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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2006 3:44:41 GMT
Yeah, I know it's officially 'kukri', but khukuri is more phonetically accurate.
Anyway, I love blades of this style. They're absolutely amazing blades, suitable for literally ANY kind of work one can imagine.
I read a story once where I guy was pig hunting with his dogs and used a kukri to kill the thing. Wish I knew where it was so I could link to it.
They were used during WWII by the Ghurka's under British command, and were more feared than the Japanese Katana in close quarters combat.
They were also used in that war to make late-night assassinations, as they were the smallest blades capable of cleanly severing a human head in one strike.
At an average of 18'' long, they can cut as well or better than most katana.
On top of that, I also understand that a common test for quality among kukris is to pry open a padlock. if the blade doesn't come out of the ordeal with only cosmetic damage, then it's not considered a good knife.
Digging holes, cutting firewood, fighting, clearing brush, doing yardwork - there is no more versatile knife anywhere. It's like a super-machete with attitude.
What's even better? You can get a 100% traditionally made, differentially hardened kukri, hand made from scratch by true nepalise kami(smiths) for less than $200 from Himalayan Imports.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2006 4:16:14 GMT
Can you post a picture of this. I'm not sure I know what weapon you are talking about. It seems like a machette.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2006 4:32:29 GMT
Definately more than a machete, as machetes are only what...1/8'' thick at most? Kukris are commonly 1/4'' to 5/16'' thick. Here's a group of Himalayan Imports kukris:
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2006 4:45:46 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2006 4:52:48 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2006 5:04:02 GMT
Very interesting weapon. Thanks for this very informative post.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2006 5:14:20 GMT
tsafa - Blasphemy! These are so much more than a machete! As Adam said, these excellent blades can be used as either tools or weapons. They are pretty heavy in the hand for their size, but they make up for it. They fly light in the hand when you swing them and the shallow belly and forward positioned head makes the weapon generate more momentum and speed than the user puts into it. Anyone who uses one can't help but smile as the blade screeches through the air and then powerfully hits it's target like a battle-axe. It's hard to keep a smile off your face when you use one. @ Adam - Thanks a lot for the reference to this website! I don't own a khukri, but I've used them before. I've just spent about 30 minutes going through all their products and reading about them. Do you own any of these? Can you recommend any of them? I am very excited! This is exactly what I've been looking for! I've put off getting one of my own until I could find a respectable buyer, but this surpases my hopes! A hand-made khukri with quality horn handle, supple leather sheath, and utility knives? For less than $200? How do they feed themselves? Again, if you can recommend any of these let me know. I'm going to sleep on it and post which ones I decided on tomorrow. (I'll consider any recommendations then also) I'll probably buy one sometime in March, since I just blew through a lot of my money this Christmas on myself and others. Thanks Adam! Where's the exalt button? L.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2006 5:17:16 GMT
L. Draegon, I think your gona have to open up a new thread on machettes beat some sense into me
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2006 5:20:57 GMT
L. Draegon, I think your gona have to open up a new thread on machettes beat some sense into me Lol, I don't know about that. I don't know much about machetes (which is sad since I own two). I just love khukris though! They're so unique and I can't describe the wonderful joy of using one! It is, literally, like using a battle-axe! L.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2006 5:57:02 GMT
Yup, in the lesser experienced hands they hit like slightly better balanced axes, and chop just as well. In more experienced hands, they cut like demons.
The weight forward balance means that if you try to balance it on your finger, it'll tip and balance on it's edge(rather than on it's flat like most blades) - this naturally lends itself to good edge alignment during blows. Also, the convex belly makes the blade - no matter which portion hits - is always presented angularly, and the weight drives the blade to bite deep, shearing into it's target.
While not an excellent thrusting weapon, most have very strong points that have a ton of stopping power. I used to punch the tip of one that I used clean through half-inch ply-wood.
Alas, I only have a cold steel kukri. but my old friend and teacher who did Escrima and Kenjutsu had a himalayan imports Ang Khola, it was a dream. Unlike my cold steel one, it felt very solid when I hit stuff. When I made strong blows into wood or other targets with my cold steel one, a lot of vibration was transferred to my hand - it hurt. Not so with the himalayan imports one - it was a dream to use for hours on end.
Another slightly less well known use for good kukris is as hammers. The blade is so thick you can hammer stuff with the back-side or even the flat.
I used mine to help skin a deer that my brother hunted.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2006 5:58:54 GMT
Oh, and as for reccomendations...I've got a list several dozen long in my favorites folder...
My favorites are the ones i linked to in my previous post.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2006 6:04:36 GMT
I just looked through my list and found this one, I really like the blade shape, though it is a tad smaller(9'' blade, something like 14'' overall). It's from khukurihouse, which isn't quite as good quality as Himalayan imports, but still traditionally hand made.(the difference is I think that the Himalayan Imports ones are made by Master Kami(smiths), whereas the khukurihouse ones are not, but by regular kami). www.nepalesekhukuri.com/user/ItemDetails.php?prodId=17&catid=10
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Post by rammstein on Dec 12, 2006 20:49:30 GMT
Kukris are actually pretty neat little weapons. Durable and pretty unique, I'd say.
I know a few people who use them in place of machetes as they hold up so well.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2006 21:15:47 GMT
The most amazing thing about real kukris(I think) is how they are hardened and tempered.
The deep belly of the blade(which increases the size of the 'sweet spot' by several inches) is the hardest part. Next in hardness is the tip area, and then the spine and belly are softest(and consequently the toughest). Differentially hardened...and the cool part...
The kami do it by heating the blade and cooling it at certain rates by pouring water on them with a tea-pot. How awesome is that? I can just imagine a bladesmith pow wow:
"I use only 5160 for my blades, and I temper them in a salt-bath, and have an oil quench...blah blah blah..."
"Yeah? I temper my blades with a teapot! Take that!"
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2007 19:14:03 GMT
wow, i am very impressed with the amount of recognition these little weapons are getting. very good looking and they seem to be very versitale.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2007 9:05:25 GMT
I greatly agree with all of you about kukris. I must admit I could'nt quite appreciate how fine an instrument one is until I held one in my hands. The kukri feels heavy yet swift, its a materialized oxymoron! The cutting power of the kukri is really somthing for such a short stout blade, I once used my kukri to fell a 5 inch thick sapling and it only took one whack. I also wanted to mention the kukri comes in "sword size" it's called the bull head kukri because it's used in ceremonys to lop the heads off of bulls, pretty scary... although, it would probably be a heavy (it weighs about 10 pounds) yet fun beater sword.
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Post by admin on Jan 14, 2007 10:31:24 GMT
I've heard Hank Reinhardt mention that they are his favorite type of practical blades! Very scary stuff these things and steeped in very deep Nepalese tradition. A common myth is that the Nepalese will never draw a Khurki without drawing blood (and will cut themselves if no-one else is around)... Of course, as we have discussed here - they were used for just about everything - from chopping up vegetation to firewood so you'd be pretty anemic if you had to cut a finger everytime you used it...
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Post by ShooterMike on Jan 14, 2007 18:33:11 GMT
...I read a story once where I guy was pig hunting with his dogs and used a kukri to kill the thing. Wish I knew where it was so I could link to it. Sorry for the late comments. But I just got around to reading this thread. I usually read everything as it goes up, but waited a while for this one. And it is quite interesting...anyway. Not sure if this is what you were referring to, but did you perhaps read this quote in Jeff Cooper's Commentaries, Previously Gunsite Gossip, Vol. 11, No. 3 March 2003. "At the SHOT Show, our friend Ashley Emerson reported that he had done a hog neatly with his kukri (pronounced cookery). There is something quite charming about that knife pattern. I guess it is ergonomics, though I really do not know what that word means." I heard about it a few months after it happened. Ashley's a hog hunting buddy of mine. I wasn't sure of the details so I just called him on his cell phone and got the straight dope on the story. DISCLAIMER: DO NOT READ if you are SQUEAMISH or a PETA Member Type!They were hunting with another buddy's little hog-dog. He'd just finished spearing one hog with a Cold Steel Boar Spear and took off after a second hog he thought was wounded. He ran over a berm to cut the hog off and threw his spear, missing the hog. His momentum carried him right over onto the hog and he drew his kukri while dropping to a knee. He swung and caught the hog just behind the shoulder, high on the back. He said the blade passed all the way through the hog and embedded the tip in the ground. The cut was the depth of the blade, traversing through the hog's body from the spine down to the brisket.The hog was almost severed completely in two. Obviously, it was an instant kill. Anyway, those are the details as related to me about 5 minutes ago. Not sure if this is the story you're referring to, but I thought you might enjoy it anyway. Ashley said he was amazed that such a small and handy knife could cut so well. In fact, he said "I get a little adrenalized and out of control. Me with a kukri scares me more than any hog that ever lived." And he's right.
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Post by rammstein on Jan 14, 2007 18:46:29 GMT
holy moley! Thats some story.... I don't think that hog was around for another fight
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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2007 23:10:50 GMT
It's easy to lose control of a kukri. The design of the blade throws all of the weight forward. It's too easy to swing it too hard. Using just a cut of regular strength and speed you can easily cut through a tree limb up to 6-7 inches in diameter.
Most people, when given a kukri to use for the first time, will think the knife too heavy or clumsy. They're actually quite light and precise once you retrain yourself a bit and make the weight work for you. If you try to swing it like a regular knife you'll find that you end up "throwing" it more than "swinging" it. Throwing the kukri will tire you out quickly and creates a clumsy feel.
It's kind of like using a european longsword versus a katana. While in theory they are both the same, they require different techniques to utilize successfully.
It's amazing to see what all a kukri can do. It can cut rope, whittle a block of wood into various models and shapes, cut down saplings and limbs that are up to 6-7 inches in diameter with little effort, chop blocks of wood, be used as a pry bar, etc. etc. I think it's something that it is sharp enough to whittle and cut rope with such precision, but be hefty and strong enough to sever dense undergrowth and saplings/limbs completely in a single stroke.
L.
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