Home >> Collecting >> Other Collecting

What Are the Notches at the Base of Ghurka Khukri For?

The Khukuri, or Kukri, is the traditional knife of Nepal. It is carried by every member of the Gurkha Regiments of the British Army as well as by most men in Nepal. The khukuri is a fixed-blade knife with a dropped point. The spine of the knife is traditionally bent. This angle makes the knife a more efficient chopping tool. The traditional design is believed to be more than 2500 years old. The khukuri became well known in Europe after the English-Nepalese War in 1814. In addition to being used as a weapon, the khukuri is used as a utility knife in Nepal. Commonly it is used as a machete, to cut firewood and as a butcher knife

Cho Facts
- Closeup of a sheathed khukuri.
  
  One of the unique aspects of the knife's design is the notch at the base of the blade, just above the handle, called a cho. There are many stories and a few facts surrounding the cho. The practical reason for the cho is to prevent blood or tree sap from flowing onto the handle, which could cause the user to lose his grip on the knife. Another benefit of the notch, as many khukuri do not have pommels, is to prevent the user from sharpening the handle of the knife while honing the blade.
Cho Traditions and Legends
- Gurkha Soldier displaying his khukuri
  
  The notch has two religious significances for Hindus. First the notch itself represents the Hindu fertility symbol. Secondly, there is an inset in the cho shaped to represent the hoof of a cow, which is a sacred animal in the Hindu faith. Legends also say that the notch was developed to enable a fighter to catch the blade of his enemy during hand-to-hand combat.
Cho Myths and Falsehoods
- There are also many falsehoods spread about this notch. One of the more common is that the notch is designed to allow the owner to safely cut himself so as to never sheath an unblooded knife. This would not work, as the notch is not sharpened. Another myth is that the notch is used as a sight, to enable accurate throwing of the knife. The khukuri is not a balanced knife and would not be an effective thrown weapon. The notch is also not a can opener. There are drawings of khukuri more than 1400 years old that clearly show the notch.
History of the Cho
- The oldest known khukuri blade, on display at the National Museum in Kathmandu, has the cho. Indian temple drawings dating as far back as the year 600 A.D. depict this distinctive notch at the base of the blade.

Other Collecting