Friday, July 29, 2016
Make Gander Mountain Your Go-to Location For Everything Firearms
Kukri: Curved Death
The Knife:
It has a few spellings, most common are kukri and khukuri, but basically it’s a mid-length curved knife comprising a distinctive Cho (notch) that is the national knife of Nepal. This shape is believed to have existed 2500 years ago; the Kopis used by the Greeks is the probable source of its design. In our modern times the kukri really came to note outside Nepal with the Nepal War in 1814-15 after the formation of British Gurkha Army. It was carried in a wood sheath covered in leather, most having a wooden grip or horn and traditionally having two small knives (one small knife for chores and the other left unsharpened for flint striking and to knock burrs from the main blade), it is one of the most famous and feared knives of the world.
The Cho:
The most appealing and distinctive part of the kukri is the notch or Cho cut into the blade directly in front of the grip near its base. Its unique shape and utility objectives have been the source of much debate.
Practicality- the notch works as a blood stop to prevent blood or fluid from going towards the handle so that a good grip can be maintained. Additionally it was to stop the sharpener when in use from reaching the handle.
Religiously- it signifies the Hindu fertility symbol (OM) and represents the sacred cows hoof.
Fiction- it is also believed to have been developed as a device for catching and neutralizing an enemy blade in close combat. However, this is more myth than reality. When things got really rugged it is said the notch was used as a can opener or rest curvature for index finger of the using hand while slicing, but these have not been proven true either.
What is true is that all traditional kukri’s carry this notch. You can buy original kukri's from the arsenal of the Royal Nepalese Army as well as find modern day versions and machetes online at AtlantaCutlery.com.
Gurkha's at kit inspection showing kukris
Beyond the Knife:
The kukri is also much more than just a knife or a weapon because of its religious values it carries and beliefs it has created. The shape of the blade itself represents the trinity symbols of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, the three most famous and influential Hindu Gods.
It is also worshipped on different occasions and festivals mainly in Dashain, where it is put into action beheading animals as offerings to the Durga goddess (Goddess who slaughtered devils and evil).
Similarly in Biswakarma Puja, devotees worship it along with other iron and steel tools to pay their respect and loyalty. Why during sacrificial ceremonies? There is a belief in Nepalese society that it must taste blood to become a kukri. This sacrificial tradition follows in the Gurkha Army where each year animals are sacrificed to foresee good fortune and blessings to the regiments and its soldiers.
The faith and belief that the kukri has produced are remarkable and interesting. A kukri when kept at home would bring fortune, prosperity and kill evil spirits. It is believed to have spiritual power to scare off demons, evils and nightmares and thus kept under the pillow of a man or even a child who suffers from a sleeping disorder.
Similarly in Mongolian ethnic groups a man would have his kukri cremated along with him in a belief that the kukri would defeat Satan so that the departed soul could go to heaven and rest in peace.
A man with a khukuri represents a man of honor, dignity, courage and loyalty who would kill and get killed for the right cause. Padma Shamsher Jung Bahadur Rana, former Prime Minister of Nepal stated it was the national as well as religious weapon of the Gurkha, so it should be carried while awake and placed under the pillow when retired.
Finally, the oldest kukri known to exist is the one on display at the National Museum in Kathmandu which belonged to Drabya Shah, the King of Gorkha in 1627 AD. It is, however, certain that the origins of the knife stretch further back, perhaps 2500 years.
Legendary stories:
One British troop found itself surrounded by Gurkhas. As the siege continued the casualties mounted, the supply lines were cut and ammunition ran out. The British hoisted the white flag and watched a group of Gurkhas step forward to receive the surrender, their large kukri knives strapped proudly to their hips.
When the Gurkhas reached speaking range the Gurkha leader announced that their surrender would be fine, but if the British really wanted to continue fighting, they had some excess ammunition they would be happy to loan them so that the battle might continue! Of course the Tommies declined. They were treated well, but it was this behavior that earned the Gurkhas the most notoriety.
This type of fierceness to battle and win against all odds and honor your foe was well respected by the British. It did not take long before the British saw these tough as nails, Indo-Mongol descendants as better allies and they began to hire them as mercenaries fighting alongside their own troops.
The Nusseree Battalion
A Gurkha, Brahmin and a Vaish
Remington 96336 1911 R1 Commander 45ACP 4.25" 7+1 AS Walnut Grip Blk - FLAT RATE Shipping!!
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Saturday, February 14, 2015
ATN Aries MK410 Night Vision Scope
About this item
The ATN Aries MK 410 is one of the best first Generation Night Vision Scopes on the market.
ATN Aries MK410 Night Vision Scope :
- Powerful multi-coated all-glass optics
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Specifications
Monday, January 13, 2014
Wild Turkey Versus UPS Driver | News from the Field | OutsideOnline.com
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Guide to Hunting in the Great Smoky Mountains
by: Bob Foster
One of the most popular activities in eastern Tennessee is hunting. Why not? There are a number of interesting game animals to stalk in the Smoky Mountains, some native and some not, but all great for sport. Get a license from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency http://www.tn.gov/twra/ that is good from February to March of the next year. Depending on what you are planning on hunting and for how long, you can choose from a number of different licenses appropriate for your trip. If you are planning on bringing children or seniors with you, look out for discounted licenses for their age groups. Keep in mind that the most specific license you can buy for your hunt will save you money, but if you are planning to hunt multiple species or are planning to both fish and hunt, get a more general license.
Some of the most popular game animals include the wild turkey, wild hogs, black bears, and deer.
One of the more tricky animals to capture is the eastern wild turkey, living in some small groups in eastern Tennessee?s wilderness. Endangered at one point, the turkey has made a comeback in Tennessee, although they are difficult to catch and extremely shy. They are smaller than most turkeys, as they rarely reach 20 pounds, it is the interbreeding of feral and eastern turkeys that create the larger birds. Calling these birds takes a special talent, which contributes to the small number of them that are taken in each season. Consider getting a guide to help you. The season for turkeys typically lasts from the last day of March to mid-May, and bag limits are not to exceed one bearded turkey per day and 4 per season.
Wild hogs are one of the biggest species invaders for the Smoky Mountain region. Transported from Europe in 1912 to populate a private game preserve, some of the boar escaped and made it to the National Park by the late 1940s. Some interbreeding between the wild boar and domestic pigs in the area created hybrid wild hogs, which are mainly what roam the park today. They have most of the features of the wild hog, including black hair, long legs and tusks. A white blaze on their face indicates the hybridization clearly. Most weigh about 125 pounds and are typically around three and a half feet long. They have a well-developed set of canine teeth, poor eyesight and a keen sense of smell and hearing. They are typically found in the western two-thirds of the park, but they move to higher elevations during the spring and summer in search of cooler temperatures. There are only a few hundred of these hogs left in the park, but because they are an exotic animal detrimental to the health of the park, they are popular for hunting.
Black bears are possible game animals in the park, although their harvest is fairly limited. No one may kill more than one per calendar year. Cubs or female bears with cubs may not ever be killed, and a cub is any bear weighing less than 75 pounds. Check carefully about restrictions in the county you plan to hunt in, as some will allow only archery for bears while others have different dates for their season. Dogs are prohibited in some counties and allowed in others, as well.
Deer are also a fairly popular game animal in Tennessee. Legally, they must have antlers a minimum of three inches in length on buck-only or antlered-only hunts. Antlerless bag limits are higher than those Albino deer are not to be killed. Tennessee is divided into three sections for deer hunting: Unit A, B and L. Hunters can bag no more than three per season, except for in Unit B, where no more than two can be taken. No more than one antlered deer can be taken per day, as well. The dates and lengths of the seasons change, depending on what weapon you are planning on using and whether or not children will be present. Do some research and plan where you will hunt and what you will use, bag limits can change accordingly.
The Smoky Mountains are a great place for a hunting trip because of their lengthy game seasons and different types of prey. Consider renting one of our Gatlinburg cabins with your friends or family ; you can cook up what you hunted right there!
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