Kukri vs Bowie - Two Iconic Knives Compared

[@GoGoDani]

"Now this isn't a video primarily about Kukris" Proceeds to spend 15 minutes and 2/3 of the video talking about the Kukri. Please never change Matt.

[@robgoodsight6216]

hahahahahahahah....but he made his "Point"....

[@MrPablucas]

Its all about context!!

[@thethomafisk]

But he has Khukri fever and there's only one cure...

[@petrus4]

Kukris are like the Joker. Whenever they make a Batman film and they put the Joker in it, even though it might be called Batman, the Joker actually becomes the main character, and the focus of the story stays primarily on him.

[@ronalddunne3413]

A most unkind cut!

[@cryhavoc9748]

I used to work with a man who came to America from Nepal. He made two plywood kukris, and after work, I would go to his house for an hour or two of training. After I got pretty good, he put red lipstick on the edge, and we both wore white t-shirts. I would run away from a Gurkha rather than fight. I prefer to keep all my limbs attached to my torso.

[@austinirwin2868]

Awesome!

[@markmiller897]

Yeah pretty much. I'm fond of my limbs. A master uses the edge of the blade, an amateur uses the point. Kukri's rule.

[@titot2370]

Honey I swear! Those lipstick marks you find on my shirt every Friday night are from kukri knife fighting practice.....

[@cryhavoc9748]

@@titot2370 *Yeah...... except that the long lines across my chest marking his cuts didn't look "loving" in any way.

[@PeterKoperdan]

@@markmiller897 Internet warriors fanboy badly. Masters use everything from the tip all the way to the butt masterfully.

[@matthewbaugh5560]

A kukri and a Bowie were the two weapons that killed Dracula in the novel. True story.

[@23Scadu]

Ah, so the last knife was for vampire hunting. Makes sense.

[@roelofschuldink4177]

Matthew Baugh hahaha.

[@kendhoward551]

As I recall, when I read a re-imagined update to the tale of "Dracula," that fact was reiterated by the protagonist when he exclaimed aloud 'You can't kill a vampire with a knife!' As I said, it was a re-imagined, modern tale, and it was the author's p.o.v. that a vampire can't be killed with a knife. ~ ;)

[@robertlehnert4148]

@@kendhoward551 that was Fred Saberhagen"s _The Dracula Tape_ , where Stoker's _Dracula_ is told from the first person perspective of the Count himself and to be telling it at all, he obviously wasn't killed by two steel knives😎

[@kendhoward551]

@@robertlehnert4148 Have to burn em, behead em, chop em up in a wood-chipper ... but no knives to the heart !! ;)

[@longleaf1217]

The Kukri Warrior: cause a little guy with a big knife and a smile is a lot more intimidating then a big guy with a small knife and a frown.

[@derstoffausdemderjoghurtis]

truth

[@longleaf1217]

@Re nato baddass no doubt, but im not necessarily talking about who is going to win in a fight. i would still be more intimidated by a little dude wearing no armor but carrying a big knife and a ear to ear smile. at least if i go against the zweihander (ive no idea how to put those two dots over the a) my death should be quicker.

[@druid799]

Having worked with the Gurkhas I can most definitely confirm there is something about them that does make you stop and think when you see these wonderful little guys smile at you .

[@seldonwright4345]

Hot lead pill. Ooppss. Fights over

[@HickLif3]

@@druid799 I watched those dudes decapitate a goat with zero effort. They were slaughtering it to eat. I was instantly sold on the kukri.

[@JimmyTownmouse]

"This isn't a video primarily about khukris, it's actually a video a little bit more about Bowie knives." --proceeds to talk about khukris for 15 minutes.

[@ronalddunne3413]

"That's not a knoife..."

[@Kairos0x]

Matt, I need another video from you talking about this hunting tigers with Kukris business, and I need it on my desk by Monday.

[@CoronaVirus-fu3zl]

Its mostly hunting leopards and cheetahs since we do not have Bengal tigers in the hills of nepal.

[@hadrianbuiltawall9531]

@@CoronaVirus-fu3zl And yet, still impressive.

[@Si74l0rd]

I knew a man who knew a Kami that made a Kukri that killed a bear, and was famous for it, perhaps more so locally than the man that killed the bear, as the man I knew didn't know that dude.

[@valandil7454]

There was also a martial arts form calling 'pounding the lion' where people took on lions barehanded. I do jujutsu...I'm a whimp compared to any of these guys lol

[@varuug]

@@CoronaVirus-fu3zl There are tigers in Nepal. 50 years ago people hunted tigers in the mountains. There are no lions in the wild in Nepal.

[@shawnj1966]

I have a Kukri that my grandfather brought back from India after WW2. It is one of my most prized possessions.

[@TheMDJ2000]

That's wonderful! I have a Spitfire compass that my father brought back from WW2 (RAF, Italy), also one of my prized possessions.

[@heikkiremes5661]

In Finland the Bowie-knife is colloquially known as "Rambo-puukko".

[@OkurkaBinLadin]

Same with Czechs :D "rambo nůž".

[@sirlagged]

Same here in Brazil. It's called "Faca do Rambo", or Rambo's knife

[@gaiusjuliuspleaser]

Same in Belgium, we call it a "Rambomes" or Rambo Knife

[@les3449]

Sad that foreigners don't know the true origin of that knife.

[@les3449]

@@chuckbowie5833 well, it wasn't Rambo, so tell me what info you have.

[@genobreaker1054]

When I first discovered the kukri, I was fascinated. So, I did a little digging. What I found was that kukris are actually multipurpose bush knives, like machetes. I found a website that still hand made tem in the traditional style and shipped internationally (never got one, still want one), but these included the sheath and two much smaller little blades and explanations on what all the knife is used for. Cutting bush, food, etc, as a very utilitarian tool. I also learned that armed forces in Nepal carry kukris and train with them the way American soldiers carry combat knives. So yeah. Tool and weapon. Really cool that they used to hunt tigers with these little blades. That takes balls, and I hadn't heard that one before. Even more respect for the weapon!

[@nilsschenkel7149]

Many people don't know about that, but the curved shape of the kukri allows you to use it like a spokeshave if you put your second hand on the tip of the blade. So, yeah, really multi- purpose

[@God-mb8wi]

Don't worry about the tiger part, pal. That's bullshit. There's an account from an 1878 book--an Orientalist nightmare of an account--which also makes sure to call them savages. Don't buy it for a bit.

[@kevinallsop5788]

It isn't the particular weapon that's important - it's the raving lunatic charging at you that makes the difference, no matter what he's carrying. Gurkha wins every time.

[@gaiusjuliuspleaser]

Still, those raving lunatics seem to love their Kukris more than any other knife :P

[@KageNoTora74]

During the brawl following the sand bar duel that established Jim Bowie's reputation, Bowie hewed a decent chunk of flesh out of one of his assailant's arms. He then was stabbed with a cane sword, which was stopped by his collarbone and allowed him to slip his knife 'twixt the ribs of he with the temerity to stab him.

[@History_Academix]

glad to see someone else bring up the Sandbar fight

[@demoncard1180]

This is Major Tom to Matt Easton, I'm cutting through the doooooor, and I'm slashing in a most peculiar way

[@kusheil]

Lmao

[@matthewblumenthal804]

For the Nepalese, the kukri was a great item because it could do a lot of things well. Good for chopping light wood. Good for fighting. Good for general cutting. These people were generally rather poor. They didn't have the option to have more than one knife. Thus the all purpose blade on a kukri. Now, personally, I train more with the kukri than European blades, so I'm as comfortable with it as I'm likely to be with a bowie. However, I don't consider it the be all end all for either combat or woods craft. I do consider it excellent for both, but purpose built weapons would probably be better for each task. When you could only have one, you took the one that would work the best for all the things you needed a blade to do. Interesting comparison though. Thanks.

[@ManoNegraCG]

There is a 19th century account about that saying the fighting kukri was never used for domestic job because it was a prized possession. For domestic use they would have one, or two other knives of similar shape, but made of cheaper metal.

[@matthewblumenthal804]

@Till This Day It's still all about the training and skill of the practitioner. The Kukri isn't ideal for a one on one duel. It's not bad either. Many dead Japanese officers in WWII can attest to that. The bowie has it's strengths and weaknesses as well and is a fine dueling weapon. All thing being similar, the person behind the blade is absolutely the deciding factor. By the way, someone trained with a kukri can use it quite effectively as a thrusting weapon. Not a "hacking" weapon at all except with wood. It cuts just like a saber if used properly. No doubt the mythical reputation of the Kukri is absolutely the reflection of the Gurkhas. By the way, they are generally far too short to use with a shield. Were quite effective in close quarters melee situations though.

[@matthewblumenthal804]

​@ŇøHă Ģ. The gladius was used as a stabbing sword in a rather regimented way that required linked shields. They weren't used or useful as single person dueling weapons. They just didn't work well without the shield line. The Kukri is really not well adapted to that kind of use. The Nepalese had long swords for use with shields. Before the introduction of firearms, the Kukri was probably a secondary weapon, as it often was after that time. Still my favorite big knife, but like everything else, it has areas in which it is stronger and those in which it is less so.

[@TheSlasherJunkie]

One of my squadmates in Korea bought a Kukri while he was visiting family in Nepal. He tried bringing it into Korea and the police seized it. He was PISSED.

[@SenkaBandit]

damn. Hope he mailed it home

[@TheSlasherJunkie]

@@SenkaBandit Couldn’t, the KNBG never gave it back.

[@SenkaBandit]

@@TheSlasherJunkie awwww that sucks

[@tylerreed610]

Just bring the knew Messer you have. It's just a giant bowie meets an arming sword.

[@Bob1942ful]

The long straight knife you pulled out made me think of the Arkansas Toothpick. It comes from the same era as the Bowie knife and was created by James Black who created the Bowie Knife with Bowie. The Arkansas Toothpick is less well known outside the USA.

[@JSRLPadre]

Is it bad that while I do enjoy the historical and technical minutia that Mr. Easton brings to his videos, I very much tune in primarily to hear him deploy his signature "BUT!"?

[@CarnalKid]

I think one could argue that it's the context in which the "BUT..." happens that makes it so special.

[@s.waldron8532]

You like his but

[@23Scadu]

The "howEVER" isn't bad either.

[@mrbones3163]

It's Tourette's syndrome, he's actually shouting BUTT.

[@jacobcates4872]

Matt, you just did a video on two of my favorite weapons. Thank you, I learned so much. As a Texan, you are welcome to the Alamo anytime.

[@philipzahn491]

Could you one day speak about the weapons of actual gladiators? Would be fitting for Schola *Gladiatoria* or not? ☺️

[@demoncard1180]

Why stop there, when he could make it a two parter, with the second part about weapons used by academics? We must examine the cutting potential of medieval treatises. How sharp was medieval paper?

[@Philistine47]

Or the sharpened nibs of quill pens. 😎

[@ViktorBengtsson]

@@demoncard1180 PhDs in Finland can be a rapier along with a ring, hat and diploma. Uppsala University still has a fencing instructor as part of the staff. So yes, scholarly weapons would be an interesting topic :)

[@eldricgrubbidge6465]

Well gladiators means swordsmen. Gladius is a sword. Gladiator is a ‘sworder’. Schola gladiatoria is a swordsmanship school.

[@philipzahn491]

Yes, I know what "Gladiator" means. Nonetheless we all know, what is commonly meant with the term. One or few videos on gladiators would be nice, I think. Comparing Gladiator games to modern HEMA, would be a nice topic or not?

[@dukefanshawe6815]

Just bought a bowie knife from Tod Cutler. Thank you for having a link to his website ❤️

[@ovk-ih1zp]

The Kukri really is a "Tool" adapted to be a War "Weapon" much like a Tomahawk. The Bowie on the other hand was designed to be a "Personal Weapon" from the outset. The Bowie is a Fair Stabbing Weapon, a Great Chopping/Slashing Weapon & is still effective on the reverse slash as well. The Bowie was a significant threat in a fight when firearms were still very unreliable. Anyone that was a serious Boowie Knife user in the mid to late 1800's ALWAYS had the "Clip Point" sharpened for a wicked reverse slash that was as effective as the fore-slash.

[@patbiggin644]

it was fun being on Knife or Death as one of the first competitors

[@Quincy_Morris]

Fun fact: these are the two knives used to kill Dracula. While I, Quincy Morris used the Bowie to strike Draculas heart, my partner Jonathan Harker used the Kukri for the decapitation. Both being necessary to kill a vampire.

[@axessdenyd]

I find that when using a kukri (khukri, khukuri...whoever), the techniques we use for tomahawk translate pretty well beause the size and balance feel a lot more like a tomahawk than a bowie. I like them both. Give me a big kukri in my main hand and a smaller bowie in my off hand.

[@rexromani2415]

Yes!

[@guilemaigre14]

Let's call it a "very short long knife-sword".

[@SCahn-fo9go]

As someone who has recently sliced through most of my fingers because of my hand riding up onto the blade of the knife I was using, I'm really glad that he mentioned that (10:45)

[@Theonlydump]

As you mention at about 14 minutes, the stabbing usage is similar to that of butterfly swords. Essentially using the weight of the tip to lead and a loose wrist fired like a straight punch to deliver the thrust. About as non-telegraphed as a technique can be.

[@1514max]

I used to have a Kukri on my webbing when I was in the army, excellent piece of kit for use as an axe or machete.

[@alganhar1]

I use one for the exact same reason, it is a great knife for general around the campsite work, as well as brush clearing and the like. Prefer them to Parangs or Machetes.

[@A_Meek_lake_Dweller]

Great minds think alike! : )

[@JackHawkinswrites]

Carried one when I was in Korea in the 80s. It was a good tool and a great conversation piece

[@BXGUY73]

The BOWIE Knife was great in the American Frontier because it was used in hand-to-hand combat, served as the knife to cut meat (for hunting) and cook with for Mountain men, Soldiers/Calvary, and Cowboys during the 1800's in North America. Bowie Knife was probably a great "side weapon" to have in the 1800's, especially during the time when there were muskets in the early half of the 1800's. The Kukri was also used as a farm tool, as well as for fighting. COOL VIDEO on these knives, THANKS!

[@grumples1517]

The bowie/kukri hybrid you showed is very similar to a common weapon found in the Philipines. It is still commonly carried by soldiers and Marines there also. I was there in 2007 while I was serving in the USMC to help train their forces in advanced urban warfare tactics and saw a number of them with these large (about 20" blade length) knifes with the distinctive kukri heavy front blade curve. They are apparently mostly made from old truck leaf springs and they called them boo-wie knives. I was able to trade for one and I still have it with its simple wooden sheath.

[@ryddragyn]

Fun fact: Dialect quizzes for the United States can figure out what state you're probably from based on how you pronounce Bowie.

[@yakamarezlife]

It's Bowie we have a town in my state named Bowie but it's not pronunced the same

[@PrepperDale]

booo wie

[@andybaxter4442]

You see, hear in the Mid-Atlantic I should have grown up saying boo-wie, but I have always said bow-Ey like a darn Noertheasterner.

[@BiggestCorvid]

It's pronounced Bowie, not Bowie.

[@andybaxter4442]

alive or trees Thank you for clarifying that.

[@elementalworld]

Good approach. As a 5ft 3 European it's a big blade to me too. I have my father's kukuri he got as a gift in Nepal in the 70s when stationed out there. It's a amazing tool for ground clearance.

[@Quark.Lepton]

The Khukri wasn’t originally designed for combat, it was a farm tool primarily evolved from an implement used to chop out roots from the sides of newly-dug, mountainside terraces-where the blade-shape proved quite efficient-and to process the good-burning mountain scrabble in the region into firewood. As good ironsmiths proliferated in the Nepalese region, farmers with their khukris became more common and, when called upon by king and country, they were quite lethal fighters. Hence, the chosen knife of the Ghurkas. Still, in combat-between a khukri-wielding Ghurka and a bowie knife-wielding Jim Bowie, my money wouldn’t be on Jimmy.

[@TacticalBunnyCA]

I'm very happy with my modern Cold Steel kirks Kukri Plus. The plus denoting an added guard. Which im very grateful for on woods work.

[@philipverity113]

”Bowies, big blades & the best of battle blades by Bill Bagwell” is an excellent book on this very subject. The Bowie is unique & very cleverly engineered blade in that the fighter can cut in several ways, slashing, sniping & chopping. Also the fighter can use the clipped point for a back cut & because of it’s concave profile it makes the point a leading point much like a talon or claw. Then there is the alignment of the point in relation to the rest of the knife. A well made Bowie should have the point on the end of the centre line making it a perfect thrusting weapon. Bagwell also recommends the sharpening of the point as a fine radius all the way from the main edge, around the tip & onto the back edge. This is so when the tip meets it’s target in a thrust it cuts through rather than ripping in the same way a broad headed arrow does. I cannot recommend this book highly enough if you are interested in this topic.

[@FrumpyPumpkin]

Philip Verity that title though. So many B’s.

[@philipverity113]

Carmelo Washburn Aye! So it is, damned good book all the same! Take care 😉

[@Spectre407]

Philip Verity - I never understood the point of rounding the tip

[@kaialoha]

Could slide of a rib. Questionable...

[@ilejovcevski79]

Every time i see the Kukri and the sword mentioned in one sentence, an inner voice shouts in me: "Falcata! Kopis!"

[@Lakikano]

They intentionally got into knife fights with tigers? Jesus. And I thought bullfighting was daring.

[@askimsong]

@Dick Fageroni actually they did fight with tigers, chinesemartialstudies.com/2016/06/09/hunting-a-tiger-with-a-kukri/

[@psychophipps]

Going to sound weird, but it was great to see someone that really knows what they are doing even with a few test swings. Not very often you see that economy of motion mixed with correct edge orientation on a KZbin video. Love your stuff!

[@Sam-iw6te]

Interesting discussion. The bowie knife has always been my favorite type of knife, overall. Never tried a Kukri, but maybe I should. Thanks for your input

[@9SS94Cr]

In my opinion both kukri and bowie are primarily tools that happened to be very decent weapons.

[@Spectre407]

9SS94Cr - Disagree. Have you ever used a Bowie as an outdoors knife? It’s great for chopping but it’s large size make it cumbersome for other chores. The Bowie starts as a fighting knife

[@spektr540hemi]

Love them both...I have been wielding variations of both for just over 40 years. At the end of the day, if I had to chose one, it would be a Bowie...Made to my specifications of coarse. Excellent videos. Thank you!

[@Scolecite]

Of course!

[@mitchtrubisky999]

Why the Bowie. Just curious

[@neuralkernel]

A bowie is easier to shave with... gotta keep those mutton chops trimmed!!

[@Raven.flight]

Interestingly, I think I'd use the kukri, and here is why: The 'weapon' side of a knife is secondary. It's primarily a tool. Anything the Bowie can do the Kukri can do. In some cases not quite as well, but in many cases much better. If you want to chop wood the kukri is your man. In most circumstances for most 'bush craft' requirements, the kukri is going to win out. Now, you've got a kukri on you because it's the best 'multi tool' available. You probably wouldn't have a bowie on you as well, because "why carry two knives". Therefore, the weapon you have on you is the one you would use. Yes, I know it's a convoluted reason, but it's how my mind thinks. Otherwise you could say 'which would be the best knife to use in a knife fight?' and the answer would be 'an M1911A1'

[@gearandalthefirst7027]

same here, sure, in a duel a bowie might be better but how many duels does one get into before they lose? the more important thing is the 99% of the time you're not fighting

[@bigredwolf6]

Well by that logic why not have a machete? It’s just as good as a kukri and should you get into a knife fight, you have the bigger knife. I get it, stupid knife laws that prohibit the carrying of a machete. But if you can open carry a firearm, then you should be able to open carry a machete.

[@Raven.flight]

@@bigredwolf6 because the discussion was between a kukri and Bowie.

[@bigredwolf6]

Ian N Yea but you included a 1911 at the end. So I figured it was fair game to talk about other tools/weapons

[@georgekaradov1274]

@@bigredwolf6 have you ever try choping wood with a machete??? You are welcome to try....

[@greylocke100]

There used to be a video I saw many years ago, of Gurkha's using the Kukri for everything from trimming the grass at thier barracks, but also in fieldcraft. They cleaned several rabbits, fish, and even a small deer with only thier Kukris and one if the other smaller blades stored in thier sheath. If I am remembering correctly it was the Indian Gurkha's not the British military Gurkhas. As the sub-titles looked to be in Hindi.

[@patricianicus8236]

We had Kukri vs Bowie. But how about Kukri vs Bon Jovi?

[@patrickmcshane7658]

Bon jovi, forget it.

[@joem7641]

Chaka Kahn vs Genghis Kahn

[@sprungmonkey6inches]

Nice Boar Spear. I got a cheap one, but it's sturdy and has an ash staff

[@TyLarson]

Glad to see you back. That bowie-kukrie is a monster.

[@momqabt]

Drink a shot of your favourite spirit every time Matt says "But!" Enjoy

[@TomRussellatAFA]

Very reasoned consideration of the advantages and disadvantages of both knives.

[@Rupertblade]

I'm an Italian old hunter and backpacker and also a knives collector and I love kukries and I own some of them old and new. I tried to carry some of them in hikes and hunts and it was a failure. Kukries are heavy cumbersome and can't really do anything properly chopping included. Quite a different thing with bowie knives: they are lighter and if of proper size, let's say about ten inches, can do everything you need in the woods much more efficiently than kukries. Let's start from chopping: a proper made bowie has a straight blade but with gentle curves at the choil and tip like an ax and is perfect for cutting into wood without gettig stuck. If stuck the slightly curved blade allows to rotate out as with an ax. Besides with a bowie you can slice meat bread vegetables etc. to prepare a meal and skin a boar or a deer or what you may need: try it with a kukri. Besides if you need to split a log of wood you can use batoning the straight spine of a bowie, while it's much more difficult if not impossibile with the round spine of a kukri. For personal protection in Europe the only real possibility is to fend off the attack of feral dogs or stray shepherd's dogs very common in European woods much easier with a bowie than with a kukri for what you have rightly pointed out: the guard, the keen point and the back cut. In conclusion I love kukries and collect them, but let us consider them interesting historical items like swords, daggers etc. and let's bring a real good bowie in the woods.

[@kaialoha]

Indeed. And can be made into a spear.

[@batteredwarrior]

Hi Matt, Do you have any recommendations for a first Bowie knife? I would love a Bowie, but am not sure what's worth getting or avoiding... Ideally I would like one with a clipped point and possibly a coffin handle.

[@rishabhsharma6112]

Some of the kukris have a talwar hilt that should take care of guard problem, and in the Maratha region the tips of the kukris are designed to thrust and they have a deep fuller through the spine making them lighter

[@pompadour_gagarin1723]

There's probably something to be said about these sort of weapons that are bridges between knives and short swords, stuff like kukri, some form of naval dirk, japanese wakizashi/kodachi where you can still expect them to cut effectively and be used with cutting motions, on par with some long swords, while still being in the 40cm/16in range.

[@benjaminteeter3331]

You are correct. The kukri came in second. It lost to an oakshot type XII I believe.

[@Master-AGN]

Likely you find the Khukri hard to use because of your fighting theory and training; Go for the vitals style. Threat suppression theory (chopping the hands off) of SE Asia woks well with the Khukri, Bolo and other well bellied knives. And, the hack/chop and draw cut action. Also that style favours smaller nimble people.

[@thetaetaomegaproductions6889]

I trained in escrima stick combat, and almost all of the drills and forms translate into dual weilding bolo fighting (with the exception of strikes that ignore edge alignment), dual bolos/kukris have the advantages of hooking weapons that work especially well for pole arm combat and sword combat, the hooking ability when applied properly can negate any reach advantages, facilitating as you said, threat suppression theory, on top thag, of blunt force trauma against helmed/armored opponents is fairly effective with the ectra weight on the end also decapitation/amputation, however obviously those can be mitigated with armor and mail

[@ronalddunne3413]

The Indian bow-kri- what's not to like? Another knowledgable presentation on a couple of my favorite tools.. some things about the Kukri that I hadnt considered before... The bowie seems like a follow-on to the old scramasax- certainly the same design perimeters... Thanks Matt!

I loved the design of that large hunting knife at the end. I wonder how it handles.

[@grindsaur]

...and mr. Easton just casually sleight of hands us with a rondel dagger.

[@bretalvarez3097]

Everyone knows the kukri gets its power from the magical notch on the blade

[@99IronDuke]

Correction, everyone knows the Kukri gets its power from the Gurkha soldier holding it.

[@mrbones3163]

Nope. It's the hidden power of the Mercedes leaf springs they're made of.

[@varuug]

@@mrbones3163 Jeep originally, Toyota now.

[@liverpain3485]

Funny enough you're right, it's what helps it cut since that notch is a relief point for the blade.

[@hachimanjiro]

Always enjoy your videos, have to say that I agree with you, I'd rather have a good Bowie,it has more utility to it,had a ka-bar as well as my Fairbairn Sykes (although I prefer the Applegate Fairbairn- sacrilege coming from an ex-Royal Marine!) On my belt/rig.

[@ww8343]

Original Bowie knives had thick and broad blades so you can use it to fry meat like bacon and such on the blade if you're lacking a skillet. Also, the flat spine meant you could bash something on the back to use it as a splitting wedge. It's the length it was so you could wear it under your coat and it be concealed. Bowie was a mountainman first and fighter second. Bowie knife is a good survival knife.

[@dadventuretv2538]

Yup. An awesome all- rounder. I’ve used mine for just about everything you can imagine while out in the boonies except self defense- never needed it for that yet thankfully.

[@ericsierra-franco7802]

Incorrect. Bowie knife was a fighting knife first and foremost not a utility blade. What historical sources are you using? The Bowie knife was created in the American Southeast not the Rocky Mountains.

[@elizzlestove130]

Legolas with two khukris vs Legolas with two Bowie's. Who wins? Tolkien fans.

[@Daedrex]

Legolas with a bowie and arrowie

[@TheSkillotron]

I would say bowies. At least in the films Legolas seems to utilize thrusts more than cuts which a bowie with its clipped point should be marginally better at. It wouldn't make a significant difference either way though. Also, A+ "bowie and arrowie" joke.

[@BaronR]

David Bowie with two Bowie's beats them both.

[@BiggestCorvid]

@@numbers9to0 Bowie would have used a Kukri because those weren't cool yet.

[@SteveSmith-wk9dx]

Clearly, one Bowie, one kukri.

[@tigerpisces5506]

Bowie surname is Scottish. My ancestors were linked to the Bowie Colonial family in Maryland before they moved west to Louisiana and Texas. The knife was designed by Jim Bowie's brother and was made by a black smith in Arkansas.

[@Scott-qq9jd]

I may be too late to the conversation for this to be seen, but you may have overlooked something in your point about thrusting with a kukri. The kukri is my favorite knife, and I've done a fair bit of practice with them. I have heard the point about the danger of thrusting with one, so I got out my wooden kukri and thrust against a foam pad. I discovered that if you thrust with the line of the thrust being parallel to the dropped section of the spine then instead of your hand being forced forward towards the edge, the handle instead moves against the web of the hand. So thrusting with a kukri is safer than you would expect. And I noticed that you noticed that tendency in your video, you just didn't make the connection between the two. As for the shape of the tip, you are correct, though I do have a kukri that was able to thrust through eight layers of denim, but it was just one. Now, there is one thing that I have discovered that makes up for the diminished thrusting ability: snap cuts. The arm moves like it's a thrust, and the wrist moves like it's a cut. The result with a blunter nosed kukri is a shocking cut, and with a sharper one you get deep penetration and a large wound channel because it also cuts into the wound. However, I agree that the kukri is not necessarily ideal, but it is my favorite. I am slowly working on my own treatise for fighting with the kukri. There are a few out there, but I've not been satisfied with them, so I'm writing my own.

[@scholagladiatoria]

Interesting stuff, thanks for posting.

[@kaialoha]

Thrusting puts your wrist in a weak position. Very weak.

[@John..18]

The knife Jim Bowie used in the famous sandbar fight, was described as a "large butcher knife".. It also bore little resemblance, to what most people today, call a "Bowie knife",, ie, clip point, double edge, cross guard, etc... Good video though,,

[@tigerpisces5506]

Little documentation is available on the knife or knives that are attributed to Jim Bowie’s original knife or knives. The rare knives that Rezin Bowie gave to friends is of the typical knife but is more robust than the 12” version that is typically copied today. The knife Rezin Bowie gave as presents were like a pirate’s cutlass at 17”, with the S hilt and coffer shaped handle. Since the Bowie’s were boosters for pirate booty and dealt with Jean Lafitte the Pirate; it would not be surprising that the knife was modeled after a Spanish Colonial Short Sword or Typical Pirates Cutlass that has a wide clip point, T or S hilt and narrower blade 2” back from the rocking chair clip. The blade quality may not have been of good quality because tempering was a rediscovered lost art.

[@exploatores]

as with all weapons a Kukri isn´t better then the user. if the one in front of them cry "Jai Mahakali, Ayo Gorkhali!" woud make most think twice before going in to close combat.

[@matthewblumenthal804]

@Re nato You can break a sword with a stick. Harder to break a stick with a sword! Musashi was primarily a tactician and stratigist. He defeated the minds of his opponents before he ever crossed swords.

[@matthewblumenthal804]

@Re nato Oh my. Have you studied this at all? Mushashi was a expert swordsman. He proved that both before and after the fight with Kojiro Sasaki. However, in that specific dual, he did a couple of key things to work against his rival. 1) He was very late to the dual. Thus Kojiro had been pacing the beach waiting for him long enough to become angry and unsettled. 2) He whittled a wooden sword that was longer than the drying pole, which was the overly long sword that gave Kojiro an advantage over people with swords of more standard length. 3) Rather than going through the standard challenge and response cycle that normally started these things, he basically jumped off the boat and bashed the guys head in. He was criticized at the time for using unfair tactics. See? Tactics and strategy. So that for that. The reason that armies have historically used first projectile weapons and then spears and other long arms before resorting to melee weapons is that they work. That has been true in some sense since the cave men hurled rocks at each other. The reason that they used edged weapons by preference, is because it's easier to hurt someone by piercing them than by bashing them. If you can. Sometimes you can't. That's why maces and other clubs were so effective in melee combat. Bashing often got through armor that blades could not. You didn't understand what I said at all. My bad. I hope this was easier to understand.

[@matthewblumenthal804]

@Re nato You really don't read well. Yes, I've studied enough martial arts of various styles to know what I'm talking about. Not saying you don't. Just that your reading comprehension leaves much to be desired.

[@sobrev1viente]

@Re nato he intimidated one of his opponents carving a wooden "sword" out of a piece of wood, he also used to arrive extremely late to the his duels in order to angry his opponents and made them act out of control and be less careful

[@insertjjs]

I love my KaBar Kukri, I use it as a machete as a lopper for limbs and very small trees in my overgrown back yard.

[@GrendelNin]

Why...WHY do people always seem to hold a kukri in a "hammer" grip instead of the proper "handshake" grip?!?

[@cadethumann8605]

Out of curiosity, do you think you would like to bring up Jack Churchill (or Mad Jack)? He was a man who fought in ww2 with a longbow and a Scottish broadsword.

[@ironanvil1]

Matt, I agree the Bowie would be superior in a one on one fight, but would your choice alter in the context of the sort of more open battlefield melee where the kukri gained it's mythos?

[@robotracker]

The Kukri / Bowie debate is every bit as convoluted as the cut vs thrust debate. Add in the field/survival/bushcraft knife aspects and we could discuss it for weeks. Ace video! Thanks Matt.

[@limbuckl]

One thing Matt forgot to mention is Nepal in its entirety has always been a jungle country with the most roughest geography in the world, and is still covered by 45% jungle cover in 2022 only since 1980s. With big swords, it would be impossible to penetrate the jungle. So the size had to be reduced to kill and survive and hence the Khukuri was born - the ultimate survival tool.

[@LEARSIKCIGAM]

the bushcraft angle of the “big knife” is totally overlooked by sword nerds - they are not weapons - they are everyday tools you can use as weapons

[@ZagorTeNayebo]

Bushcraft lol just bring a cheap axe if tou intend to chop wood, these are man jewlery

[@LEARSIKCIGAM]

@@ZagorTeNayebo haters are going to hate

[@anotherboredperson]

@@ZagorTeNayebo a lot of cultures historically preferred machete-style blades to axes for bushcrafting. Kinda depends on the trees you're up against- but to this day- a lot of world militaries issue kukris, ginuntings, machetes, etc. Its quite rare to see them issue axes.

[@chriscrocker3589]

Very interesting video.. Can you recormend any good books on Bowies and their historical use?

[@krystofdayne]

"My preference [...] is of around a 9 or 10 inch blade, a little bit bigger, a little bit smaller is fine" That's what she said 😏

[@EldarKinSlayer]

That was my thought when he said going for deeper penetration.

[@mikeellis4158]

I like Bowies, but i prefer the false edge to be sharpened. What are your thoughts on it?

[@PhilBaumhardt]

I still think the "blade-catcher" bowies are cool, even if they are impractical. With a longer one perhaps, 12 plus inches, I would image that it would work much like a main gouche parrying dagger. Some of those daggers had some blade-catching features too.

[@kaialoha]

Trap an enemy blade and you trap your own...assinine! Trapping a blade is only the first part ... trapping the hand follows. Its easy to untrap since you did the trapping. Being trapped causes a delay as you try to figure an escape. The live or open hand comes in a traps the blade wrist or throws a strike. This is the optimal way...FMA style.

[@SimonKHoak-ec6cc]

That Indian hunting knife at the end, similar to a kukri, but with the back edge, anyone know the name of it ?

[@TheViperZed]

I guess part of the kukris usage context contains a good bit of field craft. Being able to compare in chopping ability to an axe, while saving you the weight of carrying a weapon and a chopper to prepare firewood and chop down trees to build camping structures could provide a lot of value in an every day use case.

[@Krishnaeternal]

I was going to say: hmmm but Matt, my Kukri has a guard! Ahh. I see. It's a "modern" kukri.

[@FlatcapHobbit]

So was it the lack of relative thrusting potential that kept the kukri from being adopted more widely into the general British Army? I always thought this would’ve been a perfect trench raiding weapon in WW1 alongside a revolver or pistol.

[@jdsol1938]

the blade style is not as important as the hand holding it

[@darrellwestrick2110]

Could you do a video comparing the British Commando knife vs The Bowie knife?

[@Rhethion]

Curious what your take on the updated Kailash Knout would be from a practical perspective

[@roycspary8923]

as ayoungun, one of my school friends father had saved a Gurka from a mundane traffic accident and as a result was ceremonially presented with the soldiers kukri, before the soldier set out to his homeland to re arm. the knife came ann an impressive leather sheath that also had two small knives which had rather straighter tapered blades as thick as the blade of the kukri, but with a very different handlewhich was light, cone shaped and leather covered. with permission i tried to throw these at a wooden fence in a way that would fail. even when I laid the knife across my fingers and used a flat side arm swing, the extreme weight forward and drag of the handle meant that even on my first ever try at throwing a knife it stuck into the wood solidly. so I think they had recognized andsolved the range issueeven though only two throwing knives were present. they were so easy to use given some practice and the extreme physical abilities of a gurka soldier, whoever was stuoid enough to attack would be promptly distracted by about 3 inches of steel sticking in them somewhere

[@sujitgurung3322]

There are two types of khukuri used in nepal : 1. Small to medium size As a tool which u r looking they are usually used for cutting small woods and chickens 2. Sickles are used for cutting grasses for cattles 3. Long slightly slimmer khukuri used for wars and cutting buffaloes Even khukuris among different castes are slightly different like khukuris used by limbu castes, rai castes, gurung castes, kshetriyas etc if u want to see various weapons used in war there is a museum in kathmandu called hanuman dhoka museum where u can see different actual weapons

[@sixxfreak58]

Though definitive evidence is sketchy, bucklers were apparently used in pre-20th century kukri training, and to a lesser degree, warfare. 20th century Gurkhas used kukris in battle exclusively sans shields.

[@twikiriwhi]

IMO It would take a very large Bowie to be able to contend with the power of a Kukuri. It would likely blow the bowie out of your grasp and carry on into your face.

[@bob-wo3ir]

Very relevant when you live in London ....

[@ZacHawkins42]

RIP London

[@shenyathewelder9695]

I have a way of looking at bladed tools/weapons. Shorter than a long finger? Knife. Long finger tip to wrist? Big knife Forearm length? It’s ether a special dagger (like a rondel) or a “chopper” (kukri, Bowie knife, seax) Longer still but used for non-combat? Machete. Used for combat? Sword I’m not saying it’s perfect, it’s not, but it works pretty well

[@ronin47-ThorstenFrank]

I always like to compare the Kukri with the Seax, short Messer or the Filipino Bolo/Itak.

[@jeremysnead9233]

Reach is important as long as it does nor interfer with mechanics. Space (to operate), Leverage (weight and angle), Speed (time between forms).

[@sovcast8760]

If you're worried about not having a cross guard, you can wrap your pinky under the pommel when you go in for a hard thrust; kind of like putting your thumb on top in an ice pick grip. Personally I like the kukri shape. I'm a drummer, and if you teach a drummer how to snap cut it's a scary thing. Especially if it's a drummer who's learned to play with both his wrists and only his fingers like they do in some drumming styles. I can do several snap cuts in a row with a 22 oz framers axe. So if you plateau in your knife fighting or sword fighting, take up drumming as a fun auxiliary exercise. Drum set for full arm endurance and aim, Highland Drums and hand percussion for fast strong fingers.

[@alanashley6097]

I own 11 Kukri's and one big Bowie knife and the one I handle the most is the Bowie which happens to be a Zombie Tools Felon. Everything you said was spot on.

[@ziggygreene8727]

Your a great speaker brother. Every word Crystal clear. Fascinating stuff.. 🙏

[@arctodussimus6198]

Loved this talk. You surprised me with the “Bowie-Kukri” 😆 I used to be one of those guys who had to correct folks on the proper pronunciation of the Bowie knife. I figured it should be pronounced the way Jim and Resin said it. But somehow, you don’t bring that out in me. You have enough of my respect to say it either way. I also prefer knives on the larger size. I’ve had a few Kukuris but never seem to keep them. I do, however, have many Bowies

[@TheTwilightEmporium]

From what I understand about the accounts mentioning tiger hunting with a kukri, the hunter would cut off the tiger paws/claws as they attacked, rendering the tiger lame and without their reach weapons. That considered, imagine that an opponent with a thrusting blade is a tiger. The defender, or attacker with a kukri is likely going to have a longer reach, given the length of the kukri. Given, as you discussed, knives dont have much hand protection, would the kukri fighter not have the advantage in terms of simply lopping off the hand of the fighter with the thrusting knife, just as they would the tiger?

[@TheGhostGuitars]

I like both blades, the bowie and the kukri. And I have both. I also have a blade that combines the best of both in one, a bowie kukri. This is one of my favorites. I got it from Nepal and technically it's a tourist blade, but I actually use it out in the field during camping and hunting trips.

[@gundanium3126]

The bowie originated from the buchers knife, with a wider blade to act as a rudimentary guard to prevent the hand from slipping. the guard and was added on the MK II bowies.

[@shortbuslife3440]

Love the hybrid knife but if you put a Ghurka up against an American soldier with a bowie my money is on the ghurka every time. If you can arrange a demo fight between these 2 I think alot of people would want to see this.