The Kukri blade, with its markedly downward curved blade, has long been identified with the Gurkha Warriors of Nepal, the ferocious mercenaries who have who have wielded this blade for over 150 years in the service of the British Empire. The Cold Steel Gurkha Kukri was inspired by Cold Steel President, Lynn C. Thompson"s close association with Dr. Maung Gyi, chief instructor of the American Bando Association, and a renowned martial artist with wide-ranging knowledge and skills. Under Dr. Gyi"s tutelage, Lynn gained insight into the full potential of the Kukri and learned it was not just a chopping weapon but a piercing, slashing, and smashing weapon as well. Smashing techniques allow the Kukri to function as a hammer or mallet or to deliver non-lethal blows in a self-defense role. A concentrated blow with the back of the blade can break bones or be lethal if directed at the head. With Dr. Gyi"s input, Thompson designed a longer, narrower point for the Gurkha Kukri with more distal tapering to the spine. This resulted in a thinner, sharper point which can be deeply driven into thick, tough targets with minimal effort. Finally a masterfully designed Kraton handle was added to maximize the blade"s fierce potential. Perfectly contoured and deeply checkered, it offers a superb non-slip grip and cushions the hand from the shock of the hardest blow. The Gurkha Kukri"s VG-1 San Mai III® blade will out-chop any factory or handmade knives; including swords twice its size, even expensive, hand forged Japanese Katanas. It"s the heaviest Kukri on the market. The blade is almost an inch wider near the tip than at the handle, shifting the knife"s balance point forward to allow a substantial blow to be struck with minimal effort, using inertia alone to complete the cut.