inch belly,1/4inch spine,wood slab handle.two brass pins,also two brass rings encircling grip, 1/4inch brass buttcap, 18 inch in scabbard. good condition.
marked -genuine F+T steel.[ forged+tempered ]is typical example.:) email for pic
 
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