The Blade- Tale of the Kukri

[Bawanna]

Awhile back there was a discussion about Kukris. The bent bladed machete sized knives made for the most part in the Himalayas, Nepal, think Mount Everest. That discussion and the accompanying photos hit me squarely between the eyes. If ever there was a bawanna must have item, this was it. Never have I been so knocked over with desire for anything other than a gun.
I have a real Bowie knife that was my dad's which I of course cherish and I thought this is a mans man knife.

http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n538/hopke5/DSCN2201.jpg

Sorry for the lousey pic in the case, my Thompson and a bunch of stuff is on top an I just did'nt want to dig it out.

Once in a great while a person recieves a gift so profound that it takes your breath away. Something that makes you actually reflect on your past and ask yourself what wonderous thing did I do to deserve this gift.
It happened to me last Wednesday when I got home.

http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n538/hopke5/DSCN2202.jpg

This gem came in the mail wrapped so securely that it took me 10 minutes to get it out of the box. The minute it hit my hand for the first time I honestly felt like I could get up and walk. I felt in my prime again and 10"s taller. this bad boy makes my Bowie knife seem like a pocket knife. The heft and feel and balance can't be explained in mere words.

http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n538/hopke5/DSCN2203.jpg

I was told who the actual Kami (master knife maker) is and know it is a WWII.

http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n538/hopke5/DSCN2204.jpg

This is a man's man knife. I found there is no limit to blade length in washington and I think this bad boy is gonna ride with me after I build a correct scabbard for it.

I was in process of saving to order one of these, and low and behold I get a genuine real McCoy as a gift.
The man responsible in true fashion wishes to remain nameless, not hard to guess but please don't even try.

If a person gets rewarded for doing good things for others I must have done something sometime, and the man that sent me this kukri is surely in for huge and many rewards in his future.

I just had to show off my new blade and thank this nameless man publicly.
For being speechless I'm once again been a little long winded.

I'm gonna go find something to chop the head off from.

[Barth]

Let the Bodies Hit the Floor
https://www.t-mobilepictures.com/myalbum/photos/photo06/ef/02/fcf620027963__1314504216000.jpg
https://www.t-mobilepictures.com/myalbum/photos/photo06/2d/57/e1208849e884__1314504539000.jpg
https://www.t-mobilepictures.com/myalbum/photos/photo16/10/0c/ab143dd6dc75__1314504580000.jpg

[TheTman]

Nice knives gentlemen. I keep this one by the door: (thats a CW45 mag on top to show the size of it)
http://kartalk.pccomps.com/scimitar.jpg

[Jeremiah/Az]

I have always wondered what the purpose of the downward curved blade was.:confused:

[Bawanna]

I have always wondered what the purpose of the downward curved blade was.:confused:

If you pick one up you'll know. The thickness and the heft make it meaningful, the thick part of the blade a few inches back from the tip is the sweet spot if you will. Strength, power, the blow isn't transferred off like a straight blade.

Hard to describe the feel of the thing. It's amazing.

[wyntrout]

Curved blades are for slicing or slashing. I think the downward curved blade acts as a hook to cut deeper, aided by the heft of the blade. The blade slides and cuts more than a straight one. If thrust, they cut a larger wound, top to bottom.

I saw a movie long ago... Moors and Christians... something like that... where one of the Arabs pointed out the difference in a test. He threw a silk scarf in the air and told the knight to cut it in two with his broadsword, which just caught the scarf and dragged it through the air. Then the Arab or Moor slashed it in two with his Saracen-bladed scimitar... lighter, sharp, and curved... made for slashing and not getting stuck.

Wynn:)

[wyntrout]

Nice knife and gift, Bawanna', but where are you going to find a water buffalo to get the hide for a proper scabbard?

Wynn:D

[yqtszhj]

Very Nice.

When my grandfather passed away we found an original old one in his basement. I have it at the house here somewhere. It's a down and dirty one with an original holster, little knife that goes with it, and some kind of what looks like a bone handle. Not pretty at all. I'm going to try and post a picture of it.

[yqtszhj]

here is my posting attempt. The pic is kind of small. I like that one that you have there Bawanna. Very nice.

[Barth]

here is my posting attempt. The pic is kind of small. I like that one that you have there Bawanna. Very nice.

That's what I'm talking about - LOL!
This style of knife ROCKS!!!

[yqtszhj]

Bawanna, I think I would rather you shoot me with that PM45 than get sliced by your new kukri. Figure out how to strap that to your wheelchair and no one will ever mess with you or get in your way. One bad blade.

[yqtszhj]

I think the sheath on the picture that I posted is the predecessor of the paddle holster. It has a little flap that sticks in the belt and that flap is suppose to hold 2 smaller daggers and something else. I forget what the other thing is.

I did some research and they say that the materials for the cheap ones made for use and abuse (like what I think I have) were made from whatever they could find for materials. A favorite material was old leaf springs from vehicles.

[TheTman]

I always thought that downward curve was to help separate a head from the body, or at least to cut thru the spine.

[JFootin]

That's so sweet, Bawanna! The gift giver is getting his reward seeing the surprise and delight it has produced in you! We need to see YOU in a pic or 2, holding that Kukri and sporting a smile that goes BEYOND your ears on both sides!

[Bawanna]

From my research and mostly the information provided by the gift giver, all real kukris are made of whatever material they can get. The preferred material is Mercedes leaf springs, followed by Volvo and then Toyota.

The Kamis hit a series of wrecking yards and acquire enough leaf springs which they haul on the roof of the buses they ride. Apparently no one rides inside, they ride on the roof. So just getting the material is a big hurdle.

There are some good videos of them making these things and the primitive way they go about it. Very cool.

I'm working on a sheath today, perhaps a prototype depending on how it turns out.

[wyntrout]

The curve of the blade gives it a sliding and cutting motion that kind of pulls inside the arc of the swing and increasing the cut or slice, especially with the heft of the blade and the way it is balanced... scythe-like... definitely the thing for those effortless decaps!

Wynn:D

[wyntrout]

Oh! At the gun show yesterday, I saw some lightweight "Kukri machetes" with Cold Steel Logo'd sticky back labels on them... $29.99, and they LOOKED overpriced... pretty flimsy!

Wynn:rolleyes:

[jlottmc]

I always thought that downward curve was to help separate a head from the body, or at least to cut thru the spine.

You're partly correct here. The Gurhkas' used to use an upward slash, as they ran by. Thing about it is a man in a fighting hole would have only his head and maybe a little more exposed, on a drive by like that it made short work of them. The Kukri is a very traditional blade from Nepal, and is known for it's strength and power. The notch looking thing in the bottom is supposed to depict Shiva's trident (Shiva was the god of several things, but in this case is known as Shiva the Destroyer). The real funny thing about those blades is that their strength comes not from a hard steel, but the fact that they are tempered about like a machete which is rather soft. A military Kukri has a blade of about 12", with a smaller handle, and a thicker blade. The tourist blades can be huge, and quite lovely to behold, but are made for the tourists. Traditional Kukri's run the blade from about 10 3/4" - to about 13", and have varying thicknesses of blade depending on their intended use. Yes, the Gurhka regiments still use them and train with them.

[Bawanna]

Todays lesson based on my reading, and shared information, etc is don't ever mess with a Gurhka. They make the term bad arse seem like a descriptor for Gerber baby food.

Bad dudes. The Kukri now days is more ceremonial like a navy sword but I have little doubt they still know how to use em.

I learned a bit just now from Jlott, the little notch is called a cho but I had no idea what it symbolized.

I'm waiting for glue to dry on one side of my scabbard so I can do the other side. My impatience is having fits but I wanna try and get it right.

[melissa5]

Someone must really like you, Bawanna! That's one scary looking knife.

[gb6491]

Speaking khukuri size and use: I don't completely subscribe to this gent's notion of what constitutes a proper khukuri (especially those being exported) or his youtube videos (that IMO are a slap at his business competitors), but there is no denying he is expert class on the khukuri and a wealth of information about them and Nepal. Some here might enjoy this thread he put together (I mostly did):
http://torabladesforum.co.uk/the-gurkha-and-the-khukuri-kukri_topic1030.html
Regards,
Greg

Be warned: there are several graphic (violence to humans and dead bodies) photos near the top of the second page.

[BEARDOG]

That is a bad ass blade you got there Bawanna! Very nice, I can't wait to see your sheath you are making for it.

[Bawanna]

Ask and you shall receive. The results of my first effort. I used some idea's from the net. It fits very snug and secure. I anticipated having to have some tie at the top but it is so snug I don't think I'll need it. By leaving the top front open I was able to keep it lean and not look so bulky. I'm pretty happy with it for a first go round.

http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n538/hopke5/DSCN2230.jpg

http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n538/hopke5/DSCN2231.jpg

http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n538/hopke5/DSCN2234.jpg

http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n538/hopke5/DSCN2233.jpg

http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n538/hopke5/DSCN2232.jpg

Beagle snuck into the show. Now I need to decide if I need to hunt up a buffalo to wrap it or just oil it and maybe a little ornamentation.

[BEARDOG]

That looks excellent! I have no idea what is "correct" for a khukuri but I can envision some type of hide(not Beagle:eek:) with some lacing work too???

[Bawanna]

That looks excellent! I have no idea what is "correct" for a khukuri but I can envision some type of hide(not Beagle:eek:) with some lacing work too???

Usually you see them wrapped in leather with some ornamentation. Brass or copper, lacing etc.

I'll probably never make officially correct but want a working solid scabbard. Me and leather just don't seem to gel too well for some reason. I was gonna chat with you on the side on a small knife sheath (not a Khukri) but a little fixed blade knife. I made one and it works but it is ugly and rough.

[yqtszhj]

Nice. I like that.

[BEARDOG]

Usually you see them wrapped in leather with some ornamentation. Brass or copper, lacing etc.

I'll probably never make officially correct but want a working solid scabbard. Me and leather just don't seem to gel too well for some reason. I was gonna chat with you on the side on a small knife sheath (not a Khukri) but a little fixed blade knife. I made one and it works but it is ugly and rough.

I picked up a little book on lacing/stiching at Tandy's if you need any pointers on lace work I could post some pics of How to pages.

I bet your sheath for your small knife looks OK, You obviously have skilled hands. But if you want to talk about a sheath that's cool. I never made a sheath, but I seem to be able to wrap guns in leather with some success, maybe I can help you out.

[Bawanna]

This is my pathetic attempt. It actually don't look too bad in this picture. I switched and started wearing it on my left side with the loop on the outside and the sheath under the belt.

A recent class the instructor carried a fixed blade knife this way so he could access it if someone was trying to grab his strong side gun.

http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n538/hopke5/DSCN1991.jpg

http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n538/hopke5/DSCN1990.jpg

Cant find a picture of the other side.

[BEARDOG]

Hummm, That's a tricky little knife. I think I could come up with something a bit sexier for you. Do you have any pics of sheaths you have seen on a knife like that?

Just off the top of my head thinking,
I could maybe do a fold over wrap around type, stiched and glued on the curved sharp side. or follow the blade shape on both sides and stitch/glue the whole way around, then do a fold over belt loop stiched at the bottom. I don't know if I could work from an exact tracing or if I would need the knife? I know I couldn't wet mold it without the knife, but maybe it wouldn't need to be done or you could wet mold it there?

[JBowl1]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-voRMvxIj8