Angkhola Dui Chirra

The Angkhola (back-valley), so named after the gorgeous use of fullers in its construction, has gained a reputation in recent years as being a hugely powerful chopper – and perhaps one of the toughest knives in the world. Only so much of this reputation is justified though, with the majority of this reputation being based off the marketing efforts of Himalyan Imports while promoting their Chiruwa (full tang) Angkhola. While that knife they produce is undoubtedly very tough, it has less to do with the style of khukuri and its fullers and has more to do with the fact that it is made with spine thicknesses of over a centimetre and very thick grind geometry. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with this, it’s a far cry from the traditional angkhola which rarely reached such spine thicknesses and differs greatly from the original intended function and feel in hand.

Strictly speaking the fullers or Chirra that run along the side of the blade are designed to reduce weight and make a knife more agile in hand compared to the traditional blade pattern without sacrificing durability or strength. Typically the fullering is most prominent near the middle and front of the blade, helping to keep the balance closer to the handle while retaining a broad, deep biting profile. It is for this reason that angkhola style khukuris were usually lighter and more nimble on average than their unfullered counterparts and were seen on higher ranking military khukuris as well as in the hands of powerful and well respected civilians.

In relation to this later point, one major function of the fullers was to show off the prowess of the Blacksmith as the hammering and grinding of these fullers is one of the most time consuming and difficult processes a Blacksmith can encounter, which in turn displayed the taste and power of the wielder. As a result of this, there are historical examples of khukuris being made with one, two or even three fullers, called Ek, Dui and Tin Chirra khukuris respectively. In recent years this trend has gotten a little bit out of hand, with 5 or even 7 fullered blades coming out of some khukuri houses. Functionally speaking, the design with the best ratio of weight reduction to rigidity for most blades is the Ek Chirra. Some very broad, thin blades may find better rigidty from a dui or tin chirra, though generally there is increased weight for diminishing rigidity gains occuring with more fullers. By the time you get to 5 fullers you’re more or less looking at no functional benefit whatsoever, and operating purely based on style. At 7 fullers there’s not much style left in the knife whatsoever.

The Dui Chirra version of this knife use an angkhola pattern which was issued to WW2 ghurkas engaging in jungle fighting in Burma. If the Tin chirra maxes out chopping power and visual impact with a flashy broad blade, the dui chirra takes the narrow waist, broader belly and beautiful multiple fullers of that pattern but reins in some of its excesses to ensure the blade remains strikes a balance between power and agility. This blade has good chopping capability while still feeling refined and mobile and is an excellent choice for those looking for an outdoors khukuri with extra flair or a martial arts blade with a little more heft.

The 13″ option is the historical length and makes for an ideal all rounder khukuri. Fast enough to adapt to brush clearing, plenty of chopping power and not so clumsy that it can’t be used for carving and fine work.  The 13″ also has a mix of speed and power that helps it to work well as a martial khukuri.

The 11″ option is a more compact and lightweight option that trades a bit of chopping power for more controllability and ease of use for finer work around camp. A great option for bushcrafter/survival types or even for a fast and highly controllable martial tool.

The 15″ is too big to be convenient for a lot of common bushcraft and carving techniques but makes up for it with exceptional chopping performance, particularly against solid targets like saplings, thick branches and logs. This will be more fatiguing for extended use and light brush clearing and will be more strenuous in martial applications though may suit larger users well.

A 17″ is quite a blade indeed! It will be challenging to control for martial arts tasks in the hands of average strength users and will also require some exertion and focus from outdoorsmen to chop at angles that deviate significantly from vertical. This blade has a lot of momentum so overswings are something to watch out for. With this momentum though comes incredible chopping power against solid targets. We also envision the combination of beauty and overwhelming power that this blade presents to make it an ideal choice for a Maar blade- a sacrificial or ceremonial khukuri. It can spend most of the year looking incredible somewhere in your home then can be relied upon to sail through a goat effortlessly when the day comes.

11″: 8mm spine at bolster, 560g
13″: (Historical Length) 8mm spine at bolster, 610g
15″: 9mm spine at bolster, 670g
17″: 9mm spine at bolster, 720g
+100g for full tang.

All in all, the Angkhola is one of the most gorgeous knives Nepal has to offer. All of the time and effort put into the forging offers a refined feel in hand unlike anything else that makes it an absolute joy to use. While other khukuris attain beauty through engraving and gold inlays and ornamentation, the stunning fullers of the Angkhola give it an understated charm and beauty that exists to serve a purpose. That relationship between form and function that an angkhola portrays is something we’re deeply proud of at Kailash Blades and we hope you appreciate it as much as we do.

Before Purchase, please read through the “Options Info” segment of our “Learn” so you can learn about Finishes, sheaths, handle materials as well as the grind types we offer and how they affect the level of warranty you’ll receive.