A kukri (sometimes khukuri) is a forward-curving Nepalese knife traditionally carried by Gurkha soldiers and Himalayan hill people. Its inward-bent geometry concentrates striking force at the belly of the blade — giving a kukri the chopping authority of a small machete in a shorter, more controllable form factor.
Anatomy
- Belly — the wide, forward-curved section. The primary chopping zone.
- Spine — usually heavy on Ang Khola patterns; lighter on Sirupates.
- Cho / Kaudi — the notch near the bolster; a stress-reliever and traditional marker.
- Bolster — the steel collar that locks the blade into the handle.
- Karda & Chakmak — small companion blade and steel, traditionally carried in the same sheath.
Why bushcrafters love it
It splits, slices, batons, and clears brush from one tool. The forward weight does the work — you don’t muscle a kukri, you let it fall.
