Most of all, I believe the blade form descended from the
Greek kopis which is about 2,500 years old, thus making the
khukuri is one of the oldest blade forms in the history of
the world – if not in fact the oldest. I believe that the
blade form was carried to the sub – continent by the troops
of Alexander the Great and was copied by local kamis (blacksmiths).
There are khukuris hanging on the walls of Nepal 's National
Museum which are 500 years old or even more. So, the long
history is one of the things that make the knife magic.
Another thing that adds to the magic of the khukuri is the
cultural and religious significance which has worked its way
into the knife. Almost everything about the knife means something.
What we call a blood groove is said to be trident of the Hindu
god, Shiva, the destroyer.
The cho or notch has various meanings, the sun and moon,
symbols of Nepal , the sexual apparatus of Hindu gods and
goddesses, a cow track because the cow is sacred to the Hindus
The butt cap of the knife is said to resemble the eye of god,
always watching, ever seeing. The rings around the handle
mean something but the true significance has been lost in
the mists of time. Even the basic curve is said to look like
a crescent moon, a symbol of Nepal . So, the religious meanings
that have been worked into the knife make it magic.
And then there are the Gurkhas who did more than anybody
to bring this knife to the attention of the world. For years,
even centuries, the blade form lay dormant in the world, being
kept alive only in Nepal and India . And then the Gurkhas
appeared on the world scene a couple of hundred years ago
and brought with them their traditional weapon, the khukuri.
Because the Gurkhas were probably the best mercenary force
the world has ever seen and may ever see part of their fame
became the fame of the khukuri. Having lived in Nepal , being
married into a Gurkha family, and having friends who are Gurkhas
past and present, when I see a real khukuri I hear bugles
and tigers. I cannot imagine a khukuri without thinking of
Gurkhas, and I cannot imagine a Gurkha without thinking of
a khukuri. That's why Khukuri is also known as Gurkha Knife.
No battle blade in the history of the world has more documented
kills than the khukuri. That is part of the magic.
Then there are the kamis(blacksmiths), the untouchable caste
who make the khukuris. Working under absolutely deplorable
conditions and with nothing more than an open forge and a
handful of tools most of which they have made themselves they
produce one of the finest knives in the world. It is the experience
that has been passed down for 200 or even 400 years and the
native skill along with blood, sweat, tears, patience, care,
and a pride in craftsmanship that makes the knife magic.
When you combine all these facts and fabulous things about
khukuri or Gurkha Knife together you get the mystique and
the magic that is inherent in all real khukuris.