With a wide, heavy blade curved inwards, the khukuri is truly an interesting and distinctive weapon. _(1)_ It was largely unknown in the Western world until a British company called the East India Company faced resistance from fierceand fearless fighters who fought for the Gorkha Kingdom, which later became part of Nepal. _(2)_ Used by the Gurkhas, the khukuri was and remains a powerful knife that iswell designed for stabbing, cutting, and chopping to severely injure and kill enemies. _(3)_ Yet killing is just one of the many uses the knife has been used for. A much more common usage of the sharp instrument is as a basic tool for gardening and for performing a wide variety of duties around the home. _(4)_ In addition, ethnictribes in Nepal think highly of khukuris and add them into many ceremonies. _(5)_ With all of its practical and symbolic uses, the khukuri has certainly earned its rightful place as a legendary and symbolic multipurpose tool and weapon.
(A) One ceremonial use of the knife is in weddings, where the groom is required to wear one so people can see it. (B) Its use, combined with the courage of the Nepalese soldiers, prompted Field Marshall Sam Manekshaw of the Indian Army to say, "If a man says he is not afraid of dying, he is either lying or is a Gurkha." (C) Made of forged steel attached to a large handle made out of wood, waterbuffalo horn, bone, ivory, or metal, this fearsome weapon, ceremonial knife, andversatile tool all in one has been used for centuries. (D) The purposes that the Nepalese use it for include chopping wood, clearing land, digging, and cutting meat, among other things. (E) The Gurkhas, as the British referred to these soldiers, were later invited to become fighters for the East India Company.
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