Mini

While many traditional blade forms have dwindled in popularity over the past century within Nepal the khukuri has done the opposite.
Historically the blade form was pretty firmly constrained within the 9″-18″ range seeing use as a heavy machete, and hard use outdoors blade both in military and civilian knife however it has been expanding this size range as time goes on. The ceremonial, sacrificial and military use of the Kora have either disappeared entirely or been completely replaced by enormous khukuris designed for decapitating buffalo and goats. Initially something mostly seen on stalls to sell as souvenirs it is becoming more common for khukuris in the single digits of length to be seen in the houses of locals, in the pockets of hikers and even in the purses of those in the cities. It’s not uncommon for such a smaller blade to make an appearance at a birthday party not unlike the ceremonial role of their giant brothers but in this situation to cut a cake rather than a goat. Maybe this reflects the modern times and is a way for many Nepali people to bring the cultural and historical connections of these blades into their increasingly urban lives. Regardless of the reasons for this shift it is a testament to the blade form that it can withstand such drastic shrinkage and remain a versatile and helpful companion.

In the wild the details of such blades varies dramatically with some being quite fine and ornate and others being very thick and tough. We like to offer the most practical blades possible and so have chosen to go with an understated blade pattern with a smoothly curving spine, reasonably broad blade and lean efficient geometry that helps these smaller blades excel at slicing, carving and other finer work. At these blade lengths the chopping power of these blades is naturally very mild and they are more knifelike in handling compared to our regular models and with the mini we lean into this utility rather than fight it. Within our lineup this has added benefits- these blades are often bought as gifts for others and a more general purpose utility can help ensure they see use in the hands of the recipient. They’re also often bought by those coming from a background in typical western knives- for many people 7″ would be the biggest knife they own so it helps them to dip a toe into the world of khukuris without needing to go all in on a “13 inch monster knife“. Their skillset is also more readily applicable to such knives than the much heavier and more alien full sized khukuris.

The 5″ is simply too short to properly chop with so we’ve dropped the spine thickness for maximum cutting efficiency and lower packed weight. While it’s not much of a chopper that doesn’t mean this knife doesn’t still benefit from the blade shape. The inner recurve is awesome for carving, debarking and cutting rope while the large belly helps to maximise slicing efficiency and edge life in surface work or skinning. The smaller size also helps to give a greater degree of control and leverage in these tasks. It’s the lightest weight of our khukuris which helps it to disappear on the belt, in the pack or in the pocket. You would be surprised by the frequency with which we hear that this blade sees duty as a cheese knife on special occasions, with the convex grind helping to stop the food sticking to the side! For a tough and fun EDC, a work knife that’ll be sure to start a conversation or even a gift for a fellow lover of charming edged objects the 5″ is a great option.

The 7″ excels at the same kind of tasks as it’s smaller brother but is a fair bit more capable and is more at home tackling bigger jobs like butchering and light to moderate batoning. We’ve upped the spine thickness for a little more of a solid feel in hand and if you give it a bit of a flick you might be surprised by how deeply it bites in the chop- it’s almost certain to have your classic western hunting knife feeling a little embarrassed.  If you’re looking for a small khukuri with some serious bite though check out the 7″/9″ Gainda or the 8″ Falo.

The extra 2″ of length, broader blade and thicker spine that the 9″ really helps it cement itself as a true khukuri. That hungry, eager to swing feel that a good khukuri has is a lot stronger here and chopping power is increased significantly to boot. Still extremely capable of carving and finer work, this small khukuri is a great option for those that want a fair chunk of a khukuri’s utility in a smaller and lighter package. Full sized khukuris are often described as halfway between a knife and an axe- think of this blade length as halfway between a knife and a full sized khukuri. For a bushcrafter that values packed weight, precision, low fatigue in use and knows just how much chopping power they actually need this is spot on.  More possibilities: a mini hatchet replacement for hikers, a do everything camp knife that fits in your glove box or even a pumpkin/breaker knife for the kitchen. You think a cleaver is a cool knife to bring out at dinner parties? Try a khukuri.

The thicknesses and weights are listed as follows.
5″: 5mm spine at bolster, 200g
7″: 6mm spine at bolster, 300g
9″: 7mm spine at bolster, 380g

These are our smallest khukuris and utilise a new handle design that is optimised for allowing the most compact, functional fit possible for a specific hand size. Our normal size guide still applies but it is optimised for a snug bare handed grip, with palm pressed against pommel flare and index on bolster. With this in mind consider sizing up if you are a borderline measurement, particularly if you have meaty hands or plan to use gloves. Please note that due to limited sheath area on the 5″ and 7″  salyani sheaths they will feature stitched leather highlights and a dap ridge rather than patuka buttons. For both dap styles they will also feature a leather snap around the handle to ensure adequate retention and a stable carry.

These knives may be small, but they excel at a lot of work that the regular khukuris struggle with. Great value, versatile and fun, the Mini khukuri is a blade which you’ll continuously be finding new uses for and always be thankful to have at your side.

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.