The Khukuri Knife

Nothing else catches your eye as you're passing by the souvenir shops in Thamel like the glittering, polished steel of the Ghurka knives arranged in rows like a Nepali armory. The knives are made of alluring leather and steel and are beautifully polished. Insight into the history of this handsome relic brings some gruesome imagery. As the British invaded the Indian sub-continent in the 19th century and pushed northwards they met some fierce and overwhelming resistance from Ghurka tribes in what is now Nepal. To supplement their cunning and brazen fighting style the Ghurka employed their khukris, knives with a forward slant, to lop off limbs and cleanly behead their foes. After the British troops were trounced the government resorted to peaceful diplomacy. The Ghurkas became loyal allies with the British and continue to be a formidable element of the Indian army.

By its design the balance of the blade packs great chopping force. The thick metal and the hardened material make it very sturdy, and it works like a mini-hatchet with the offset center of mass. They simply have a design and finish that defy the more modern design to which we're accustomed in the Western world. The khukri blade dates back possibly to time of ancient Greece of the 7th century BC, but the curved design is more Nepali for the utility of farming. The farmers in the hills of Nepal hear the name of the blade when a rooster calls to the village. He says, "khu-kuri-o," which translates to "bring me a knife!"