why do Gorkhas carry the BAS instead of the WW2

Jim,

I think the reason I've read most on these forums is that in the modern military, the "knife" is less of a staple of the soldier's gear, hence the downsizing of the khukuri.

However, if I recall correctly, other than at inspection and formal presentations, the troops can carry the khukuri they want/prefer in the field.

Others may be able to add to or correct my remarks.

The WWII would be the superior chopper, all things being equal, and give you a bit more length for fighting etc, otherwise they are similar type khukuris.

Owning both, they both are wonderful khukuris. If I could only have one of them, I'd probably pick the WWII.

Of course, you'll only own one khukuri in this lifetime (right!
wink.gif
) so, you'll have to decide what serves you best.

Blues

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Live Free or Die

Some Knife Pix

[This message has been edited by Blues (edited 06-19-2000).]
 
Blues,
thanks for taking the time to ans. this question!i really mean it.You are giving no slack on "ONLY ONE" ARE YOU? yOU & VINCE ARE JUST BIDING YOUR TIME!!no faith!
thanks again
jim
 
Each year it seems that hand to hand combat in the military becomes more remote and the less hand to hand the less need for that kind of weapon. The less used and needed the less the khukuri. If things keep progressing as they have been the last 60 or so years since WWII we may see the day when the primary hand to hand weapon will be a hand held computer.

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Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ
 
No matter how advanced we get in making war, we will always need the lowly soldier to take the hill. As lond as that is true , we will need good "up close and personal " wepons . That being said the khuk is as good as any , and better than most . Sure a ful sized sword would be better "most of the time , but a soldier already carries so much . They need compact and efective blades , a that definately describes a Khukri.
 
You are right , technology overruns everything . I think it will even overrun itself . Then it is up to people to do the real work . To create , to heal , and if nessicary , ocupy (?) that ground . As the saying goes "The more things change , The more they stay the same ." This has proven itself true since the beging of time , and a little thing like technology wont change it .
 
Bill, having been a flight engineer, I'm sure you must remember the ballyhoo around the F-4 Phantom. It didn't need a gun, since nobody did dogfights anymore, right? Then look what happened...

Tom
 
Bill,

As mighty as technology seems to be, it takes nothing more than a bug in the wrong place to bring it crashing down. I put my faith in simple and true things- like the khukuri. I think there will always be a place for a tool that can be used to address so many of lifes basic needs- from constructing shelter, hunting weapons for food and clothing, defense of family, home and country to the appreciation of art and beauty in form and function. Also, modern technology is real nice when it works and YOU HAVE THE MONEY OR ECONOMY TO PAY FOR IT.

Sorry, I'm thinking too much again. Better turn on the digital cable HiDef TV.

Regards,

Finn


 
Bill,

As mighty as technology seems to be, it takes nothing more than a bug in the wrong place to bring it crashing down. I put my faith in simple and true things- like the khukuri. I think there will always be a place for a tool that can be used to address so many of lifes basic needs- from constructing shelter, hunting weapons for food and clothing, defense of family, home and country to the appreciation of art and beauty in form and function. Also, modern technology is real nice when it works and YOU HAVE THE MONEY OR ECONOMY TO PAY FOR IT.

Sorry, I'm thinking too much again. Better turn on the digital cable HiDef TV.

Regards,

Finn


 
Uncle Bill, maybe in the spirit of keeping up with the times, the BAS can be fitted with circuit board handles? LOL
smile.gif
 
No matter how things change, one thing is constant. Primates are tool-using animals, and our branch of the family tree got on top because it became our nature to solve life's problems by reaching out with a tool. The khuk is just one of the best expressions of that universal impulse. The knife, or more properly the 'hand axe' , should be man's symbol, as most of our technology arose from the smelting of metals to make weapons/tools. I'm reminded of Kipling's 'Jungle Book' and the story of Mowgli's 'tooth'.
Ken

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The sword cannot cut itself, the eye cannot see itself.
 
The reason that Gurkhas carry the SN1 now instead of the larger variants common in earlier days is this: as military commanders authorized and required more gear with standard "kit," they had to start trimming weight in other areas (compare the load of a Marine on Iwo Jima with the combat load of a Marine today - big difference). One way they did this was by reducing the weight of weapons carried. Compare the weight of an M14 with an M16 and this becomes clear. Now, the modern Gurkhas carry the SN1, which is significantly lighter than the WW variant. This also does, as was pointed out above, have to do with the liklihood of hand-to-hand : the khukuri is becoming less of a weapon and more of a tool in the "likely course of events" on a battlefield.

As for what the gurkhas carry now: they pretty much stay with the SN1, and will "customize it" with tape on the handle and a cloth sheath cover. But given their ridiculously low pay, they can't really afford to buy a "better" khukuri for field use anyway. A few might opt for an "upgrade" when they go on their first or second 6 month leave period, but that's the exception rather than the rule. As for parade and ceremony, they use the "Service Ceremonial" khukuri, which is basically a polished SN1 with a patent-leather sheath.

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Craig Gottlieb
Gurkha House
Blade Forums Sponsor
 
Why did I never see this easy way push button warfare that the geeks talk about?Despite my call sign; one thing I do know is combat. A man standing on the ground with his weapon is all that counts,in the end. It`s true that Lt.Inf.(ABN), needs to think about weight. You can tell a man`s combat time by what he`s packing. Medics and corpsmen start carrying a hospt. INF. types pack weapons and ammo. What goes is comforts. The gas mask was history. Travel light and freeze at night.After a while, we get pretty wierd about our gear.The TO&E is out.

A khuk would be handy as a squad tool. I wouldn`t pack one myself.An E-Tool will do most of it,including "the Gurkha charge".

I did make room for,let`s see; a 1911 with five mags.,two would have been enough,in those days mags were hard to come by,(a headspace gauge was impossible through normal channals), a Randall #1,a Gerber wasp waist,a suppresed.22, a 1903.32ACP and a main weapon,(which varied), with, at one time 24 mags.for the AK-47. Plus grenades,C-4,Det. cord,caps,Claymores,slap flares and mics. killing stuff.The RTO packed my radio.

I must have had,at least 100 lbs. of gear.In a fight,you can drop a lot of that.

When I graduated jump school I was 205# 6` 3".At one time, in combat I was 123#, not an easy life.

[This message has been edited by FNG (edited 06-22-2000).]
 
FNG, you gave yourself away! I knew it was you, Ghostsix, by the writing style (like a 5 paragraph opord), the Randall #1, and your inconsistency in spacing between sentences. Welcome back.

If you wanted a headspace guage, I would have gotten one for you. The reason you couldn't get one through channels is "YOU WEREN'T AUTHORIZED ONE!" Don't you hate it when we logistics types tell you that?

Again, welcome back to the "sharp end of the lance!"

Bruce Woodbury
 
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