Khukuri is a Nepali knife with the size ranging from penknife to sword length. The design is similar to machete but unlike straight blades of machete, khukuri is slightly curved inside from the middle. You can find different spelling variations for khukuri. While Khukuri is the spelling used by the Nepalese, Westerners prefer to spell kukri, khukri or kukkri. The normal size of khukuri is around 14 inches long. Small sized khukuri is called karda
Cultural Importance of Khukuri
Khukuri is used in many ways from cutting paper, chopping woods to slaughtering animals and as a war weapon. Throughout the history of Nepal, khukuri has been very important war weapon. In the ancient paintings, khukuri can be spotted on the Kings and the Generals tugged inside cloth or leather belt. Khukuri also has cultural and religious importance in Nepal. It is very important tool in Nepalese society. It is worshipped as religious iconography during the Hindu Festival of Dushera (called Dashain in Nepal) and used during the rites and rituals. It is very common in Nepal to see grooms carrying khukuri during the wedding ceremonies, or men walking with khukuri hanging on their waist.
Khukuri is an important weapon in the Nepal Army, the Gurkha Rifles (India) and Gurkha Regiments in the United Kingdom.Gurkhas are the Nepali soldiers in India and the UK. Gurkha soldiers, as an important part of the British Army, have fought with their khukuris in the First and Second World War, Falklands War and Afghanistan War. Gurkhas have fought for India in different wars, including Kargil war. Since khukuri was popularized by the Gurkha soldiers, it is often referred to as the Gurkha knife or Gurkha blade.
History of Khukuri
The Western historians and anthropologists trace the origin of khukuri to the kopis, a weapon used by the soldiers of Alexander introduced in the Indian sub-continent when Alexander invaded India. Others suggest that Kopis was inspired by Egyptians Khopesh and prior to Greeks knew kopis, Egyptians traded the weapon with Indus valley civilizations. Nevertheless, Indian historians and scholar contradict this viewpoint on khukuri. They claim that khukuri actually was the original design which inspired kopis. They also suggest that it was traded to other parts of the world during Indus valley civilization.
Some historians even suggest the origin of khukuri to the prehistoric times. The bent sickle, which was used to hunt and hand-to-hand combat could actually be the origin of khukuri. Whatever is suggested about the origin of khukuri, the oldest khukuri found dates to 1559 c. This khukuri belonging to Drabya Shah, the progenitor of the Shah dynasty, the house of Gurkha King, is housed in National Museum in Nepal. Having said that the world was introduced to the Nepali khukuri only when The East India Company fought with the Kingdom of Nepal (1814-1816). The historical references suggest that the Nepali Generals fought hand-to-hand with the British soldiers with khukuri. In the historical paintings, Nepali soldiers lead by Balabhadra Kunwaror Bhakti Thapa can be seen fighting with khukuri. Interestingly, in western literature, khukuri has been used as a weapon to kill Dracula in the novel of the same name by Bram Stoker which was published in 1897.
Khukuri Designs and Size
Khukuri is a slightly curved Nepali knife with different sizes and designs. Khukuri is an everyday weapon and tool for Nepali people and the size and design depend on its utility. The thickness and length of khukuri depend on its utility. Khukuri used to cur paper, strings/rope or cloth is small like a penknife. Khukuri used to chop woods, cut tree branches, or sharpen staff can be about 12 inches long. Khukuri used by the army personal or khukuri used to sacrifice or slaughter animals can be 14-16 inches long. Ceremonial or collective khukuri may be longer. Khukuri has a wooden/metal handle and iron blade with sharp edges on one side and pointed on the top. The standard sized khukuri may be between 12 and 16 inches long, with 2 mm sharp edge, 5-10 mm spine, about 4-inch handle, and 12-16 inch long blade, which is about 2 inches flat in the middle and pointed on top. The standard sized khukuri may weigh about 900 grams.
Khukuri may be constructed in different designs. In order to reduce the weight and keep the strength of the blade single or multiple notches are created on the base of the blade such as tin chira (three notch), dui chira (two notch), angkhola (single notch) or fuller with beveled edge. The notch in the khukuri blade is called kauda, kaudi, kaura or cho. The reason of notch on the base of the blade is to make blood drop from the base of the blade rather than running the down the handle. The handle of khukuri is generally made from hardwood or water buffalo horn, sometimes bone or metal are also usedd to make the handle. The handle is flat at the base to give a better grip of hand and iron or brass ring on the top to bind the blade tight. The handle may also have one or two rivets on the middle to give better grip, and metal plate on the butt to make it stronger. The khukuri blade is fixed on the handle by a tree sap called laha.
The sheath is also important part of the khukuri, which is normally made from water buffalo leather, but sometimes wood or metal is also used. The khukuri sheath may be polished and decorated or simple. The standard sized khukuri may consist of a penknife sized khukuri called karda cased in the sheath, which is an accessory blade, and another is called chakmak, which is unsharpened blade used to sharpen khukuri blade.
Different Types of Khukuri
Based on the making and design, khukari can be categorized in two types: eastern khukuri and western khukuri. The names eastern and western refer to the craftsmanship of khukuri from the eastern part of Nepal and western part of Nepal. Bhojpur is famous for eastern khukuri and Salyan and Pyuthan are famous for western khukuri.
- Eastern Khukuri: Popularly called Sirupate (like a leaf of Siru plant),eastern khukuri has thinner blade.
- Western Khukuri: Referred as Budhuna (a type of fish with large head and thin body), or Baspate (like bamboo leaf) western khukuri have border blade.
Types of Khukuri Made in Nepal in the Present Time
Even though khukuris are also made in India for Indian Gurkha, Nepal is more popular source for khukuri. Indian khukuri is little different from Nepali khukuri. Indian khukuri has wide blade that is fastened on the handle with couple of rivets. Sometimes Indian khukuri also resembles the Mughal’s talwar (sword).
The following are the different types of khukuri made in Nepal in the present time.
Nepal Army Khukuri: The khukuri used by Nepal army has a short handle and a long blade (usually around 12 inches). This type of khukuri is powerful in slashing and cutting. The sheath is made from leather, which includes a chakmak andkarda. Khukuris for Nepal army are generally made in a workshop in Bhaktapur.
British Army Service Khukuri: These khukuri are made in Bhojpur,a small town in eastern Nepal famous for the khukuri making art. British Army Service khukuris have poor finish, but has sharp and powerful blade.
Local khukuri: Local khukuris, which have different sizes,are a utility tool or animal slaughtering weapon, therefore, it is strong and powerful. However, since local people do not have preferences for design or looks, these khukuri are poorly finished.
Tourist Khukuri: Today khukuri are also made for tourists and export. These khukuris have fine looks but are poor utility tools or cutting weapons. The blade, handle and sheath have engravings and decorations.
Himalayan Import Khukuri: These are the best khukuris made in Nepal. The Himalayan Import Khukuris have long blade (14-16 inches) and long handle (around 4 inches). The blade is made of spring steel, which is hard and powerful. The finish of these kinds of khukuris is excellent.
The Makers of the Khukuri
In the recent times, khukuri business has become more lucrative,thus enabling people from other communities and caste get involved in khukuri making; however, traditionally, the art of khukuri making is endowed to the men of Kami caste. Even though, khukuri making is taking industrial form by producing khukuri in the factories with modern machines, custom made khukuri that is handcrafted in a workshop of a Kami caste is still the widely practiced art of khukuri making. Each khukuri could look similar to another khukuri, however, each khukuri is distinct because each khukuri is hand-made.
Kami, the makers of khukuri, are also called Biswakarma (sometimes there is a spelling variation, for instance, Biswakarma may also be spelled as Vishwakarma. Biswakarma, or Vishwakarma, name of a Hindu deity who is said to be the engineer of Gods). In some places, Kami is also referred to as Karmakar (literally worker). However, in Nepali Kami is a more common word referred collectively or individually for the people of blacksmith community, who perfect the art of making iron tools and weapons such as khukuri. Kami are the lowest ranking people in the Hindu hierarchy. Kami (literally blacksmith), along with Damai (tailor), Sunar (goldsmith), Sarki (cobbler) are commonly grouped as Dalit (untouchable) in Nepal. Though this discrimination is punishable by law, people of Dalit communities are still subjugated in Nepal.
Every Kami man knows the art of Khukuri making, even though some may be better than other. In Kami community, each family has a workshop where khukuri and other iron tools are made.Interestingly, only men make khukuri and other tools, women are exclusively shut from the workshop.
Making of Khukuri
In the ancient time, khukuri blades were made from raw iron, which was purified and then heated and hammered until it was sharp and shiny. In the modern times, khukuri blades derive from vehicle’s suspension unit.
In order to make a khukuri, iron is heated and hammered. When it takes a shape of khukuri, the edge is sharpened by rubbing it against the hard stone, iron, or chakmak, a small knife-like tool used to sharpen khukuri. In order to produce a khukuri, at least two men have to work for the entire day. One man grinds an axle, which is placed near fire, by a rope. As the axle rotates, it gives air to the fire, thus enabling more heat. Another man thoroughly heats the iron. When the iron is heated enough, the man who had earlier ground the axle begins to hammer the iron and the second man directs the iron under the hammer and makes sure that each part of the iron passes under the hammer. Heating and hammering are done until the iron takes the shape of a blade, which is a wedge. The axle is made by mixing sand and laha, an adhesive made from tree sap. The fire is made from wood coal or mine coal.
When the blade is done, the base is heated and drilled into the hardwood or water buffalo horn and glued by sap from a certain species of tree. A flat iron ring (rivet) is fixed on the top of the handle to give a strong fixture. In modern times, aluminum or brass cast is commonly used to make khukuri handle.
Khukuris heath is made from wood, metal or leather. However, leather is more common, which is usually made by people from Sarki community.
Uses of Khukuri
Basically, there are two uses of khukuri, one as a weapon, another as a utility tool.
Weapon: A popular proverb in Nepal says “After you have drawn a khukuri from the sheath, you cannot sheathe back until the khukuri has drawn blood.” Khukuri is used as slashing, slaughtering, chopping and throwing weapon, and is considered a best weapon for hand-to-hand combat because the blade is curve towards the opponent and after striking the opponent the user can draw back without wounding himself. Since the khukuri blade is wedge shape, it is easier to strike and then draw back. Even though, khukuri is a weapon for Nepal Army, Gurkha soldiers in India and the UK, people in Nepal commonly use khukuri to slaughter sheep, goat and water buffalo. Khukuri can decapitate a large animal like water buffalo in one strike.Khukuri is also commonly carried by the guards and watchmen.
Utility Tool: Apart from military use, khukuri is used in many ways in Nepali household, for instance, cutting things, chopping wood, skinning animals etc.