Kukri is a famous and unique name when it comes to knives or knife categories. It is now used by all types of people around the world due to its multipurpose usage capability. In spite of its distinctive usefulness, we find people sometimes got confused about its original use motive.
Consequently, we often come across the question where people want to know the difference between kukri vs. kopis, Bowie, hatchet and axe and a few other tools or weapons.
Eventually, today our discussion will round through the kukri definition and its distinctive character from other tools or weapons.
Let’s get started with the genuine definition of the kukri.
What is a kukri?
Kukri which is also known as khukuri s a kind of curved knife usually used as a weapon or tool. It is originated in India and later co-operated by Napali and begin to use it as a basic knife of Gurkha( NEPAL). Later on, it is begun to use in large quantities in the Nepalese Army, Indian Army, British Army, and few others.
Since it is very useful both as weapon and tool so it starts to take popularizes among the hunters, survival, collector and above all general people. Apparently the confusion between the usage of this particular tool and others begin to grow fast.
So we are here to clear the confusion and provide the details knowledge.
We start to describe the differences between kukris to others with the kukri vs. kopis discourse. Give it a go!
Kukri vs. Kopis
Whereas the origin of the kukri is Nepal or India in this case kopis is an ancient Greek origin that comes from the word “Khophes”. The means of the term kopis or khopes is cutting sword. Similar to the kukri it is also a one-handed knife or sword that is designed in a recurve angle.
The design is the main thing that made a confusion between kopis and kukri. But let us clear, the kukri is generally designed between 40 -45 cm whereas kopis is a structure in 60-65 cm.
This size is clear that kopis is a kind of sword that only can be used as a weapon but not as a tool. But the medium size of kukri made it an ideal tool along with a survival knife.
Therefore, kopis is used for slaughtering an animal, cutting meat and that type of work. Whereas kukri is used for chopping firewood, clearing bushes, cutting meat and vegetable and so on.
This means kukri is a multi propose knife or weapon while kopis is only a weapon that used as a sword. And it is the main difference between the two.
Kukri vs. Bowie
In the next, we have come with the bowie knife which is invented by James black in the early 19th century. This is another knife on our list that often compare with the kukri knife due to their similar design and work.
Meantime, the bowie knife is generally used as a self-defence knife or weapon. It is a structure between 13-30 cm whereas kukri basic size is 40 -45 cm.
Bowie is a kind of pocket knife that can be used for cutting rope, tree small brush or for urgent self-defence motive. It can’t be used for chopping wood, cutting meat or that sort of job.
The main characteristic of a bowie knife is its two side blade design that keeps it distinctive than other models. It is designed in the large fixed blade in which there is a clip point at the last section of the blade and a solid guard.
Kukri vs. Hatchet
There is a well-marked difference lies between kukri and hatchet. Both are different not only is outlook appearance rather in their working field too. Well, a hatchet comes with a typical 18-inch long length along with curved and hummer layout and Sharpe edge.
On the other side kukri is hardy design and size between is 40 -45 cm.
It is originated from the American natives to the Vikings and Chinese. But kukri is Nepal and India originated tool. However, the hatchet is mainly used for cutting, destroying or chopping things rather than self-defence motive as kukri.
It is a one-handed weapon that provides less control than kukri has. Basically hatchets are solely used for household jobs like cutting a big tree, chopping wood pieces, agriculture work like digging soil and other manual jobs.
On the contrary, the kukri is a sharp and thick knife used for the multifunctional job but never is an appropriate tool or weapon for cutting the whole tree. Besides, you can’t use kukri directly for any agricultural jobs.
Kukri vs. Tomahawk
Now we come around to tomahawk which is another kind of weapon or tool often compare with the kukri. Although we find it inappropriate to compare this tomahawk with kukri rather it can be compared with axe or hatchet.
Since it looks like single-handed hatchet only two differences it had no hummer head behind and 50-60 cm in length. Similar to the hatchet it is an ancient weapon invented since the 17th century by the North American people. No exact person name is mention in the invention history.
However, the tomahawk is a sort of traditional weapon of North American people. Whereas modern people often used it instead of hatchet due to its lightweight and large length then hatchet.
Therefore the basic use of this weapon is cutting big or whole three, and then chopping wood into a piece, digging soil and so on. This weapon is irreverent to use as a self-defence weapon, cutting meat or vegetable, as kukri can do.
Kukri vs. Axe
In the comparison of kukri and axe we can define axe as a one-handed, single edge, sharp head with wood handle weapon. On the contrary to single-handed, inwardly curve blade, small hand kukri.
Both kukri and axe can be used as a self-defence weapon whereas kukri is more appropriate then axe. Because kukri is hardy is 40 -45 cm in length and easy to console in pocket whereas an axe is 81-91 cm in length much difficult to carry and console.
One can used axe for a domestic purpose just a hatchet and tomahawk. An axe is best suited with the work of splitting wood; cutting a wood tree and chopping them rather than use it for cutting meat or vegetable.
Kukri carries light and thinner blade then axe that makes it ideal for multi propose work including splitting wood. In this manner, an axe can be best for chopping wood if you compare it with the kukri.
Kukri vs. Parang
In the last number, we have come with a comparison between kukri and parang. On the contrary, a parang is an Indonesian invented knife or a kind of machete which is the measure between 25-91 cm lengths.
It is more like a sword rather than any knife or machete and often remarks as a sword that is convenient in use as a comeback weapon.
Similar to its unique blade design and size, the parang is generally used for making houses, furniture, and tool of different kinds.
Besides, as this knife has a narrow sharp angle and much high in length so can be used for survival purposes like slaughtering an animal or cutting tree bushes and more.
In the survival motive, there are some similarities between kukri and parang. Otherwise, both are so different in size, design and even in use.
Final words
In the beginning, we have started with the kukri definition and at last, we are done with the kukri and other tool or weapon definition and comparison. We have compared kukri vs. kopis, Bowie, hatchet, tomahawk, axe, and parang to show you their differences as well as similarities. We hope our discussion helps you to know what weapon/tool/knife we actually need for your jobs. Best wishes to you!
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