Kukri owners club

[Etherealicer]

Notches:

There are several reasons why I don't think its about blood:
- I believe the kukri was a tool first and a weapon only because it was available
- If that would work ColdSteel would tell us that in a 100 videos because it would be tacticool awesome, yet many of CSs kukris have no notches.
- Of the few traditional kukris with a handle made for combat, we see both with and without notches

- The semi-modern kukri wielded by the 1st battalion of the Royal Gurkha Rifles has the notches differently (the symbol is here, but whatever function it had is gone). Image from 1999.

[Outback in Idaho]

    Read on another site about their Kukri having the traditional religious notch in the blades.

    Think if I did get one it would have some sort of crossguard. Not that I'd be fighting per say, more for protecting my knuckles when smacking tree branches and such.


Source: Kukkuri Notch

The most appealing and distinctive part of the khukuri is the notch or “Cho” cut into the blade directly in front of the grip and the bolster.
• Practically the notch works as a blood dipper to prevent the blood or fluid from going towards the handle so that firm grip can be maintained throughout the execution - no crossguard.
• Also as a stopper to stop Chakmak (sharpener) from reaching the handle area when sharpening while running down the edge of the khukuri blade.
• Similarly the notch also has religious significance as it signifies the Hindu fertility symbol (OM) and represents the sacred cow’s hoof (as cow is worshipped in Nepal)
• It is also believed to have been developed as a device for catching and neutralizing an enemy blade in close combat.

    Makes me also think at the notch being used to lash down the knife when trekking or packing as that notch would be a good option to keep the blade from slipping out - again since many do not have a crossguard how else could one be sure to catch (secure) the blade from slipping out? Extra lashing to the belt or harness.
    Also it could be used to hang on a tree limb or lip of something to keep it from falling between uses. Much like the catches used on canes to keep the buggers from falling over - so it could act similarly to a hook.

    Do think the Cow's Foot would be more a reason why it's there and any other uses were adapted over time.

    Also adding that I read the Kukri were worn by security forces and those of wealth. So the OM symbol seems to be more of the origin and everything else was an adaptation - since some Kukri only have the Cow's Hoof symbol in the blade without a notch - but the notch on the blade would be more of an adaptive use(s).

[Etherealicer]

• It is also believed to have been developed as a device for catching and neutralizing an enemy blade in close combat.

I can tell you with 100% certainty that this won't work.

When you parry a blade (staff whatever), it will bounce off your blade, they don't just stick together. With the sword we try to avoid the bouncing by gliding in (catching the enemy blade with the tip, then have it scratch along our blade). With a straight edge that is extremely difficult, with a forward curved edge it will be even harder. While a kukri won't flex as much as a sword, it is extremely short and does not have enough room for such a clean bind.
No, if they wanted to protect their hands, they would have built a crossguard.

[Zed]

Over the years ive read so many thoughts on the cho or kaudi,even kailash limbu in his books says it's for blood,for me it's just a cool part of the Khukuri, I prefer the closed kaudi type ,I like the idea of this looking more like a cow's hoof 

[Zed]

    Khukuri House Handicraft Industry, Nepal got back to me on the McCurdy's Special knife I had ordered.

    Had actually looked at their site for over 2 hours before seeing this knife. Wanted to order a Kukri --- but which one? What would of been the more authentic style, design, length, ect.? I know ntohing of these knives other than casual perusement online and on this forum posting.

    Thought I could use one while camping to cut & chop wood, clearing brush maybe, build a shelter, fight off some beast if my I didn't have my pistol on me, and to hand on the wall for display when not in use. heck yeah that would be cool to have hanging on the belt or pack, but those look like a good 2 pounds of weight - and shipping charges for such.

    So, I did not order a Kukri. What is recommended?? And I don't care for shiny; I care for durability, longevity, usability - although having that in an attractive blade would be okay too. 

Got this from khukuri blades ,it's a mini jungle pana, very solid 8inch blade,feels amazing in the hand,it's my 4th khukuri from them and there all spot on 👍

[Outback in Idaho]

    Khukuri House Handicraft Industry, Nepal got back to me on the McCurdy's Special knife I had ordered.

    Had actually looked at their site for over 2 hours before seeing this knife. Wanted to order a Kukri --- but which one? What would of been the more authentic style, design, length, ect.? I know ntohing of these knives other than casual perusement online and on this forum posting.

    Thought I could use one while camping to cut & chop wood, clearing brush maybe, build a shelter, fight off some beast if my I didn't have my pistol on me, and to hand on the wall for display when not in use. heck yeah that would be cool to have hanging on the belt or pack, but those look like a good 2 pounds of weight - and shipping charges for such.

    So, I did not order a Kukri. What is recommended?? And I don't care for shiny; I care for durability, longevity, usability - although having that in an attractive blade would be okay too. 

Got this from khukuri blades ,it's a mini jungle pana, very solid 8inch blade,feels amazing in the hand,it's my 4th khukuri from them and there all spot on 👍

    4 inch handle?

[Outback in Idaho]

    Surprised you Kukri owners don't have a signature badge available for the following of such a tool. 

[Outback in Idaho]

    Kukri owners should have a Forum Badge in not an emoticon.

    Seems that the Cho might also be a craftman's logo, branding, or mark, much like we have branding on cows and such. As was poking around on the internet again (instead of getting ready for work) as seen these at IKRHS forum.

    Cho Designs









    Maybe someone from the Kukri Klan can start a post about showing off your Cho? Perhaps there's an art to the Cho that we didn't know. 

    Fixing some links...

[Gerhard Gerber]

Thought about it long and hard......5 minutes......no space for the notch 





 

[Zed]

Nice Gerhard 

Pics as requested by Eric 

Mini jungle pana

[Etherealicer]

That is a beauty

[Outback in Idaho]

    Wonder why KHHI doesn't have their own unique version of the Cho on their kukri? That way their blades can stand apart from the other Nepalese kukri.

[clown]

Nice Gerhard 

Pics as requested by Eric 

Mini jungle pana

Thanks Zed.  May have to try one out.  Is it small enough to be used as a general utility/belt knife?

[Zed]

Nice Gerhard 

Pics as requested by Eric 

Mini jungle pana

Thanks Zed.  May have to try one out.  Is it small enough to be used as a general utility/belt knife?

I would pair it with a pocket knife,but it's a very capable khukuri,

Chopping up wood in my garden,testing out the chainpure 

[Outback in Idaho]

    Looks like I'm officially in now. 

[Kampfer]

I am in. amazing blades

[Outback in Idaho]

Nice Gerhard 

Pics as requested by Eric 

Mini jungle pana

  Have any dimensions on those as blade length, handle length, handle size?

[Gerhard Gerber]

My apprenticeship..........

Yesterday:



Today:



Decided to go FFG, buying more beer, strapping on a headlamp after work and.........gettin' 'er done! 

[Outback in Idaho]

  Going to harden by heat treating it in oil baths afterwards?

[Gerhard Gerber]

  Going to harden by heat treating it in oil baths afterwards?

Yes, otherwise it's useless 

My goal for today is to get the rough grinding done, shape the handle to get rid of the rounded outside edge of the leafspring and give it a bit of that traditional flair at the end. Also need to fix the plunges with a file....
Then begins many-many hours with sanding paper, it WILL be mirror polished so I need the right start before heat treat.

I would like to make bigger ones, but my limitation is actually what I can heat treat, 40cm being about the limit right now.

[Outback in Idaho]

  Going to harden by heat treating it in oil baths afterwards?

Yes, otherwise it's useless 

My goal for today is to get the rough grinding done, shape the handle to get rid of the rounded outside edge of the leafspring and give it a bit of that traditional flair at the end. Also need to fix the plunges with a file....
Then begins many-many hours with sanding paper, it WILL be mirror polished so I need the right start before heat treat.

I would like to make bigger ones, but my limitation is actually what I can heat treat, 40cm being about the limit right now.

  How fine of sandpaper is needed to get to a mirror polish?

  See, I thought I saw a hairline crack on my Scourge. Ran several things over it and nothing caught nor could I feel a difference - even with the awl test. (See there, another use for an awl!) So I took the Charge's diamond file and rubbed over the area and went to try and polish it out. But I got ran off the veranda with impending rain.

  Me thinks that when I first tried using the Scourge on the magnesium block that the block marred the surface just enough to mimic a small hairline fracture. The awl's tip (sharp!) did not pick up on anything and nothing was washing off, so that's why I used the diamond file to see. Sure enough the line vanished.

  So I have a semi-polished surface after using P120 sandpaper, which is more satin. Still have to repair a glancing blow that hit some quartz crystal and put a few minor tooth marks on one side of the blade. But I'd like to get a polished surface back to help deter rusting. Or do you use a polishing compound in the end?

[zoidberg]

[Outback in Idaho]

  Look, that's not a lobster claw!    Fixed it for yas. 

  Making some of your own are we?    You putting up a Step by Step post on this feat, yes?

[Gerhard Gerber]

  How fine of sandpaper is needed to get to a mirror polish?

The last belt I use (1" belt....small grinder) is 400 grit, or at least worn out 400 belts.
From there on it's 600 grit, them 1000 and maybe 1500.  I'll probably stop at 1000 now that I have the cotton polishing wheel.

I think a poor to average mirror polish is somewhere after 2000 grit....?

120 grit is extremely rough to use on a heat treated blade, you find out how rough once you have to work down through the grits to get it smooth......those scratches are deep.




Z-man...........whatcha doin'? 

[Gerhard Gerber]

Xelkos - not sure what they're called, but I got some abrasive pads in fine grits which is basically like sandpaper stuck on mouse pad foam ready made...........they work great, think they should be excellent for maintenance or sharpening a convex edge.

[zoidberg]

It was a random find.

[Kampfer]

My two Kukri carry sets.

[Zed]

Nice setup 

Got another khukuri this week,it's a officers grade type, awesome build quality, probably 1945-55 sadly the scabbard was sitting away so I 're did it in a traditional way 

[Zed]

More pics 

[Sparky415]

 

Very nice Paul