Dagger

Object name: Dagger

Date: 1800-1921

Medium: Steel, wood

Object number: C03481

DescriptionKukri. Inwardly curved steel blade and black wooden hilt with simple decoration. The blade has a distinctive notch just below the hilt. Many reasons have been given for Kukri being produced with this notch, including: delineating the blade, stopping blood dripping down the handle, and as a symbolic reminder that the blade should not be used to kill a cow (a sacred animal to Hindus). The kukri was used both as a weapon and as a tool for chopping. It is commonly associated with the Gurkhas as all Gurkha troops are issued with them. For this reason it is also known as a 'Gurkha knife'.