This Service No.1 Gripper Horn Handle khukuri (kukri) is most common and popular khukuri amongst the Gurkha soldiers. The Service No. 1 Kukri is official issued to Gurkhas in UK Regiment. This khukuri (kukri) is provided to all the British Gurkha soldiers during enlistment and is retained by them throughout their army career. Inspected regularly by an officer, this khukuri (kukri) is usually used during Parade and Duty. This Service No.1 khukuri (kukri) has Recruiting Years and Country's name engrave on the left side of the blade. This engraving on the blade started because in the olden days the Gurkha Soldier used to forget their enlistment year due to too many wars. All Khukuris have two pockets on the back of the scabbard which hold a blunt steel called "chakmak" for sharpening the blade or for striking spark from flint and a little knife known as "karda" used for skinning small animals such as rabbits. The notch (kaura or kaudi) in the blade near the hilt of most khukuris serves as conduit for the blood on the blade to drip out, thus preventing it from soiling the hilt, as well as a device for catching and neutralizing and enemy blade.
Blade Size and Type : 10.5 inch (26cm) and Polished blade.
Handle Size and Type : 5.5 inch (14cm) Buffalo horn fixed tang Gripper handle.
Upper Spine : 11mm.
Lower Spine : 9mm.
Belly : 1.9 Inch.
Handle Circumference : 3.6 Inch.
Hardness of steel : spine=22-25 RC, belly=45-46 RC, edge=58-60 RC.
Scabbard : Cotton Covered in buffalo leather. The scabbard has dubble frogs which are leather loops used to attach to the belt.
