Kothimora Kukri

Duccio · 2nd February 2022, 06:31 PM

Hello everyone,
I would like to know from khukri experts if this purchase of mine is just tourist stall stuff or not. I was curious about the horn handle, carved in a rather unusual shape. For the rest, both the knife and the scabbard seem very recent to me.
Thanks to those who will be able to tell me something.

kai · 2nd February 2022, 06:58 PM

Try using it...

kronckew · 2nd February 2022, 07:55 PM

The scabbard & rounded blade spine are an old style, designed for sash carry rather than a belt. Handle carving looks uncomfortable for everyday use. Real working khuks are generally made now of car/truck spring steel, high carbon. And differentially hardened around the 'sweet spot' of the blade where you chop, and softer near the tip and pommel ends so that they bend rather than snap in half. You can straighten a bent blade it the field, but a snapped blade is essentially useless. They typically have a short stub tang held in the grip by Himalayan epoxy (called laha, pine resin and buffalo dung with a dash of beeswax and brick dust. it's a form cutler cement). Full length tangs and full exposed tangs & rivets grip slabs are more for western owners. Nepalis figure a stub tang will only last about 5 years of heavy use before they need to replace the grip. full tang will last ten, an exposed 'chiruwa' tang and slabs will last twenty, and the blade will last generations. Most users out in the country can either make their own replacement grips, or have a village smith who can do it cheaply for them.

Anyway, yours looks like a relatively inexpensive decorative piece for rememberance by those who travel. I suspect it's relatively small sized for a khuk.

Duccio · 4th February 2022, 11:37 AM

Thank you very much, Kronckew, for the thorough technical explanation, it is always a pleasure to learn something new. Too bad my khukuri isn't interesting at all ... I'll use it to peel potatoes.
Cheers to you.

David R · 4th February 2022, 11:47 AM

Hiya Duccio, I think what you have is the remains of a real Kukri, of some age and interest, that got itself wrecked somehow, and then reworked into something "saleable".

The blades has been shortened from the tang end, removing most of the kaudi in the process, and the remains of the grip carved into a fantasy crocodile head.The scabbard is of traditional form, even down to the "Eyes of Kali" on the retaining thong.
One can only speculate as to what destroyed it to the point where it is now.

PS, I think it would have been better posted as it's own thread, rather than tagged onto this specific discussion of Kothimori. I wonder if the admins could do something about that.

kronckew · 4th February 2022, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duccio

Thank you very much, Kronckew, for the thorough technical explanation, it is always a pleasure to learn something new. Too bad my khukuri isn't interesting at all ... I'll use it to peel potatoes.
Cheers to you.

It's still interesting - look at all the correspondence here

I know a Nepali lady that used to carry a khukuri with a 6in. blade, very small for one, in her handbag in Nepal. She was riding a bus where some unruly thugs started harassing people, she pulled out her khuk and displayed it prominently on her lap. They left her alone. She now lives in the USA and sells handmade Khukuris made in Nepal in a smithy she owns.

I have a small (6in. blade) old one that would suit for handbag carry, see below. also have a larger 16 in. beast i call 'Godzilla' that is for other uses as well. it's above in its scabbard along with the half-moon one, it ringed for a bladric. The salyani just above it has the old-style scabbard like yours.

Food:
See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DHGlhFJH0g

The guy wielding the khuk is a professional chef, as well as a knife collector.

I also have a few more assorted khukuris in addition to the hanshee kothimora up top.

(all are shaving sharp)

p.s. - what David said about the kaudi/cho notch near the grip on yours is reasonable, they are usually more pronounced. They do have a lot of variety, include closed versions as well ad the more common open ones. I'll stick a picture of a closed one of mine below, plus one of an asortment of shapes found on the internet.

BBJW · 26th February 2022, 08:01 PM

The last photo on the bottom left is called 'eye of dove style'.-- bbjw

QUOTE=kronckew;269596]It's still interesting - look at all the correspondence here

I know a Nepali lady that used to carry a khukuri with a 6in. blade, very small for one, in her handbag in Nepal. She was riding a bus where some unruly thugs started harassing people, she pulled out her khuk and displayed it prominently on her lap. They left her alone. She now lives in the USA and sells handmade Khukuris made in Nepal in a smithy she owns.

I have a small (6in. blade) old one that would suit for handbag carry, see below. also have a larger 16 in. beast i call 'Godzilla' that is for other uses as well. it's above in its scabbard along with the half-moon one, it ringed for a bladric. The salyani just above it has the old-style scabbard like yours.

Food:
See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DHGlhFJH0g

The guy wielding the khuk is a professional chef, as well as a knife collector.

I also have a few more assorted khukuris in addition to the hanshee kothimora up top.

(all are shaving sharp)

p.s. - what David said about the kaudi/cho notch near the grip on yours is reasonable, they are usually more pronounced. They do have a lot of variety, include closed versions as well ad the more common open ones. I'll stick a picture of a closed one of mine below, plus one of an asortment of shapes found on the internet.[/QUOTE]

BBJW · 4th February 2022, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duccio

Hello everyone,
I would like to know from khukri experts if this purchase of mine is just tourist stall stuff or not. I was curious about the horn handle, carved in a rather unusual shape. For the rest, both the knife and the scabbard seem very recent to me.
Thanks to those who will be able to tell me something.

The carved grip is called a 'garuda'. The karda and chakmak appear to be low quality replacements.-- bbjw

Rick · 5th February 2022, 12:28 AM

My century old Kukri is used quite frequently at our house. I don't use it for veggies really; but if you want to split a chicken breast or a whole bird it is my go-to knife for such work.

2nd February 2022, 06:31 PM	#1
Duccio Member Join Date: May 2020 Location: Florence, Italy Posts: 64	Hello everyone, I would like to know from khukri experts if this purchase of mine is just tourist stall stuff or not. I was curious about the horn handle, carved in a rather unusual shape. For the rest, both the knife and the scabbard seem very recent to me. Thanks to those who will be able to tell me something. Attached Images

5th February 2022, 12:28 AM	#9
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,268	Kitchen Confidential My century old Kukri is used quite frequently at our house. I don't use it for veggies really; but if you want to split a chicken breast or a whole bird it is my go-to knife for such work.

2nd February 2022, 06:58 PM	#2
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,223	Try using it...

2nd February 2022, 07:55 PM	#3
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,152	The scabbard & rounded blade spine are an old style, designed for sash carry rather than a belt. Handle carving looks uncomfortable for everyday use. Real working khuks are generally made now of car/truck spring steel, high carbon. And differentially hardened around the 'sweet spot' of the blade where you chop, and softer near the tip and pommel ends so that they bend rather than snap in half. You can straighten a bent blade it the field, but a snapped blade is essentially useless. They typically have a short stub tang held in the grip by Himalayan epoxy (called laha, pine resin and buffalo dung with a dash of beeswax and brick dust. it's a form cutler cement). Full length tangs and full exposed tangs & rivets grip slabs are more for western owners. Nepalis figure a stub tang will only last about 5 years of heavy use before they need to replace the grip. full tang will last ten, an exposed 'chiruwa' tang and slabs will last twenty, and the blade will last generations. Most users out in the country can either make their own replacement grips, or have a village smith who can do it cheaply for them. Anyway, yours looks like a relatively inexpensive decorative piece for rememberance by those who travel. I suspect it's relatively small sized for a khuk.

4th February 2022, 11:37 AM	#4
Duccio Member Join Date: May 2020 Location: Florence, Italy Posts: 64	Thank you very much, Kronckew, for the thorough technical explanation, it is always a pleasure to learn something new. Too bad my khukuri isn't interesting at all ... I'll use it to peel potatoes. Cheers to you.

4th February 2022, 11:47 AM	#5
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,053	Hiya Duccio, I think what you have is the remains of a real Kukri, of some age and interest, that got itself wrecked somehow, and then reworked into something "saleable". The blades has been shortened from the tang end, removing most of the kaudi in the process, and the remains of the grip carved into a fantasy crocodile head.The scabbard is of traditional form, even down to the "Eyes of Kali" on the retaining thong. One can only speculate as to what destroyed it to the point where it is now. PS, I think it would have been better posted as it's own thread, rather than tagged onto this specific discussion of Kothimori. I wonder if the admins could do something about that.

26th February 2022, 08:01 PM	#7
BBJW Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Idaho, USA Posts: 226	The last photo on the bottom left is called 'eye of dove style'.-- bbjw QUOTE=kronckew;269596]It's still interesting - look at all the correspondence here I know a Nepali lady that used to carry a khukuri with a 6in. blade, very small for one, in her handbag in Nepal. She was riding a bus where some unruly thugs started harassing people, she pulled out her khuk and displayed it prominently on her lap. They left her alone. She now lives in the USA and sells handmade Khukuris made in Nepal in a smithy she owns. I have a small (6in. blade) old one that would suit for handbag carry, see below. also have a larger 16 in. beast i call 'Godzilla' that is for other uses as well. it's above in its scabbard along with the half-moon one, it ringed for a bladric. The salyani just above it has the old-style scabbard like yours. Food: See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DHGlhFJH0g The guy wielding the khuk is a professional chef, as well as a knife collector. I also have a few more assorted khukuris in addition to the hanshee kothimora up top. (all are shaving sharp) p.s. - what David said about the kaudi/cho notch near the grip on yours is reasonable, they are usually more pronounced. They do have a lot of variety, include closed versions as well ad the more common open ones. I'll stick a picture of a closed one of mine below, plus one of an asortment of shapes found on the internet.[/QUOTE]