Are there examples of kukri that lack the distinctive notch(cho)?

kronckew · 14th June 2022, 10:53 AM

From what i've read, very early (pre 17c) ones may not have a recognisable cho/kaudi cutout. They still seem to have an unsharpened narrowing of the blade for a bit before it enters the grip. Exactly when & why they started having one is unknown, and still is. The modern take is that it is NOT a proper khukuri without it, just a KLO. (khukuri-Like Object. Many recent khukuri shaped machetes, and some large knives with recurved blades do not have one, and are this really just KLO.
(Khukuri is the transliteration of the Nepali word for these knives)

BBJW · 14th June 2022, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kronckew

From what i've read, very early (pre 17c) ones may not have a recognisable cho/kaudi cutout. They still seem to have an unsharpened narrowing of the blade for a bit before it enters the grip. Exactly when & why they started having one is unknown, and still is. The modern take is that it is NOT a proper khukuri without it, just a KLO. (khukuri-Like Object. Many recent khukuri shaped machetes, and some large knives with recurved blades do not have one, and are this really just KLO.
(Khukuri is the transliteration of the Nepali word for these knives)

The oldest kukri I have ( from a well known San Francisco collector) circa 1800 has a cho/kaudi. Koras before that did not have one. At least as far as I know.-- bbjw

werecow · 14th June 2022, 08:52 PM

Quote:

KLO. (khukuri-Like Object.

A condemnation, it sounds like. }|:oP

This one likes to live dangerously, but flinched.

kronckew · 18th June 2022, 07:14 AM

A KLO may be a perfectly good knife, thai eneps, Viet knives, other recurved knives, kopis, yataghans, etc., it's just not a khukuri. it's Not a disparaging term.

Kothimora scabbards with good functional older design khukuri are cool. The kardas and chakmaks (aux. blades;m karda is a utility knife, chakmak is a hardened very blunt 'steel' for rubbing out dents in the edge.) don't have a cho (and are not khukuris).

My Hanshee and my Enep: (and I eventually found a nepali museum with an 18c Khuk with a cho-less ricasso. It does have a proto-cho notch. The swords to the left are Indian sosun-pata KLOs.

Pitt1999 · 23rd June 2022, 04:24 AM

Thanks everyone for this information! I was asking more about the traditional Nepalese form, but I like the direction this went with the Kukri Like Objects. Thai enep knives were one of the closest things I have found that resemble a kukri without the cho. Certain examples of Chammoro knives can also resemble a kukri lacking a cho. While I was mulling over this topic I found the Heritage Knives website that features a section dedicated to the history of the military from John Powell, and there is this photo showing multiple kukris. If you look at the one at the very bottom, that example seems to lack the cho entirely, possibly not even having a ricasso. This kukri is the only one that I have seen in the traditional Nepalese form that doesn't even show a trace of the cho.

SidJ · 24th June 2022, 11:47 AM

Here is one of mine without a kaudi.

RobT · 24th June 2022, 06:57 PM

SidJ

Very interesting. Could you supply close ups of the cho area (most especially), hilt, and blade? Blade and hilt lengths would also be good.

Sincerely,
RobT

18th June 2022, 07:14 AM	#4
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,215	A KLO may be a perfectly good knife, thai eneps, Viet knives, other recurved knives, kopis, yataghans, etc., it's just not a khukuri. it's Not a disparaging term. Kothimora scabbards with good functional older design khukuri are cool. The kardas and chakmaks (aux. blades;m karda is a utility knife, chakmak is a hardened very blunt 'steel' for rubbing out dents in the edge.) don't have a cho (and are not khukuris). My Hanshee and my Enep: (and I eventually found a nepali museum with an 18c Khuk with a cho-less ricasso. It does have a proto-cho notch. The swords to the left are Indian sosun-pata KLOs. Attached Images Last edited by kronckew; 18th June 2022 at 07:40 AM.

23rd June 2022, 04:24 AM	#5
Pitt1999 Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Posts: 108	Thanks everyone for this information! I was asking more about the traditional Nepalese form, but I like the direction this went with the Kukri Like Objects. Thai enep knives were one of the closest things I have found that resemble a kukri without the cho. Certain examples of Chammoro knives can also resemble a kukri lacking a cho. While I was mulling over this topic I found the Heritage Knives website that features a section dedicated to the history of the military from John Powell, and there is this photo showing multiple kukris. If you look at the one at the very bottom, that example seems to lack the cho entirely, possibly not even having a ricasso. This kukri is the only one that I have seen in the traditional Nepalese form that doesn't even show a trace of the cho. Attached Images

24th June 2022, 11:47 AM	#6
SidJ Member Join Date: Apr 2020 Posts: 207	Here is one of mine without a kaudi. Attached Images

24th June 2022, 06:57 PM	#7
RobT Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 535	Close-up Requested SidJ Very interesting. Could you supply close ups of the cho area (most especially), hilt, and blade? Blade and hilt lengths would also be good. Sincerely, RobT Last edited by RobT; 24th June 2022 at 06:59 PM. Reason: additional info requested

14th June 2022, 10:53 AM	#1
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,215	From what i've read, very early (pre 17c) ones may not have a recognisable cho/kaudi cutout. They still seem to have an unsharpened narrowing of the blade for a bit before it enters the grip. Exactly when & why they started having one is unknown, and still is. The modern take is that it is NOT a proper khukuri without it, just a KLO. (khukuri-Like Object. Many recent khukuri shaped machetes, and some large knives with recurved blades do not have one, and are this really just KLO. (Khukuri is the transliteration of the Nepali word for these knives)