The best Nepalese Kukri is the World War I Tora Blades Mark II, which also served in great numbers during World War II
This latest version of the Tora Blades Mark II is (so far) the best Nepalese Kukri I own.
Why am I calling this latest Tora Blades kukri the best Nepalese Kukri?
In the middle of my video I demonstate its lethality againtst a very well made World War II model from a competitor using balloons. Now don’t laugh. Because the late Bill Bagwell used balloons to demonstrate why he thought the “fighting bowie knife” is the finest close quarter blade of all due to the unique design of the sharpened portion that makes the deadly backcut possible.
Click here to get Bill Bagwell “The deadly Back cut.”
But a lot of knives are called Bowie knives. And justiably so. Due to their inheriting the bowie knives unique principles.
But the fighting bowie is an entirely different animal from all its imitators.
The bowie knife had its heyday in the 1830’s through the 1850’s when it was used in hundreds of duels, particularly in the deep South. In his book, Bowies, Big Knives, and the Best Balle Blades, Bagwell describes how New Orleans alone accounted for an average of one fatality a day in such duels.
Unfortunately Bill Bagwell died so I can’t ask him to create a genuine Bill Bagwell fighting bowie for me. But I commissioned Mark Morrow to make a real Arkansas fighting bowie for me.
Which I beleive to be just as outstanding as one of Bill Bagell’s masterpieces. A real fighting bowie such as those used in the first half of the 19th century is a knife of exquisite quality, lightweight for its size, beautifully balanced, and awesomely lethal if its owner knows how to use it.
I believe that my video demonstrates that the Tora Blades Mark II is not only the best Nepalese kukri I own. But also the most lethal kukri in my stable.
I compare it to the San Mai Cold Steel kukri that Cold Steel’s owner Lyn Thompson demonstrates in this video.
As outstanding as the Cold Steel kukri is, I believe the new Mark II kukri to be not only the best Nepalese kukri but quite possibly even superior to Cold Steel’s Gurkha Kukri with its very expensive and razor sharp San Mai blade made from Japanese laminated streel.
Cold Steel’s Lyn Thompson put another video up on the Cold Steel web site where he demonstrates the Gurkha kukri’s cut and thrust prowess. In that video Lyn Thompson emphasizes that “not all kurkri’s are created equal”. In the video Thompson once again swipes away at a hog’s carcass. Only this time he thrusts at the hog carcass using its point to demonstate that a kukri designed with its point angling downward can make big holes in the carcass with little effort.
After watching Bill Bagwell’s you tube video demonstating the bowie knife’s deadly backcut and Lyn Thompson’s video that emphasizes Cold Steel’s Gurka kukri’s thrusting capabilities I came up with my own Jack Corbett theory of what makes the World War I Tora Blades Mark II designed kukri superior to the later World War II designed kukris. And use my own balloon test. To demonstrate that the deadliness of the back edge of a fighting bowie is incorporated into the design in kukri’s including the Tora Blades Mark II and the Cold Steel Gurkha San Mai Kukri. (I have two Mark II kukris. Click here to get my video that proves my first Tora Blades Mark II kukri is the Best Nepalese Kukri due to its light weight.
Which now brings us to the quality of a Tora Blades Mark II kukri compared to a Cold Steel San Mai Gurkha kukri. Or even an equisite hand made fighting bowie.
Although I don’t have a Cold Steel San Mai kukri, I have a Cold Steel San Mai Trailmaster bowie knife. That uses the same expensive Japanese laminated steel. While I also own a gorgeous Mark Morrow fighting Arkansas bowie knife knife to compare it to.
In the hand the Mark Morrow fighting bowie is lightning fast. And as for its quality it’s perfect. Flawless. It took me one and a half years to get it from Mark. One reason it took so long is Mark had been unable to get deer antlers that met his rigid quality standards. Mark is also a historian.
And my Mark Morrow fighting bowie has an unworldly feel about it. Which captures a certain spirituality that the finest made fighting bowies no doubt possessed.
Hold it. While pretending to thrust and cut at an imaginary enemy and the blade seems to move by itself. Automatically. As if a spirit is directing it towards the killing zones of an enemy it’s encountering. Nothing surpasses a Mark Morrow fighting bowie.
the Cold Steel Trailmaster blade. Although the Trailmaster is 2 millimeters thicker.
But the fighthing bowie weighs 570 grams whereas the Cold Steel Trailmaster weights in
at just 500 grams. Yet the Mark Morrow fighting bowie seems to weight much less than
the Cold Steel San Mai Trail Master. This is because Mark designed it to have a heavy handle with a relatively light blade giving the fighting bowie extreme quickness. The guard’s purpose is to protect the owner’s hand from his opponent’s blade during a duel. This knife is deigned for killing. Notice also that Mark has signed the blade with his M insignia.
So I am not about to contend that the Tora Blades Mark II kukri equals a Mark Morrow blade’s quality. But it comes pretty close. While it equals Cold Steel’s San Mai blades based on comparing it to my Cold Steel San Mai Trailmaster.
on the Mark Morrow fighting bowie. This picture does not do justice to the beauty of its Japanese laminated steel blade. Because Cold Steel designed it to be almost indestructible the blade is 8 millimeters thick and 9.5 inches long. Contrast this to the Mark Morrow fighting bowie with its 10 inch long blade that is only 5 millmeters thick.
blade. The appearance of its gleeming steel blade is second to none. Not only is it paper cutting sharp every millimeter along its 14 inch blade. It shaves my arm like a razor. Above this Mark II is one of the six books I’ve done, Extreme Guns and Babes for an Adult World. I do my own book covers, type set my books myself, do all the books’ pictures, choose my own models (including the white tiger). So it should come as no surprise why I favor bowie knives and Kukris that are made by hand.
And the best kukris are created by master craftsmen who create each kukri with loving care.
For example, I received my Tora Blades Mark II with a certificate of authenticity that is signed and dated.
Cold Steel mass produces its products. While the Nepalese make kukris entirely by hand.
Tora Blades also include a Kukri check list for each kukri that bears the signature of the checker in the following areas, 1. Blade, 2. Handle, and 3. Scabbard.
This signed checklist guarantees there are no flaws in the kukri’s fit and finish. And that it completely passes both a nail and paper cutting test. So if it’s not razor sharp it comes awfully close.
It is no wonder that the Nepalese gurkas terrified the Japanese soldiers they faced.
Just as much as they terrified their German and Italian opponents on other fronts. But how about the man behind this awesome hand to hand combat weapon? How did he fare one on one against a Japanese officer wielding a Katana? Along with his rifle the Japanese officer carriesaKatana with its 28 inch blade. His skills are legendary. Even today the Gurkas are often considered the finest soldiers in the world. This is a long video, but I think you will favor the Gurkha when you finish viewing it.
in the world, and for the lucky Gurkhas who are selected. This will make all the difference
to their families and themselves. Their loyalty and devotion will be complete to the army thay serve. Their bravey unsurpassed.
Click here to watch the “Britains Nepali Warriors video on YouTube
Related posts here at the Fun House
Cold Steel, Kukri House and Mark Morrow Bowie Knife Review
Tora Blades World War I Mark 1 kukri review