Chitlange

Chitlanges are an interesting style of khukuri. A subset of particularly ornamental sirupate that was originally intended for trade with India, the form developed a reputation for its beauty, swiftness and cutting performance that saw it broadly absorbed back into Nepal’s blade culture and into the international spotlight in the hands of many modern gurkhas.

Identifying features of this khukuri style are a gorgeous main fuller and straighter blade style with less tip drop to reduce weight for a more lively feel. The bevel is also steeper than many modern sirupate which allows for outstanding cutting performance. It features a rather straight, slender handle that allows for fine angling, rotation and adjustment. Ornamentation is extremely prominent on these blades. with carving on the handle/buttcap, a highly refined “feather” alongside the spine featuring brass inlay and a distinctive closed cho which is punched clean through by the Blacksmith with a sledgehammer and may provide structural benefit compared to the standard open variety.
One final thing which sets this knife apart from others is its sheath, which features a central ridge, giving it a striking, triangular cross section and an aesthetic unlike any other khukuri. All of this ornamentation serves to display the pride and skill of the Craftsman, which is highly evident on this absolutely gorgeous blade.

In recent years these blades have been increasingly seen in the hands of gurkhas as replacements to the substandard modern service issues. The speed, reach and increased point capability from a blade like this gives them a serious edge over many historical khukuris in the modern field of battle. This particular style of chitlange that we’ve gone with is a regional variant from Limbuwan and is even more slender and severe towards the tip with dramatic fullering to heighten it’s offensive capabilities. A khukuri in this style was perhaps most notable wielded by the renowned gurkha Kailash Limbu.

In response to continued demand from martial artists and customers coming across from a background in european swords there’s a few unique options we have for this blade, one of which being a standard option for a bent sheet metal guard. For those who are looking to trade out some traditional styling for some extra retention and security in hand, particularly given the extra tip capability of this pattern it could be a great option to look into. Secondly, while many of our blades come in multiple lengths while retaining the same general utility and styling, the chitlange really thrives in different roles as it becomes larger, going from a lithe combat knife all the way up to a full length sword.

Combat Knife / Light Camp Knife:
12″: 8mm spine at bolster, 380gm
14″”: (optimal, standard length) 8mm spine at bolster, 430g

Shortsword / Knifechete:
16″: 8mm spine at bolster, 510gm
18″: 8mm spine at bolster, 580gm
21″: 8mm spine at bolster, 680gm

Hand-and-a-Half Sword:
24″ 8mm spine at bolster, 900gm
28″ 8mm spine at bolster, 965gm

All weights given are for the default options for that blade length.
A guard will add approx 80g to blades under 21″ and approx 200g for 21″+ blades as these are cast in solid metal. Full tang will add 100-250g depending on handle length.
The addition of a full tang or guard will impact the feel and handling of these blades. A blade with either (or both) of these options will have a more agile and controllable blade but also lose a bit of striking power. This is less welcome on shorter blades and more welcome on larger blades. We consider guardless to have optimal feel in hand for blades up to 16″ then guards becoming optimal for lengths 21″ and over. We consider 18″ (and maybe 21″) to be a borderline case depending on your personal handling preference.
Blades with guards installed already have a fair bit of counterweight so we consider rat tail tang to provide an optimal feel for all guarded blade lengths. 24″ and over with guard is a borderline case and depending on your personal handling preference you may prefer full tang. If your blade has no guard then we consider rat tail tang to provide an optimal feel up to 14″, then full tang providing optimal handling for 18″ and over. We consider 16″ (and maybe 18″) to be a borderline case depending on your personal handling preference.
We offer an extended 10″ handle on blade lengths 18″ and up. This larger handle offers additional counterweight to the blade reducing the POB much like the previously discussed options. However it also provides the opportunity to use a second hand for support during the strike. The pommel is designed with this support in mind and so is smaller and rounded to easily be manipulated in the palm of your support hand. It is not intended as a rearwards chopping grip as it does not have sufficient flare to dependably retain the hand. The handle ring is bulked up to perform this role when being used in a forwards grip. This echoes the handle ring situation on longer historich hanshee handles which may suggest similar intended usage. We think that this is borderline on rat tail 21″ blades and desirable on 24″ and 28″ blades- so much so that it is the only handle length we make available for these two largest lengths.

Through the skill of our smiths and the virtue of the slender pattern, our chitlange is the lightest and fastest khukuri that we offer for any given blade length. It would make an incredible martial arts/combat blade, unique military collector’s piece or a great light outdoors blade that excels at clearing thin and flexible brush while still being up for light chopping and wood processing. If you’re looking for a light and fast khukuri that’s a bit more rugged and hard working, look into our Sirupate. However if you’re looking for a beautiful, high performance khukuri with a distinct character, the Chitlange Khukuri is hard to go past. A beautiful piece of sculpted steel and a tool to respect, cherish and fear.

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.