Ex Gurkha Kukri House (EGKH) khukuri

Cold Steel Kukri Plus Machete

hey I would like to share a few of my khukuri 

Nice, Jay!  There's that Kabar Kukri Machete I've been coveting -- awesome!  That's a really good kukri collection, by the way.  

The one on top looks like one that was actually forged in Nepal -- am I right on that one?  It even looks like the blade might not be absurdly thick (I prefer them thinner, especially with the "sirupate" (slender) shape of the blade.  Thanks for posting the photo, Jay, that's exactly what I hope people will do here!

Yes the top is a nepalese Ex Gurkha Khukuri House Model no1 issued to the troops, i love it , it is actually pretty thick, you wont break it for sure 

Here is the basic kopis blade shape, on a machete made by Cold Steel.  This machete came with the explosion of new machete designs put out by Cold Steel several years ago (along with the original bowie machete, the spear point machete, and the original barong machete).  Some have been redesigned, while others have just been discontinued altogether, which was unfortunate, I really liked these big knives...

that looks like a chopper for sure! 

DLKG,
I like the look of this design a good deal. Mostly what we use our machetes for is clearing ivy off trees and it is a never ending process. For our use a traditional machete works best

Jan, given that Cold Steel seems to be incredibly focused on weapons, my guess is that the Kopis Machete was basically a "sword" for those who can't really afford their true swords.  Given that the machete is definitely front-end balanced but not tip-heavy, it's not likely to chop as well as a tip heavy machete (latin, bolo, panga, etc.).  

This was an impulse purchase for my collection a few years back, I haven't actually used it (I think it can chop, but there's a lot of extra blade beyond the sweet spot).  But it might be telling in that it wasn't selling well enough for Cold Steel to continue production.  Likely a lot of people wondered what the best use for this machete would be, came up with no answer, & therefore chose not to buy it.  

For my purposes, its best purpose is to illustrate the blade design of the kopis sword!  :) 

yeah i have noticed some of cold steel machetes are sword replacements, i have some of marbles swords/machetes too same deal, i also practice with real swords, but they are a good alternative to those that cannot afford a true one

Of the very few folding kukris, Cold Steel makes the very best as far as I'm aware.  They come sharp and, at least according to their ad copy & videos, the Cold Steel folding kukris (the Rajah series, Rajah i, II, and III) can actually handle chopping & other torturous (& tortuous) treatment...

I would think if the lock up is good they would be able to handle that

Jan, I have a TOPS folding knife that I purchased -- it was actually the exact knife that was used to shoot the photos for their catalog -- and the lock-up felt incredibly solid.  I made the mistake of pruning some ash limbs by chopping them with that knife -- now it's got a wobble (even after I retightened the pivot screw).  I'm so bummed about that, especially since it's still one of my go-to EDC's...  They never said this knife could take the abuse of chopping, & I found out the hard way that it couldn't.  So far the only Rajah I've ever chopped with (the Rajah III) has held up just fine (even with that Grivex handle), most likely due to the Tri-Ad lock...

And now, the one of very, very few Every Day Carry kukris:  The Cold Steel Rajah III folding kukri with Tri-Ad lock.  This is a knife I've been carrying for years, & I really, really like it.

so yes, I would assume the differences in the locking system have added to the security even after taking a beating.  Darn shame about the Tops though, I wonder what they would charge to do a complete repair.  Seems a shame to be reminded every time you reach for it

I bought three of these Indian-made kukris from BudK several years ago, not long after I got into knife throwing.  I bought three thinking they'd be good throwers at $20 a pop, but only recently tried throwing one.  It's incredibly fun, but with a low hardness, the blade's spine could be susceptible to bending.  Because of the torsion that can occur when a knife hits a target even slightly off the center line, I thought a kukri might be perfect for throwing, but in this case the spine simply may have been too soft.  I haven't been able to capture it in a picture yet, but this kukri now has an ever so slight bend in the spine that occurred after one particularly off-center-line throw.  Bummer.  However, for the moment at least, this has become my designated throwing kukri -- & it's incredibly satisfying to hit that target!  And I have two back-ups should this kukri become too warped to throw.

Kukri throwing.  Not something I would have thought of.  Without the specific aerodynamics of a throwing knife or the toughness of an ax, I would have thought it would not hit the target straight on. It does sound like fun and I wonder if a kukri with better steel or better heat treat would respond in the same manner with a bend.

As they say, do not try this at home LOL.  I do not want anyone to take a prized kukri out and throw it at a tree please (Knife abuse)

I pulled the trigger & finally purchased this one:  the Kabar Kukri Machete.  It's everything I expected it to be -- nothing short of incredible!

Well it certainly looks like it could take a beating and still be one heck of a user for a long time to come with that 1085.  Kabar knows how to make a knife tough for sure.  Also this one seems to be reasonably priced.  Good buy!

Never underestimate the amount of fun that can be had with a kukri trainer, especially if you're stuck indoors (I fidget with mine as if it were a very, very large pen).  :)  This is the Cold Steel Kukri Trainer, available for under $20 (even on Cold Steel's website!).

i have this kukuri, great little cutter, only issue the edge is painted i had to put a better one on it

Jay, I have a couple of the Cold Steel machetes with the painted edge, which I really dislike simply because it's just going to gum up whatever sharpening stone or belt I use to get it sharp.  Some chemicals will strip this coating pretty easily from what I hear, but I'm always hesitant to work with new chemicals.  That said, I've heard there are some stripping chemicals that are made specifically for the types of coatings that tend to come on knives, & I'd guess these are the best ones to use.

I saw a great deal for the Kabar Becker BK-4 Machax and, as often happens, I started obsessing over it, especially after I ascertained that it has, in fact, been discontinued (I heard a rumor about the BK-5 being discontinued but, at least as of 2017, the BK-5 is still in production -- this was reaffirmed both by the online Kabar catalog & a customer service rep. with whom I emailed -- but I digress).

While the name of this knife implies that it's sort of a cross between a machete & an axe, in hand the name seems not very descriptive.  It's smaller than you might think, & it's quite light, at least when it comes to the Kabar Becker knives.

However, I couldn't help but include it on this forum page because Ethan Becker apparently inspired by the kukri when he designed the BK4.  A traditional kurki can be much better described as a cross between a machete & an axe -- though even then, I'd say kukris really are a blend more of a knife & an axe.  

While I can say that I would not consider the Machax to be a kukri for the simple reason that the cant occurs right where the blade meets the handle (as opposed to somewhere along the blade itself, I couldn't help but include the Machax here on this page, because of the clear connection to the kukri in its design.  (Sidenote:  it's great to be able to hear so much about a knife's design from the designer himself, & even better that Ethan Becker really seems to like to talk about his designs & knives in general.)

So here it is, the Kabar Becker BK4 Machax:

Thanks all for letting me join as the 10th and latest member. I've read the threads...all very interesting and enlightening...I'm looking forward to contributing soon.

Welcome to the group, Lars!  I'm guessing you have a kukri or two already (& photos to boot).  Out of curiosity, have you ever engraved that Polish eagle onto a kukri?  Seeing your avatar, couldn't help but think how cool that would look.  Bonus if it was on a kukri made in Poland (I was watching one on eBay about a year ago, but someone else bought it before I could afford it)...  Again, welcome!

Good eye on the 'ol Bird there Dead-Left....it is emblazoned with my family's amoral bearings. Having it engraved on a Kukri? Man, I wish I'd thought of that....that would be cool!

And yes...I do have a couple of Kukri to share with the gang here...just no photos yet...working to resolve that detail soon. 

Finally...the “why” behind my joining this group. Simply, I really liked how dead_left_knife_guy laid out his argument (err, explanation), as to what defines a khukuri, or kukri. While I subscribe that the kukri is a class of knife all by itself, I am afraid the distinction lines are well on their way to being blurred – much like the lines of a bowie (small b) knife has become over the years. I think there are many reasons for this; marketing, consumer ignorance, fantasy, and interpretation all play a part of blurring the lines.

What I found interesting in the opening entry of “What Is A Kukri?” is the familiar comparison of the kukri to a machete, a kopis, the falcata, and bolo that takes shape in the dialog. It is true that there are many similarities between them all (to include features of each into a single blade), but the defining element was the statement “…a kukri is a knife with a forward cant that occurs along the spine of the blade.  This definition helps to keep the kukri distinct from other knives such as bolo knives or knives with recurved edges & dropped points”.

I loved it! It defines the style while leaving open artistic elements as non-essentials, such as a bell-shaped handle or not.

What I also liked about the opening blog comments is that it sets the stage for what I hope to be a long and diversified exchange of defining elements of the kukri. I see this as similar to the debates over boot knife/dagger/dirk discussions, what makes a knife “tactical” or not, and all the elements of a Bowie knife (classic / modern) verses a bowie knife (small b - now a generic term for any large knife).

Personally, I see it as our responsibility as collectors and enthusiasts to keep the class pure – not in a snooty way, but in an AKC manner of speaking. I think a good and thorough review of questionable knives is good for the soul…like the mention of the Gerber Gator Kukri. Is it a kukri because Gerber named it that, or does it meet the real criteria of what a kukri is?

Sort of makes one go “hmmm”.

To further illustrate and tie into dead_left_knife_guy’s comment the kukri is an offshoot of the kopis, I will follow this up with photos of my kukri and a bowie-sized kopis, which, I might add, was marketed as a kukri. Just as all knives with a forward cant in the blade does not a kukri make, not all re-curve blades are a kopis. 

So there you have it - an expert way to contribute to the conversation, make a splash, show off some knives, and get the ball rolling. 

Here is my Kukri by Ash Blades...without a bell-shaped pommel. Compare to my 14" Kopis, also by Ash Blades.

My Kopis - 

Those are some nice looking blade, Lars...  And good photography, too!

Thanks for the support on my little kukri essay.  It seems there are so few sources (in English, at least, that I have found), I thought it might be worth adding my own understanding as to what a kukri actually is. 

What really bothers me is how often knife companies mislabel large recurve drop point knives as kukri just to make them sound more exotic & up their sales -- all while misleading & misinforming their customers -- not cool, on multiple levels.

To anyone reading this, don't get me wrong, I really like other big knives too, including some with big recurve blades.  And I think it entirely appropriate to post photos of them here, as long as they're to show what a kukri is not, or even better, to get the opinions of members as to whether a knife actually qualifies as a kukri (I've seen some knives that I actually don't know, myself).  I'd love to have a dialog on something like this!

Anyway, I'm glad you're here, Lars, & I hope others will feel welcome here too!

Thank you sir for the comments. 

I too encourage others to showcase their pieces for further review and discussion. I'm more of a conventional "true to form" kind of collector rather than a purist when it comes to defining particular categories and what fits and what doesn't. If we get too set in the standards - such as bell-shaped pommel or not for example - then we loose out on creative interpretations (unless that feature is indeed a defining factor). 

When I present a piece, I like to be asked "what leads you to believe that is a Kukri", or a Bowie, or a combat knife, or whatever. I find it non-threatening and allows me to offer my understanding, while at the same time it provides an opportunity for me to learn more or be corrected in my understanding. 

Every time I think I know a lot, I log on here and read a few blogs or comments and realize just how much I don't know!