Kukri knife: a versatile hard worker. Kukri knife: legendary Nepalese combat knives to protect order

There are so many knives in the world! And among them there are many that are used not in the kitchen, but as weapons. Favorite toys of men at all times, evidence of their strength and courage! These are the options hunting knife, and a stiletto, and a scimitar, and a Roman sword, and a machete. But among them there is one that is superior to all the others. This is kukri. Heavy, massive, durable, well balanced, which can be used both in close combat and thrown from a distance.

A blade that is the stuff of legends. Many of the bladed weapons listed above have long since become museum pieces, and the ancient kukri is still in service with the army: 600 grams and 15 inches long with a handle - the military standard of the Nepalese Ministry of Defense. And on the national emblem of Nepal, crossed khukris are depicted as a symbol of the Gurkha army.

There is no consensus on the correct name for this knife. The two most common spellings are: kukri and khukri, they are equal, so do not be surprised that one or the other will appear in the text.

What is kukri

Just look at it - truly impressive! Moreover, it is truly a terrifying object! Some kind of illogically curved and that makes it even more terrible. And this is the khukri - the signature weapon of the Nepalese.

The shape of its wide and highly curved blade is beautiful name falcon wing Moreover, only its inner bend is sharpened; moreover, the edge is sharpened at different angles. It has a zone hardening of the blade, which is two to three times longer than the handle.

This amazing and unusual shape weapons with all their proportions have been verified by centuries of experience in use and absolutely correspond to their merciless military purpose. Once you hold it, it immediately becomes clear that this weapon is not intended for amateurs and that the knife is not easy to manipulate.

The scabbard for it is made from different materials, Sometimes they are decorated and sometimes these decorations exceed the cost of the blade itself. The kit may include from 2 to 6 more knives, with different purposes, but two are always included. One of them is carda, small sharp knife, designed for small work, the second chakmak is blunt, abrasive for sharpening and straightening.

Each element of khukri, in addition to its functional purpose, additionally carries a sacred meaning.

There are many models of kukri. They also differ in the length of the blade, which can be very small, starting from the size of a knife, and increase to the size of a sword. They may have different blade geometry. May vary in weight. All this is a consequence of the special purposes of specific models, as well as differences in traditional blacksmithing techniques for making them.

The emergence of kukri

No one knows either the time or place of creation of kukri. The history of its origin and the name of its creator have long since disappeared into the mists of time. But there are known facts according to which this is one of the most oldest knives world.

Scholarly experts on edged weapons draw parallels with the swords of the ancient Macedonians and with the classical Greek kopis, and even see something in common in the design with old Japanese swords.

And historians trace the use of this national knife of Nepal back to the 7th century. And their existing museum exhibits date back only to the 14th-15th centuries: the metal did not stand up to time...

Kukri as a weapon

The British first felt the devastating power of this blade in battles with the Gorkha army in 1814 in Nepal, when they unsuccessfully tried to enslave this country. Then a halo of romance and legend shrouded this piece of steel, which the Gurkhas in their hands turned into an incredibly dangerous and formidable weapon. The knife became an extension of the hand. With it in their hands, the Nepalese demonstrated feats of rare courage and military skill in many battles.

When the bullets ran out, the Gurkha drew his kukri and rushed furiously at the enemy to win or die. And that particularly legendary moment came, filled with bloody military romance. One instant blow– and the enemy, cut into two parts, fell. This is how the Nepalese were, masterfully wielding their effective and terrible weapons, and this is how they remain today.

And the knife itself is treacherous. You take it in your hand, it fits so comfortably and deceptively firmly into your palm. But as soon as you try to perform some manipulations while holding it, especially those related to rotation, you feel that the knife is about to break out and fly away from your hands. Knife handling is an art that Gurkhas learn from early age. Khukri and his owner are a fairy tale and a true story at the same time.

But its purpose is not only war, it is multifunctional and suitable for many peaceful affairs.

Kukri as a peaceful weapon

But it's not just weapons. It is an indispensable tool in the household, an object that the mountaineers of Nepal use at home every day, along with an ordinary knife and ax. It is also used by Nepalese peasants for construction, for clearing the jungle for fields, for collecting firewood, for arranging overnight accommodations during hunting, and so on.

There is even a special variety for weed control. This indispensable assistant not only in agriculture, but also in the kitchen. In Nepal, butchers often use khukri to cut up carcasses.

Kukri as a souvenir

Just as our country is represented among souvenirs by the matryoshka doll, so in Nepal it is the kukri. This is one of the most common souvenirs most willingly purchased by tourists. Let's say even more, this is a unique souvenir that reflects the culture of this country. And if it also has a scabbard decorated with patterns of stones, silver and gold, then this is also a precious souvenir.

Genuine or impostor?

Existing in modern world Kukri can be divided into:

For practical use, so to speak, working
Souvenir
Counterfeit antiques or working kukris

For practical use, products produced directly in Nepal by village blacksmiths for use on peasant farms are suitable.

Or purchased from companies that produce quality kukri. These are, for example, products from the Nepalese company Himalayan Imports, Gurkha House or the American company Cold Steel. very expensive pleasure. But it is dangerous to buy such items in the markets: it will most likely be a fake, even if they bear the manufacturer’s marks.

Souvenir kukri are much cheaper; they are now made en masse in India, Pakistan, Indonesia, China and other countries besides Nepal. Therefore, buying it in Nepal itself at least to some extent guarantees its nationality. Although this may not matter, because its main task is to decorate the interior, pleasing the owner’s eye and causing fear or admiration of the guests.

Nepal, Gurkhas and their kukris are inseparable and incomplete without each other. Together they earned their fame, which will never be forgotten.

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I'm not a big fan of non-European edged weapons, but this knife deserves a separate story.

The Kukri (Khukri) is the national knife of Nepal, used by the Gurkhas for at least the last 1500 years. Thus, on at the moment this is one of oldest species short-bladed weapons that have come down to us since ancient times, having undergone virtually no changes.

According to Nepalese legend, in ancient times a magical hawk with two heads and unusual wings appeared in the sky over Nepal. The wings were crescent-shaped and widened towards the middle and then tapered into a pointed shape. According to legend, the person who saw this unusual bird, created a weapon with a blade similar in shape to the wings of a magical hawk. This is the legend of the creation of the kukri (in some readings khukri) - the traditional Nepalese “big knife”.
One of the main historical versions of the origin of kukri connects its appearance with the invasion of the troops of Alexander the Great into the Indian region in 334-327 BC. The soldiers of the Macedonian army were armed short swords with a curved blade, characteristic of the Greek kopis sword. This form is found on swords dating back more than 2,500 years. According to another version, curved blade, sharpened on the inside, was brought to Greece from Africa in the 6th century BC, and from there spread to the Balkans and the Middle East, influencing the shape of the scimitar and a number of knives in the region.

A duel between a Gurkha armed with a kukri and bengal tiger. English engraving from the 19th century.

Army kukri

The exhibits stored in museums in Nepal and dating back to the 15th-16th centuries are practically no different from those manufactured now. The Kukri remained in combat service during the Second World War and remains in service with regular troops to this day, without having become an attribute of dress uniform, like sabers, dirks and protazans.
Earlier samples simply did not survive due to the low-quality metal used in them.
This example is from the early 18th century.

And this one is from the mid-17th century

Gurkhas and kukris

Drawing from 1814. A noble Gurkha warrior is among the British killed in hand-to-hand combat.

The Kukri is included in the weapons of ordinary soldiers and officers of Gurkha detachments, and is used as a weapon in close combat, and also replaces a whole set of equipment (machete, sapper shovel, etc.).
Gurkhas (in some readings Gurkhas) have served in the British Army since the 19th century and have participated in all wars and armed conflicts in which it has been involved. It was thanks to the Gurkhas that kukri became widely known in Europe and then in America.

Gurkha soldiers during the 2nd Anglo-Afghan War. 1878

During the First and Second World Wars, the Gurkhas established themselves as fearless fighters, especially famous for their hand-to-hand combat during night raids, when capturing trenches, fortifications and bunkers. During the Second World War, it was the crazy Gurkhas who were most often at the forefront of the attack against Japanese troops in Burma and against the Italians and Germans in Tunisia.
Gurkhas attack German positions in Tunisia, 1943.

The Gurkhas' established reputation now serves them better than any weapon. Thus, during the conflict in the Falkland Islands in 1982, the mere news of the arrival of a detachment of Gurkhas led to the demoralization of the Argentine army, and the soldiers, knowing about the weapons of the Kukri attackers, began to surrender in hundreds without a fight ( this is of course an exaggeration).

Design and traditional manufacturing

There are many varieties of kukri - ang-khola, chitlang, panawal, sirupati, etc. This is due to the fact that different clans in Nepal had their own blacksmiths - kami, who passed on the traditional shapes of knives and the secrets of their manufacture from generation to generation. Despite this, they have few differences. Thanks to the unique design of the kukri, it can be used to prick, cut, chop and hit like a hammer (using a butt). Balancing the blade allows it to be thrown over a distance of up to several meters (the throwing technique is not used in combat).

A pair of WWII kukris

Traditional kukri is shown in the picture. The main elements are a curved blade (1), sharpened on the inside and a characteristic handle (3). Sharpening the blade in cross section forms Latin letter V (in fact, 90% of traditional kukris are sharpened with a so-called “convex edge” rather than a “wedge edge”) and provides the kukri with maximum splitting effect when meeting the target.

On average, a kukri has a length of about 40 cm with a blade length of about 30 cm. It must be taken into account that, based on the curved shape of the knife, the length of the handle is greater than the difference between the length of the entire knife and the length of the blade. The kukri blade greatly expands towards the butt and reaches a thickness of one centimeter or more. The weight of a kukri is usually about 750 grams, with the center of gravity shifted forward from the handle by approximately 8 cm. This allows you to deliver a powerful slashing blow, using mainly the inertia of the weapon rather than muscular effort.

Each characteristic element of kukri has not only practical, but also symbolic meaning. So, for example, the groove (or grooves) at the butt (2), often mistakenly interpreted as blood flow, are intended to increase the shock-absorbing properties and rigidity of the blade both for cutting and for blows with the butt. This groove is called the “Sword of Shiva” and is intended to grant the kukri the power of the weapon of the god of destruction Shiva. The rings on the handle (4) ensure confident holding of the kukri even with a wet hand and symbolize the levels of the universe. The variable angle blade (5) ensures maximum efficiency of the blade in cutting, cutting and piercing strokes and symbolizes the Sun and Moon - traditional symbols of Nepal. The notch on the blade near the handle is called cho (b) and it happens various shapes. The most common form is shown in the diagram (picture) and represents the trident of Shiva - the main attribute and symbol of the power of the god of destruction. There are also forms of cho that are symbols of the goddess Kali or cho "in the shape of a cow's footprint" (the cow is a sacred animal in Hinduism). The practical meaning of this is that this notch prevents the formation of cracks that could lead to the blade chipping at the handle. For kukri, produced by a number of American companies (which do not have a cho), the most common defect is the breaking off of the blade at the handle, since the maximum load falls on this area of the blade during a chopping blow on a hard target. The metal cap on the head of the handle (7) symbolizes the all-seeing eye of God, and practically covers the tip of the blade tang, which passes through the entire handle, and allows the kukri handle to be used as a hammer.

Modern kukri made in Nepal.

Blade traditional kukri It has not only variable angle sharpening, but also zone hardening. At the butt the blade is much softer than at the edge of the blade. Kukri from Gurkha House are characterized by values of 25-27 HRC at the butt, 46-48 HRC in the middle of the blade and 55-57 HRC at the edge of the blade. Kukri from Himalayan Imports have high hardness - 57-58 HRC at the butt and about 60 HRC at the edge of the blade. The traditional forging technique, passed down from generation to generation by Nepalese kami blacksmiths, helps maintain the elasticity of the blade at such a high hardness. The kukri blade is hand forged from high quality spring steel using special forging techniques. Knives from Gurkha House use German spring steel or steel types 1095 and 5160. Kukri from Himalayan Imports are made from springs from buses or heavy trucks, while the best raw materials are considered to be springs from Mercedes cars, then, in descending order of value, springs from Saabs and then springs from Japanese cars. The handle of the kukri is traditionally made from rosewood or water buffalo horn. Sometimes the handle is carved with symbols of deities to give the kukri an extra magical power. Symbols of the god of destruction Shiva or the monkey god Hanuman are usually depicted.

There are several systems for attaching the handle to the blade, including those based on the use of wedges and Nepalese epoxy resin laha or using rivets. The Kukri is traditionally equipped with a sheath made of wood covered with water buffalo skin, and two more items - a blunt tool for straightening the blade - chak-mak (another reading of hack-ma), and a small knife for household work - carda.

Modern kukri from Nepal Kukri House

Myths and reality about Kukri

Myth. Kukri is only a weapon and cannot be used as an economic tool.

Reality. This applies only to specially consecrated kukris. Without this there are no restrictions on use. In Nepal, khukri is often used by butchers to cut up carcasses and is used as a machete to fight weeds. There is even a special variety of kukri - ganjaola, which means hemp cutter (one of the main weeds of Nepal).

Myth. A Gurkha can cut off a buffalo's head with one blow with his khukri.

Reality. During a traditional ceremony in honor of the goddess Durga (one of the incarnations of the goddess Kali), a ritual sacrifice takes place, in which the most experienced fighter in handling kukri must chop off the head of a buffalo with one blow. If the blow is successful, then the whole year will be successful for the entire squad. It should be noted that a special ritual khukri is used for sacrifice significantly larger size and weights than those in service with the Gurkhas.

These are approximately

But there are larger specimens.

Myth. If a Gurkha takes the khukri out of its sheath, then he must sprinkle it with blood, if not of the enemy, then at least with his own.

Reality. Indeed this is true, but with one amendment: this is only if the Gurkha and his kukri went through the Death Ceremony held on the eve of the battle. If the kukri has not been consecrated in accordance with the ritual, then it can be used as a household tool, cleaned, sharpened, etc., without sprinkling with blood.

Myth. Real khukri can only be bought in Nepal.

Reality. Currently, many companies are trying to fully or partially reproduce the kukri design in their models of survival knives. However, no Western company, with the exception of ColdSteel, has moved beyond reproducing the shape of the blade.

Kukri by ColdSteel

Kukri, made using traditional techniques, is currently exported from Nepal by two main firms: Gurkha House and Himalayan Imports. The products of these companies are available mainly in the USA and, to a lesser extent, in Western Europe. In Nepal, the market is flooded with cheap crafts designed for tourists and suitable only for decorating interiors.

But if you are very lucky and have a decent amount of money, you can purchase decommissioned kukris from the arsenals of the Nepalese army. That's how this truly unique couple looks. According to some indications, both knives were produced before 1890!

Well, as a bonus, the kukri was presented by the Gurkhas to the marshal Soviet Union G.K. Zhukov.

Kukri has been a traditional bladed weapon of the Nepalese Gurkha tribe since the 19th century. This knife is forged in a single solid structure along with the handle, and its blade is curved downwards, unlike a saber or scimitar. It is believed that this shape of the blade increases the force of the blow by several tens of times. In this case, the center of gravity of the weapon is shifted closer to the handle, which is two to three times shorter than the blade.

Despite how long ago the kukri was invented, this curved knife has not gone down in history: today the Nepalese army and police are armed with it. The production of these knives has reached an industrial level, but while maintaining historical manufacturing traditions. In Russian reality, a kukri knife made according to all the canons with your own hands can lead to problems with the law, since the edge of this homemade weapons between cold and not requiring permission, very thin.

Thanks to its design, the Nepalese kukri knife is multifunctional: it can be chopped, stabbed, cut, skinned, and even thrown. The features that distinguish this knife from others are:

A blade curved by 20 - 40 degrees with an inclination towards the handle, which is sharpened on the inside with a variable sharpening angle.
The presence of a groove in the butt, which allows increasing the shock-absorbing properties and rigidity of the blade when chopping and striking with the butt.
The presence of rings on the handle, ensuring reliable fixation of the weapon in the hand, even if it is wet.
A recess at the handle, which can be of various shapes. Practical significance The recess is that it prevents the formation of cracks that lead to chipping of the blade at the handle.
The presence of a metal cap at the end of the handle, covering the end of the shank and allowing the kukri to be used as a hammer.

The blade dimensions are usually 25-30 cm, its width can vary from 30 to 100 mm depending on the type of kukri. It is made of carbon steel; zone hardening of the blade is used to combine high strength and excellent cutting characteristics.

Nepalese kukri knife: traditional making

In order to make a quality knife with your own hands, you need to have an idea of what the traditional process of making it is.

Before making a kukri knife, the material for making the blade is selected. Carbon steel is carefully selected by inspection for cracks and defects, then weighed. The weight of the finished kukri is usually from 500 to 1200 grams, but the weight of the steel for its production should always be greater, since during processing it loses weight and decreases in area. After this, the required length of the blade is measured using a standard scale with an allowance for compression of the steel (usually about 2 cm), and cut off from the overall piece. Then the steel is red-hot and hammered with a three-kilogram hammer using a sharp metal cutter. The beating process to break the steel is usually done by two people for half an hour.

After this comes important point beating with a hammer synchronously with two hammers and turning the steel on both sides alternately. At this stage, the red-hot steel is given the necessary rough shape, bending, and a shank is formed.

To shape the final design of the blade, a 1.5 kg hammer is used, which requires great skill and experience to give the knife the correct bend and thickness.

After the shape is worked out, a groove is made on the belly of the blade. To form it, a special rod is used, which is pressed against the edge of the blade and carefully beaten with a hammer. The blade heats up again, takes on a soft shape, and the rod cuts off part of the metal from the groove, leaving the desired notch.

The next stage is zone hardening: additional strength is given to the knife edge using careful watering cold water on this part of the kukri. It is important that water only gets on the tip.

After this, the blade is sharpened with a fine file, making the tip thin on both sides. The wooden handle is attached to the shank using glue.

To sharpen kukri, a traditional method is used: seven are made from white river sand, glue and ordinary sand, mixed and left to harden. After this, the hardened mixture is applied to a round iron frame and installed on a wheel, which is used to sharpen the blade.

Polishing a knife is done using a strip of leather (usually buffalo leather).

Do-it-yourself kukri knife: step-by-step manufacturing instructions

Based on the traditional technique of making kukri, and also following step by step instructions, you can make this knife with your own hands. Compared to other knives, kukri is not so easy to make, which is largely due to its unusual shape.

One of the options for making a kukri knife is from a metal sheet of a tractor or car spring, but you can take a regular metal sheet 5mm thick. Often a homemade kukri is made from a bearing race.

A grinder is used to cut a piece of material corresponding to the size of the future blade with small allowances along the edges. It is heated on an open fire or furnace, and after that forging begins, trying to give the required form knife In this case, both the blade itself and the handle are formed.

Then grinding and sharpening is carried out, which can also be done with a grinder at an angle of about 20 degrees, and the final grinding of the blade is done with fine-grained sandpaper. We must not forget that during the manufacturing process the knife must be immersed in a container of cold water, which leads to the hardening of the blade.

The handle is made from a wooden block (it is better to use oak), inside of which a hole is drilled for the shank and put on it with glue. After this, it is given the desired, convenient shape using a grinder and file. Final sanding is carried out with fine-grain sandpaper and a piece of leather. If desired, you can make a sheath for kukri from genuine leather: for this you need leather soaked in water, which is fixed around the perimeter of the knife until it dries. After this, it takes the desired shape, hardening. Both parts are fastened with rivets, the excess is cut off.

They were considered the weapon of real warriors. Such blades existed in different cultures, but only a small part of them has survived to this day. Among them there are weapons like a machete, which can be called a combat weapon with a big stretch, since its main purpose is to chop vines and reeds. But the Nepalese kukri is a real military combat knife.

What is a kukri knife?

The history of the kukri knife still has many blank spots. This massive combat knife with a curved blade, used today by the police in Nepal, is considered a household knife in Russia. But even an inexperienced layman needs only one look at the kukri to understand that this is the real thing. military weapon.

Even state emblem Until 2006, Nepal was decorated with two kukri knives, symbolizing the traditional weapons of the Gurkha army, used by them in close combat. There is often debate about the correct name for this weapon:

Kukri, which sounds more familiar to a resident of Russia;
Or khukri, as Nepali language experts insist on.

One way or another, both of these names refer to the same thing. Its origins can be traced back to the ancient Greeks, because it was them traditional swords most likely served as the basis for these Nepalese weapons.

The Nepal Army Military Standard clearly states that not all kukri knives are military weapons. Only the following models are recognized as combat models in the army:

Having a total length of 15 inches;
The weight of the weapon should be about 600 grams.

The remaining kukri models, which differ in size and weight, can be used both for ritual purposes and for agricultural work. Currently, the traditional Gurkha knife is used as a weapon by the following Nepalese units:

Nepal Armed Forces;
Nepal Police;
Gurkha military units of the British Army.

In addition, the Nepalese knife has long been a symbol of the country for numerous tourists. A huge number of traditional Nepalese knives are sold for export every year.

History of kukri

The Nepalese knife is one of the most ancient types of bladed weapons that has survived to this day in its original form. Nepalese believe that they had these knives at the dawn of centuries, and the first examples of kukri were taken from the brave Macedonians by ancient Nepalese warriors. Of course, this is nothing more than a beautiful legend, since the Greek phalanx was invulnerable to the wild tribe of Nepalese, even if you believe that they once met.

In any case, drawings of weapons that look like kukri can be made from models of traditional weapons of the following peoples:

Sword of the ancient Greeks;
Turkish scimitar.

A blow with a curved massive blade in the shape of a “falcon wing” is much more powerful than the same blow with a straight blade. In Nepalese museums, the oldest examples of traditional knives date back to only the 14th century. Although there are references in written sources starting from the 7th century.

The dimensions of the ancient kukri knife do not exceed modern analogues. The Gurkhas, who previously took part in military skirmishes with England, clearly demonstrated the power of this blade - they cut off heads with one blow.

Design features of the Nepalese blade

The Nepalese fighting knife, which is the kukri, is a long blade curved inward. The blade shape is called "falcon wing". The kukri blade is sharpened only on the inside. In addition to the unusual angle, the knife also has zone hardening. Since the Nepalese knife is an ancient type of bladed weapon, some of its elements also have symbolic meaning. The features of any large kukri are as follows:

The kukri blade is zone hardened. It is softer near the butt, and harder closer to the blade;
Dol is called the “sword of Shiva.” This is the main attribute of the kukri, which should give the weapon magical properties;
The handle of the traditional kukri is made from buffalo horn. This is not the most best option, since the horn is prone to cracking;
The rings on the handle symbolize the levels of the universe. They serve to make it more comfortable for the hand to hold a weapon, although in practice these rings can simply rub the palm into bloody calluses;
The edge of the blade running from the inside has different sharpening angles. This is done so that the blade can not only cut down enemies, but also perform various household work. Each part of the blade is used for a different purpose;
The notch on the blade near the hilt is the so-called “Shiva’s tooth”. It should relieve metal stress during operation, preventing damage to the weapon. According to some reports, it was on this place that the fingers of the Gurkhas were pricked before the battle;
On the other side of the horn handle there is a pommel made of brass or copper, intended for driving nails or chopping nuts. Although soft metal is still not very suitable for these purposes;
The blade's spine is about 12 mm thick.

It is the thickness of the metal that gives the Gurkha combat knife such power. At the same time, cutting blows are not very effective, but chopping blows are beyond competition.

Sacred meaning of kukri for Gurkhas

Each unusual element of a Nepalese combat knife has its own meaning. For example, the triangular shape of the blade's cross-section represents the three gods of Hinduism. In addition, other weapon elements indicate the following:

The blade itself, which has different sharpening angles, symbolizes the sun and moon;
The metal recess near the handle symbolizes the trident of the god Shiva, which in India is considered a symbol of power. This notch is called “cho” and can also have the shape of a cow’s footprint. In this case, she symbolizes the goddess Kali;
The top of the handle is called the “eye of God.” It should help the owner of the weapon in battle.

Need to know that modern models Kukri, which are sold in local Nepalese shops, are not always made in accordance with sacred rules. For this reason, for a tourist who wants to touch a real legend, it is very important to examine the knife to ensure that all the necessary design elements are present. As for advice on choosing, the metal for knives is ordinary spring steel, and local craftsmen often save on shanks.

Now there are models that have an all-metal handle, with wood or horn overlays. These are not identical knives, but they are much more reliable. The kukri sheath has compartments to accommodate two additional knives. One of them is a working tool intended for work, and the second is used for editing. This knife will not help you fully sharpen the blade of your kukri, but it will cope with straightening out minor kinks.

Using kukri in combat

Although at the beginning of the 19th century edged weapons in Europe had long since lost their leading position, when the British army tried to conquer Nepal, it had to face the traditional kukri knives of the local population. Due to the fact that Nepal was a backward country, most Gurkhas had only these weapons.

The contempt of the British soldiers for the “savages with crooked iron” quickly gave way, first to respect, and then to horror. Even Gurkha soldiers armed with outdated rifles, having used up all their ammunition, grabbed kukris and rushed into battle. It was at that time that legends about this ancient knife began to spread among the European population.

Local residents from early years trained in traditional knife fighting, and the kukri was the local equivalent of the machete that every peasant had. In addition, there is information about the existence of an entire combat school called “kukri”. It is unknown whether this is true or a publicity stunt, but people trained to wield these weapons from childhood can be very dangerous indeed to their enemies.

Gurkhas are not quite typical Indians, who are quite peaceful people who try to avoid violence. A Gurkha raised in the traditional style will avoid combat conflict, he may even run away, but if he takes out a knife, he will definitely strike. Having killed the enemy, he will not feel remorse, because he was raised that way.

Why is kukri needed in peacetime?

For the people of Nepal, the traditional kukri knife is not only a weapon. For the peasants and mountaineers of Nepal, it replaces the ax. Since many locals live in light huts, the kukri is used as a construction tool to chop vines and bamboo stalks. In addition, this weapon is part of the equipment of local hunters who clear paths in the jungle for them.

However, you should not think that the same knife is used for fighting and for cutting cane. Real military weapons will never be used as an agricultural tool. For this there are more simple models, which do not carry any sacred meaning.

Currently, kukris are sold as souvenirs. These are the knives that tourists bring from Nepal. Typically this is low quality products, which can only be hung on the wall. Numerous tests have proven that most blades are too soft, and the handles fall apart the first time they work on wood. Although kukris are made of better quality for the local army and police.

If a person is faced with the task of buying not just a souvenir, but a real working tool, then he needs to look for it from local blacksmiths. In this case, the shank should be through, or better yet, an all-metal handle, with wooden or horn linings. If identity is not the main parameter, then it is better to order a Nepalese knife from domestic blacksmiths who use high-quality steel when forging.

Currently, souvenir knives are produced in the following countries:

Nepal;
Pakistan;
China;
Indonesia.

Pakistani knives made from Damascus look the most beautiful. Do not delude yourself about its quality; as a rule, it is inferior even to good carbon steel.

Myths and reality regarding the kukri knife

Currently, there are many legends associated with traditional Nepalese weapons. The funniest of them is the legend that says that it was possible to hunt tigers with a kukri. The hunter would sneak up on the sleeping predator and kill it with one hand. For those who are at least minimally familiar with the habits of predatory animals, it is obvious that it is impossible to sneak up close to a tiger. A huge predator will simply tear the hunter in half. Even armed modern rifle It is not recommended for a person to hunt a tiger alone.

The next legend says that a kukri, taken out of its sheath, should taste blood. If it was not possible to hit the enemy with it, the Gurkha had to cut his finger. In fact, this is only true if the person has undergone a ritual “Death Ceremony”. In other cases, any work could be done with a knife.

Another legend says that the kukri handle with an iron butt can be used as a hammer. In fact, it can only be used in this way in the most extreme cases, but you need to be prepared that the handle may fall apart.

Kukri knife manufacturing technology

A real Nepalese knife must be made only by hand, and the blade must be hardened by zones. This should save the long blade from chipping and destruction. You can invent different versions, related to hardening, but in reality everything is banal. The steel is of poor quality, hence the thickness of the blade and its zone hardening. Real kukri is made by hand by several Nepalese blacksmiths. Such a knife will cost accordingly, because it is not a souvenir, but a real weapon.

I am interested in martial arts with weapons and historical fencing. I am writing about weapons and military equipment, because it is interesting and familiar to me. I often learn a lot of new things and want to share these facts with people who are interested in military topics.

Having been a fan of knives in the past, over time my attitude towards knife topics has become more relaxed. The knife became for me more of a tool for solving its inherent problems and an element of equipment than an object of desire, as is usually the case among “knife-maniacs”. But the love for certain types of knives still remains. And one of these knives was the Nepalese kukri knife.

History of the Nepalese kukri knife

Kukri is a knife of Nepalese Gurkhas. Nepalese Gurkhas are famous for their fearlessness and high moral endurance. Elite squad Gurkhas served the Queen of England from the 19th century, took part in both world wars, and local conflicts with UK participation. And if the katana is a symbol Japanese samurai, then the symbol of the Nepalese Gurkhas is the kukri, which is their combat knife. Skillful handling of kukri and high damaging properties This type of knife helped the Gurkhas become famous during night raids, close combat and trench warfare.

Kukri, otherwise spelled khukri or khukuri (khukri or khukuri) - there is no consensus on this matter. But the most common one is kukri or khukri. I suggest stopping at the very simple version- kukri.

Kukri is a traditional Nepalese knife, the first mention of which dates back to the last era. The samples preserved in museums date back to the 14th and 15th centuries. Thus, kukri is one of the ancient types of bladed weapons that have survived to this day practically unchanged.

At the moment, kukri is included in the equipment of the military and police.

The Nepalese knife is a curved blade, sharpened on the inside. Like any ancient weapons, kukri has not only design features, but also symbolic.

1 - blade with zone hardening (for large kukri models)

2 - dol, is called "Sword of Shiva". Serves to increase shock-absorbing properties when cutting and reduce the weight of the blade.

3 - kukri handle

4 - rings on the handle serve to better hold the knife and symbolize the levels of the universe

5 - Blade edge with variable sharpening angle, ensuring efficiency in chopping and cutting blows.

6 - “Tooth of Shiva” - or Cho, symbolizes the trident of the god of strength and destruction. It is not only symbolic, but also relieves tension in the metal during cutting. In the absence of Shiva’s tooth, it is in this place that the blade may chip when chopping. Also, a finger was pricked on this trident of war to stain the blade with blood (according to some sources). Instead of a trident, Cho is sometimes made in the form of the symbol of the goddess Kali, or the footprint of a sacred cow.

7 - The metal top of the handle allows you to more securely hold the kukri in your hand when chopping, closes the end of the shank in the handle and symbolizes the all-seeing eye of God.

Nepalese kukri manufacturing technology

To make a kukri blade in Nepal, they mainly use steel from old car springs. Thanks to zone hardening, the butt is soft, its hardness is only 35-45 HRC, and the hardness of the blade is 55-58 HRC. Zone hardening makes the blade insensitive to impact loads. The sharpening angle is minimum at the base and maximum in the middle of the blade.

All steel is inspected for chips and the best specimens are selected. As a rule, 4 people are involved in the production of one copy of kukri. Almost all operations are performed by craftsmen manually. The art of making kukri is passed down from generation to generation from a very young age.

The workpiece is heated red-hot in a coal furnace, after which the forging of the blade shape begins.

After forging the shape of the blade, Shiva's tooth is knocked out

The next step is for the master to pour water onto the blade of the hot blade for hardening. The manipulation is very delicate, since the water should only get on the blade. Next comes the formation of the blade shape and primary sharpening.

Knocking out the fullers and turning the shank

Shaping the handle and fitting onto the tang using epoxy resin from Lach wood.

Planing the wooden halves for the scabbard and dressing water buffalo leather for the scabbard.

Leather covering of wooden scabbard halves

Kukri are usually equipped with two small knives, which are also placed in a sheath. One blunt one, in the form of an abrasive - chakmak, intended for sharpening, and the second -card (karda) for small household work. This reminds me of something

There are several varieties of kukri, differing in size, weight and angle of curvature of the butt, but they are all united by a common curved shape, which cannot be confused with other types of knives. Universal kukri models weigh 450-900 g with a length of 200 - 350 mm. The thickness of the butt above the convex middle part The blade can reach 10 mm, the concave shape of the blade and the balancing shifted towards the tip allows you to deliver powerful cutting blows due to inertia, and not the strength of the fighter.

According to the classification, the kukri occupies a place between a large heavy knife and a light ax. The Kukri is ideal as a large survival knife. With such a knife you can build a shelter and clear a road in the thicket. It is more compact than a machete and more versatile. In Nepal, it is not only a combat knife, it is also used by ordinary peasants for household work, and even by women in the kitchen.

In addition to directly Nepalese kukri, there are models from various manufacturers on sale, ranging from Chinese ones, like Pirat and Viking Nordway, to famous brands like Cold Steel. All these models, as a rule, do not have Shiva's tooth.