Great Gurkha Khukuri (GGK) was founded in 1992 A.D by Purna Darnal. The founder has been in this profession from his early childhood playing with the tools his father worked with. This profession has been passed on to us by his forefathers and we are continuing the same profession till date.
Our founder’s passion for producing high quality handmade blades has been driving him in this field with the sole purpose of making the finest handmade kukris (Khukuri in Nepali) up- keeping tradition alive. He has gone through many hardships and has traveled to different rural villages to acquire more & more information about kukris, their design & manufacturing. In these almost 30 years he has many acquaintances at home and abroad receiving great suggestions and advice for the blades.
We are very indebted for the love well-wishers have poured upon and for the techniques they have lent. Also we have been receiving many antique samples for reproduction from customers abroad as they have a firm belief upon that “Purna is the master for keeping the traditional blend alive”.
After setting the showroom at Hanumandhoka at early 2000 we now have a forge near the showroom where upto 10 people including blacksmiths & scabbard makers work at a time. The kukris that we have designed are famous till date. Tri-Chandra, Black Panawal, Gripper Handle, Afgani Kukri etc. are all GGK old designs. However with the changing time we have been reproducing old kukris in modern form with the old detail and design of the blade intact. Modern sirupate, Hancy killer, Yalambar, Vuke, Butcher knife etc are our new designs loved by many kukri passionates.
We love to impart the knowledge gained in due course of time with people from different parts of the world who can access our kukris & knives via website. Then they can get sufficient knowledge on any particular kukri and place their order. Customers have multiple choices as we have diverse blade portfolios. The price is very reasonable with assured lifetime guarantee on our blades with replacement warranty.
With our dedicated team of professionals, we assign jobs to the workers according to their knowledge and expertise. Some work on forging, some on making handles, some work on sharpness and finally finishing touch is done under the close supervision of our master bladesmith Mr. Purna Darnal himself. Until and unless the founder gets satisfied with the final produce he doesn’t put it for sale.
“BSI” khukuri historically, is made within the British Camp in Dharan within 1962-1993 A.D.(2019-2050 B.S.) This special light weight khukuri ‘of that time’ is made by skilled blacksmith from “Kaamis” community under closed observation of expert group. Prior to this the British Gurkha troops used models like MK1, MK2, MK3, MK4 quite heavy compared to BSI.
Traditionally local hand made tools like hammer, scissors, bhaati , aaran (furnace) etc were used. Highly skilled manpower with their own special skills make these khukuris.
The iron used for making the blade was commonly called “Jure Iron”. The special characteristic of this iron is it is very easy and flexible to get hammered at the red hot state that can be remoulded at the designed shape while working with the hands. Traditionally all local people make their daily house hold tools like sickle, Axe, spears, arrows etc with this iron. BSI khukuris have rat tail tang as Gurkha troops feel more flexible for easy handy balance. As rat tail tang gives more comfort and more balance I guess more preference were given by the Gurkha troops for rat tail making. In full tang version we can find MK2, MK3, MK4 but not BSI khukuris. Legendary makers of BSI says that Gurkha troops prefers rat tail tang rather than full tang so BSI khukuris were in high demand compared to other models. The khukuri has the water buffalo horn handle and brass bolster and buttcap. Looking at the blade shape it is a slender “baanspaate design” a traditional Nepalese design from Eastern region of Nepal. The “baanspaate design” is more comfortable, agile and flexible. Also the blade weight within 500 gms gives the perfect match for 16” khukuri( 11” blade size & 5” handle). The blade is centrally balanced from 2.5” from the bolster. The scabbard is made from “Simal” wood covered by buffalo leather with brass “kothi” affixed atop. Originally the scabbard has 2 belt loops. Following the Nepalese tradition this khukuri has “Karda and chakmak” attested at the scabbard. Other designs like MK2, MK3 & MK4 lacks Karda and chakmak because these designs were produced at Calcutta and Dehradun of India. So BSI khukuris are the real produce of Nepal maintaining local standard and integrity.
The legendary khukurismith Mr. Karna Bahadur Bishwakarma from Diktel ( now residing in Dharan) opines that BSI khukuris had various grades. The finest quality “grade I” was purchased by “Ornest Co” with its own seal and date of manufacture etched at the left-bottom of the blade. These khukuris were supplied to “The British Army Camp” as “Ornest Co” was the legal supplier and distributor.
The 2nd standard & 3rd standard blades that were little damaged due the course of hand making as compared to 1st standard were bought by authorised agents “ Parry & Co.” and “Signal & Co” respectively as per veteran Kaami “Karna Bahadur Bishwakarma”. These co’s sell the blades to which parties he couldn’t recall perfectly. But assumption is these khukuris were locally sold for decoratives, Souvenirs, gifts so on. A gentle reminder Mr. Karna Bahadur Bishwakarma had worked as a blacksmith from 1980-1993 at the British Camp in Dharan. Thereafter he worked with other local contractors after the The British Army Camp left for Pokhara from Dharan.
Till date 2020 A.D.(2077 B.S) it has been 58 years that BSI khukuris have been being supplied to British Gurkha Army. Recently Mr. Til Bahadur Century B.K.“ former British Gurkha Army” has supplied the recent quota for 2019.
After 1993 contractors Harsha Man Shakya, Mitra Singh Pradhan, Bhim Bahadur B.K. had succeeded in delivering the tenders.
As per my research I found the following kaamis that had worked on this BSI khukuri at the different time periods.
1) Pratap Singh Bishwakarma (1970-1993)
2) Ram Bahadur Bishwakarma (1970-1993)
3) Jagat Bahadur Bishwakarma (1970-1993
4) Ritu Man Bishwakarma (1970-1993)
5) Mugadhan Bishwakarma (1970-1993
6) Mekh Bahadur Bishwakarma(1970-1993).
7) Chandra Bahadur Bishwakarma (1970-1993)
8) Krishna Bahadur Bishwakarma (1970-1993)
9) Khadga Bahadur Bishwakarma (1970-1993)
10) Karna Bahadur Bishwakarma (1980-1993)
Most of the prime maker had expired while some are still earning their retired livelihood.
Our founder’s passion for producing high quality handmade blades has been driving him in this field with the sole purpose of making the finest handmade kukris (Khukuri in Nepali) up- keeping tradition alive. He has gone through many hardships and has traveled to different rural villages to acquire more & more information about kukris, their design & manufacturing. In these almost 30 years he has many acquaintances at home and abroad receiving great suggestions and advice for the blades.
We are very indebted for the love well-wishers have poured upon and for the techniques they have lent. Also we have been receiving many antique samples for reproduction from customers abroad as they have a firm belief upon that “Purna is the master for keeping the traditional blend alive”.
After setting the showroom at Hanumandhoka at early 2000 we now have a forge near the showroom where upto 10 people including blacksmiths & scabbard makers work at a time. The kukris that we have designed are famous till date. Tri-Chandra, Black Panawal, Gripper Handle, Afgani Kukri etc. are all GGK old designs. However with the changing time we have been reproducing old kukris in modern form with the old detail and design of the blade intact. Modern sirupate, Hancy killer, Yalambar, Vuke, Butcher knife etc are our new designs loved by many kukri passionates.
We love to impart the knowledge gained in due course of time with people from different parts of the world who can access our kukris & knives via website. Then they can get sufficient knowledge on any particular kukri and place their order. Customers have multiple choices as we have diverse blade portfolios. The price is very reasonable with assured lifetime guarantee on our blades with replacement warranty.
With our dedicated team of professionals, we assign jobs to the workers according to their knowledge and expertise. Some work on forging, some on making handles, some work on sharpness and finally finishing touch is done under the close supervision of our master bladesmith Mr. Purna Darnal himself. Until and unless the founder gets satisfied with the final produce he doesn’t put it for sale.
A very strong team of ours that our founder has been leading since the last 30 years is fully dedicated to making the best kukris & knives to satisfy our customers. Our team believes in hard work and designing & forging the best knives to present to this world. You can have a firm belief on GGK to make the best kukris there are.
“BSI” khukuri historically, is made within the British Camp in Dharan within 1962-1993 A.D.(2019-2050 B.S.) This special light weight khukuri ‘of that time’ is made by skilled blacksmith from “Kaamis” community under closed observation of expert group. Prior to this the British Gurkha troops used models like MK1, MK2, MK3, MK4 quite heavy compared to BSI.
Traditionally local hand made tools like hammer, scissors, bhaati , aaran (furnace) etc were used. Highly skilled manpower with their own special skills make these khukuris.
The iron used for making the blade was commonly called “Jure Iron”. The special characteristic of this iron is it is very easy and flexible to get hammered at the red hot state that can be remoulded at the designed shape while working with the hands. Traditionally all local people make their daily house hold tools like sickle, Axe, spears, arrows etc with this iron. BSI khukuris have rat tail tang as Gurkha troops feel more flexible for easy handy balance. As rat tail tang gives more comfort and more balance I guess more preference were given by the Gurkha troops for rat tail making. In full tang version we can find MK2, MK3, MK4 but not BSI khukuris. Legendary makers of BSI says that Gurkha troops prefers rat tail tang rather than full tang so BSI khukuris were in high demand compared to other models. The khukuri has the water buffalo horn handle and brass bolster and buttcap. Looking at the blade shape it is a slender “baanspaate design” a traditional Nepalese design from Eastern region of Nepal. The “baanspaate design” is more comfortable, agile and flexible. Also the blade weight within 500 gms gives the perfect match for 16” khukuri( 11” blade size & 5” handle). The blade is centrally balanced from 2.5” from the bolster. The scabbard is made from “Simal” wood covered by buffalo leather with brass “kothi” affixed atop. Originally the scabbard has 2 belt loops. Following the Nepalese tradition this khukuri has “Karda and chakmak” attested at the scabbard. Other designs like MK2, MK3 & MK4 lacks Karda and chakmak because these designs were produced at Calcutta and Dehradun of India. So BSI khukuris are the real produce of Nepal maintaining local standard and integrity.
The legendary khukurismith Mr. Karna Bahadur Bishwakarma from Diktel ( now residing in Dharan) opines that BSI khukuris had various grades. The finest quality “grade I” was purchased by “Ornest Co” with its own seal and date of manufacture etched at the left-bottom of the blade. These khukuris were supplied to “The British Army Camp” as “Ornest Co” was the legal supplier and distributor.
The 2nd standard & 3rd standard blades that were little damaged due the course of hand making as compared to 1st standard were bought by authorised agents “ Parry & Co.” and “Signal & Co” respectively as per veteran Kaami “Karna Bahadur Bishwakarma”. These co’s sell the blades to which parties he couldn’t recall perfectly. But assumption is these khukuris were locally sold for decoratives, Souvenirs, gifts so on. A gentle reminder Mr. Karna Bahadur Bishwakarma had worked as a blacksmith from 1980-1993 at the British Camp in Dharan. Thereafter he worked with other local contractors after the The British Army Camp left for Pokhara from Dharan.
Till date 2020 A.D.(2077 B.S) it has been 58 years that BSI khukuris have been being supplied to British Gurkha Army. Recently Mr. Til Bahadur Century B.K.“ former British Gurkha Army” has supplied the recent quota for 2019.
After 1993 contractors Harsha Man Shakya, Mitra Singh Pradhan, Bhim Bahadur B.K. had succeeded in delivering the tenders.
As per my research I found the following kaamis that had worked on this BSI khukuri at the different time periods.
1) Pratap Singh Bishwakarma (1970-1993)
2) Ram Bahadur Bishwakarma (1970-1993)
3) Jagat Bahadur Bishwakarma (1970-1993
4) Ritu Man Bishwakarma (1970-1993)
5) Mugadhan Bishwakarma (1970-1993
6) Mekh Bahadur Bishwakarma(1970-1993).
7) Chandra Bahadur Bishwakarma (1970-1993)
8) Krishna Bahadur Bishwakarma (1970-1993)
9) Khadga Bahadur Bishwakarma (1970-1993)
10) Karna Bahadur Bishwakarma (1980-1993)
Most of the prime maker had expired while some are still earning their retired livelihood.
Specifications:
- Name: 11" BSI Khukuri / Kukri
- Overall Length: 16.00"
- Blade Length: 11.00"
- Blade Steel: High Carbon steel
- Upper Spine Thickness: 0.35"
- Lower Spine Thickness: 0.16"
- Handle Material: Buffalo Horn
- Handle Length: 5.00"
- Sheath: Water Buffalo Leather
- Weight: Between 16.93 and 17.64 ounces without sheath
- Country of Origin: Nepal
