CUTTING EDGE

The khukri is tempered in such a manner that its cutting edge is hard while the rest of its blade is softer to absorb the impact of strokes.

It has a unique curved shape, evolved over centuries, that utilises gravity as a force multiplier. The curve ensures that the centre of gravity of the knife falls on the upper broader part of the blade. The location of the centre of gravity at this point concentrates the force applied to the upper curved edge. In contrast, in other uncurved knifes, the force applied gets dissipated along the entire blade. This means that when a khukri is used to cut something, lesser physical strength is required than with other knives.

Near the bottom of the blade, close to the handle, are two half-moon indentations. These are believed to have tantric symbolism. More importantly, they have the more practical purpose of draining the blood away from the handle, thus preventing a slippery grip on the knife.

On the non-cutting edge, there is a ridge that runs half way along the blade. This again has a dual purpose. It channels any blood on the blade to the half-moon cuts and it acts as a damper to soften the shock of impact in use.

The handle is made of wood, specially ridged to enhance the grip. Lac was used to join the handle and the blade, but nowadays metallic screws are employed.

The khukri is kept in a scabbard called the daab, which is usually made of thin strips of wood encased in goat leather. The wood for the daab originally used to come from medicinal trees so that when slipped into the waistband (the traditional way to carry the khukri is to tuck it into a waistband made of a length of cotton cloth), its medicinal properties relieved the bearer of colic pains or fever.

The daab has compartments for two small knives, one sharp called the karda and another blunt and thick called the chakmak. The former is used as a small knife, and often in the past, to skin animals. The latter is used to whet the khukri’s blade and to strike a flintstone to make fire.

The daab also has small compartments that hold a flintstone, dry fibres of the banana tree trunk to use as tinder, and a bear’s gall bladder. The flintsone is struck with the chakmak to create sparks that are directed to the tinder to light a fire. The bear’s gall is believed to relieve malarial fever (mosquitoes were rampant in lower foothills in territories inhabited by Gorkhas).

Contrary to popular perceptions, there are several types of khukris, each especially designed for specific purposes. There is the famous Sirupate (“like the leaves of the Siru tree”), which is sleek and long and is the favoured weapon of combat. The Tarware is sword-like as its name suggests. The Bhunte (“pot-bellied”) is short, blunt and used in ceremonies, while the Buduni (“fish-like”) is smaller and used as a domestic knife. The Katthi is long and heavy and is used to slaughter animals, specially in ritualistic sacrifices.

The Gorkha regiments in the Indian Army as well as those in the British forces use the khukri alongside their arms. An Indian Navy frigate was called INS Khukri (unfortunately sunk by Pakistan off the coast of Gujarat in 1971). The British Gurkhas engaged in the Falklands War in 1982 used the khukri to telling effect in subduing the Argentine forces. The khukri has, thus, become a symbol of the Gorkhas and is often seen in logos and icons of the community’s institutions, from libraries and sports clubs to ex-servicemen’s associations.