West vs East Kukri Spine Thickness

C

Caritas

Joined
Dec 9, 2018
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I've done a fair amount of research on Kukris over the last few months and I've noticed a bit of a contradiction in certain terms. Perhaps I am not all that informed even after a few months of reading. You'll decide.

Certain Kukris (Khukuris, kukris, khukris, kukhris, kukuris, cookris, kookeris, kukhuris, kukkris, kokris, koories, kookuris -- choose your spelling) that are made in Nepal are slammed for being "too thick" and thus appealing more to a western audience and so not holding true to "historic" Kukri standards. However the irony there is that when I look at western-made Kukris, they are mostly extremely thin and not anywhere near as beefy as kukris made in Nepal from the more reputable makers (HI, KHHI, etc).

Furthermore, when I look at antique Kukris and read about them, there are certainly many cases where OLD kukris vary massively in size and spine thickness.

Who can set the record straight?
 
Both thick and thin have and do exist in the traditional geographical range of the kukri.
 
It is my understanding that Nepalese khukris made for the western market tend to be heavy, thick, polished, have bolsters, larger handles, and tangs that are peened over a buttcap. Nepalese khukris intended to be used as everyday tools by Nepalese people in Nepal tend to be thinner, lighter, unpolished, may or may not have a bolster, and have a tang that is glued into the handle.

Mostly this translates into kamis having to do less work and use less material to make less expensive khukris intended to be used as everyday tools by Nepalese people in Nepal.

So essentially what you have is the heavier, polished khukris are more like the khukris that everyone would like to have, but the lighter, thinner, less finished khukris are the khukris everyone can afford. Of course personal preference plays a huge role in what you want. Historically speaking, khukris intended to be weapons were a bit thinner than many modern 'made for western tastes' khukris.
 
This is an interesting article that goes into detail about the range of various traditional Kukris. Some were pretty heavy and as thick or thicker than what we'd buy today. Pictures included. Then again some were lighter and thinner. Therefore I think it's not easy to pin "one type" of Kukri to history.

https://chinesemartialstudies.com/2012/11/05/identifying-and-collecting-the-nepalese-military-kukri/

The main contradiction I am witnessing is the belief that modern Kukris made in Nepal are thick so they can satisfy a Western market all while Western Kukri makers (like Cold Steel) produces Kukris that are very thin.
 
Western khukuri are usually not forged. They begin with flat stock and cut out the blade shape. Thats why they're thin. A 1\4" sheet of 1095 is cheaper and easier to work than a 1\2" sheet. Khukuri from Nepal are forged from thick, salvaged leaf springs. They're thick and it's easier for the Kami to leave them that way. Plus, a lot of people buy a khuk from Nepal expecting a sharpened 1\2" bar. They want a sort of hand axe and these khuks can make outstanding choppers.

I own a modern khukuri from Tora which is made in Nepal. It's the best copy of a WWII M43 Mk. II variant khuk I've seen. It is very thin for a forged khuk. The edge curves from side to side though. From what I gather, this is not uncommon when hardening a thin blade using the traditional tea pot method. So, ultimately, it's much easier for Kamis to make a super thick khuk because it's less time spent hammering, much easier to harden without problems, and makes a product which is harder to damage and need warranty replacement.
 
As jdk1 posted above, do not confuse traditional khukuries with modern khukuri shaped machetes. Traditional khukuries have been found in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, but they are all forged and the resulting shape is ideal for chopping in both profile and cross section. Western made khukuries are usually made from flat stock. They tend to follow the traditional profile but the cross section is often left mostly flat, which causes the blade to bind while cutting heavy materials.

n2s
 
Himalayan Imports-( a subforum here) sells a user grade khuk with minimal finish that is lighter, thinner and shorter than most of their models called a VUK -Village Utility Knife. A very handy, usable tool that is apparently what the average Nepali uses. I find mine very handy in a big knife/hatchet role and would be a wicked weapon if pressed into that use-KV
 
jdk1 said:
Western khukuri are usually not forged. They begin with flat stock and cut out the blade shape. Thats why they're thin. A 1\4" sheet of 1095 is cheaper and easier to work than a 1\2" sheet. Khukuri from Nepal are forged from thick, salvaged leaf springs. They're thick and it's easier for the Kami to leave them that way. Plus, a lot of people buy a khuk from Nepal expecting a sharpened 1\2" bar. They want a sort of hand axe and these khuks can make outstanding choppers.

I own a modern khukuri from Tora which is made in Nepal. It's the best copy of a WWII M43 Mk. II variant khuk I've seen. It is very thin for a forged khuk. The edge curves from side to side though. From what I gather, this is not uncommon when hardening a thin blade using the traditional tea pot method. So, ultimately, it's much easier for Kamis to make a super thick khuk because it's less time spent hammering, much easier to harden without problems, and makes a product which is harder to damage and need warranty replacement.
Click to expand...

I think with khukris it's one of those things where you can't just have one. I have looked at a number of khukris from a number of makers and I like what I see. Although I am trying to communicate with Himalayan Imports over email, their communication/customer service so far hasn't inspired much confidence. I'm trying to give them my money and they blow me off or try to upsell me on something that costs a lot more that I didn't ask for, so I may go with another.

Basically I like all of them, modern, reproductions, thick, thin, etc. As long as they're well made I'm happy. I don't hold a bias against a certain type of Kukri because history proves there were many variants and no single "standard" (with the exception of general shape and the notch).
 
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In my experience, H. I. has some of the best customer service around. Please bear in mind that it's one woman running an import business out of Vegas, getting the knives from her family business in Nepal. It was started by her husband who has passed.
Check out their deals on blems for a user.--KV
 
Well that's not my experience and my email was very simple, forthcoming, and non-demanding. She's in Vegas? I thought it was Reno. If she's in Vegas I can easily visit since I live here.
 
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Caritas said:
Well that's not my experience and my email was very simple, forthcoming, and non-demanding. She's in Vegas? I thought it was Reno. If she's in Vegas I can easily visit since I live here.
Click to expand...
You're right. My bad. Reno it is.--KV
 
One sad reality is that the vast majority of the kukri purchased today go to pumpkin and watermelon chopping homes and rarely get out of mom's yard. As long as the new owner can say "wow that's big" in their unboxing and tabletop review video, all is well. Why would anyone go through the extra work to make these kukri traditional sizes?

Another big reason for overbuilding is to insure their are fewer returns. The thought being, if you give them a big heavy I-beam it will be harder to break them and ask for a refund or a replacement. Sound business practice especially when you consider the people buying them have no idea what a real Kukri is, what the various models are used for, or what a properly made Kukri feels like in hand.

The old traditional kukri were made by masters and even the larger models such as the MkI, MkII, and Bhojpures were lighter than most currently made Service No1 models, which are some of the smallest. Properly made kukri, forged by an experienced Kami, will melt into your hand and become part of your arm. Most of these currently sold overbuilt bricks feel like sharpened lawn mower blades and sound like a sledge hammer when they hit wood, due largely to improper bevels and blade thickness, weight distribution, and little to no tapering. But again, why go through the trouble for little Johnny to chop watermelons and move on to some other hobby next week?

Soon all the masters will be gone and replaced with assembly line "grinders" and finding a properly made kukri will be impossible. Thats my answer when asked why I bought so many of them. I only wish one of these discussions could be in person so everyone could feel a kukri like my older HI Bonecutter or the Master Kami's WWII and compare it to a newer, bigger, heavier model. Or feel Jdk's M43 or an older Tora Bhojpure, or Tora's Original Pattern BSI or even one of the IMA MkII's from the Nepal armory purchase. Everyone that touches them gets mesmerized and holds it and feels the hammer marks like they are in a trance. All you ever get when they hold one of the new bricks is, "WOW THATS BIG!"
 
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Soon the masters will be gone, I agree. There was a blog article over at KHHI mentioning something along the lines that in the next 15 years or so there will be hardly any khukuri makers.
 
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