Angkhola, Sirupate, Bhojpure, Panawal, Dhankute, Chirra. The names sound impenetrable, but each one describes only one of three things: the shape of the blade, the way it was forged, or the place it comes from. Learn that and the whole list falls into place.
Forged: Angkhola and Panawal
Angkhola means the blade has a hollow forged into it, a shallow channel that sheds weight while leaving a thick, strong spine. Panawal describes full-tang construction, the tang running the length of the handle and riveted through for toughness. Combine them and a Panawal Angkhola is a full-tang, heavy-duty working kukri, about as hard-wearing as a traditional one gets.
Region and shape: Bhojpure
Named for the Bhojpur district, the Bhojpure is broad, heavy and deep-bellied, built for serious chopping. It is the archetypal big kukri most people picture when they hear the word. Our Bhojpure Dragon is a bold take on it.
Slim and quick: Sirupate
Sirupate takes its name from the narrow leaf of the siru plant. It is longer, slimmer and lighter than a Bhojpure, faster in the hand and kinder to carry, made for lighter cutting rather than heavy chopping. If a full Bhojpure is more knife than you want, this is the graceful alternative.
Named for the handle: Dhankute
Dhankute takes its name from Dhankuta, a town known for beautifully turned wooden grips, so a Dhankute Kukri is really about the handle work. These sit at the decorative, collectable end of the range while staying perfectly usable.
Fullered blades: Chirra
Chirra means the blade carries fullers, the ridges and grooves forged along its length. They are hard to make well, so a multi-fuller kukri is a showcase of the smith’s skill. You will see three, five and even six-fuller blades. Set our Three Fullers Panawal Angkhola beside the Six Fullers Kukri to see the range. Here is a five-fuller taking shape under the hammer.
Named for the job: working and military patterns
Some names describe a role rather than a shape. The Jungle or PRI is the classic Gurkha work pattern, a genuine all-rounder (our Jungle Khukuri). The WW2 Dehradun recreates the wartime service blade. The Gonjawal and Arrow Head are less common traditional patterns for collectors after something different.
Which to choose
For a first do-everything kukri, a Jungle or Panawal Angkhola. For maximum chopping, a Bhojpure. For something lighter to carry, a Sirupate. For a piece to own and admire, a Dhankute or a fullered Chirra. Whichever name it wears, if it is one of ours it was forged by hand in Nepal from high-carbon steel.
Found your type? Browse every pattern in the kukri collection. Hand-forged in Nepal, from the £41 working knives up to the six-fuller showpieces.