Khukuri

Nepal national wepon Khukuri is the most famous of them all. It is partly so because of the romance and myths behind them utterly unbelievable. Actually, it is because of the decisive slashing edge of the Khukuri which became well-known to those who had to face it in the well-documented battlefields since 1814 when the British in India first experienced its effectiveness when they faced the Gurkhas in Western Nepal. Thus was born the legends and romance. The history is something else.

Khukuri is the national knife of Nepal, originating in ancient times. It is all-purpose knife of the hill peoples of Nepal, especially the Magars and Gurungs in the west, and the Rais and Limbus in the east. These peoples are called the Gurkhas who form the formidable Brigades of Gurkhas both in the British and Indian Armies, not talking of the Royal Nepal Army itself. It is a medium-length curved knife each Gurkha soldier carries with him in uniform and in battle. In his grip, it is a formidable razor-shape weapon and a cutting tool. In fact, it is an extension of his arm. When his rifle misfires, or when his bullets have run out, a Gurkha unsheathes his Khukuri and makes his final “do-ir-die” run on the enemy in a fury to finish the business. This scene created the romance and the legends. What it really did, and still does, is a superclean slaughter. The enemy tumbles down in two clean pieces and is surprise! Because of the kindest, quietest death.

The Khukuri is carried in a wooden (often leather covered) stealth. There are two tiny knives tucked behind it.
Karda: A small knife tucked behind the scabbard, its main purpose is to cut small things and also work as a skinning knife.
Chakmak: A sharpener tucked behind the scabbard. It can be used as a flint maker also.

Notch: the notch near the handle on the blade is a Hindu fertility symbol. It is also the footprint of a cow (cow is a secret animal in Hindu religion). So the notch forbid slaughtering ecret animal with it. The gurkhas also kept promises with it tha they will never use thisweapon on women and children. Nevertheless., the knife being the lethal weapon, the notch on it is for the blood to dip and not to soil the holder's hand, so the user can maintain his grip for futher demonstration.