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Information for Regimental Khukri:

eather Scabbard 
Two small knives are fitted at the top of the scabbard, one blunt (Chakmak) and the other sharp (Karda). The correct use of the former is for starting a fire with a flint stone and as a sharpening stone, and the latter is a skinning or general purpose knife… The wrist action with which the kukri is wielded makes it extremely effective in the hands of one accustomed to using it… there is also a sacrificial kukri with longer blade and handle suitable for gripping with two hands… little used except for sacrificing animals at festival time. The popular myth that blood must be shed every time a kukri is drawn from its scabbard is untrue and probably stems from the fact that if drawn in anger, then it was unlikely to be replaced without being used! Similar stories of the kukri being used as a throwing knife can be disbelieved.’

So much is said about this world-famous and oddly curved little fighting knife, which has become the symbol, not only of Nepal but also of the Royal Gurkha Rifles in the UK, with its two battalions, one in the UK and one in Brunei. It is as symbolic to Gurkha men of war, and the Nepalese nation and its various tribes today, as are the spear to the Zulu and the sword to the Samurai. It would seem to stand for an idealized concept of bravery and method of fighting, for heroism and honor in gruesome hand-to-hand fighting by men of determination and faith- faith in them to be able to defend themselves, faith in the rightness of their cause, and above all faith in the outstanding martial history and purpose of their race.

It is said that the kukri came into its own against the long spears, two-edged long swords, wrist-guard short swords and daggers of Prithvi Narayan Shah’s opponents. These weapons were no metal for the versatility of the kukri, and could not parry this curved little knife satisfactorily, if at all. Because of its efficiency in hand-to-hand warfare, the kukri quickly became the preferred and fabled weapon of Nepal. The shape and structure of Rajadrada shah’s kukri has hardly changed at all since 1627 and I am tempted to suppose that its peculiar curved blade is shaped to follow the line of an opponent’s neck! I have absolutely no proof or evidence of this, but why else would it be curved?

Materials used: Carbon steel