39,327
edits
Kukris Are Kool: Difference between revisions
m
+Category:Alliterative Trope Titles
m (update links) |
|||
Line 7:
A Kukri is a heavy Nepalese knife used both as a tool and as a weapon. The most distinctive feature of this weapon is that the blade has a deflected angle with a thick spine and a single sharp cutting edge; this causes the end section of the blade to strike square on, greatly increasing chopping effectiveness. It is most famously known as a part of the regimental weaponry and heraldry of [[Nepali With Nasty Knives|Gurkha fighters]]. Forming part of the survival equipment carried by airmen during the early 1940s conflict in Burma, the Kukri is an essential item equally effective at hacking through jungles as it is through limbs.
For a relatively obscure weapon from Nepal, they feature quite frequently in the media, easily spotted because of their distinctive (and threatening) shape. As an interesting aside, note that it wasn't actually invented in Nepal, but in ''Greece'' of all places. The current consensus is that kukri is a (somewhat shrunken) descendant of a Greek cavalry saber, ''machaira''. Machaira itself was a modification of a previous infantry sword called ''kopis'' (literally, "[[Exactly What It Says on the Tin|chopper]]"), just one of the large family of recurved sabers used throughout the Mediterranean. The troops of Alexander the Great brought it to India during his expedition there, and the locals loved the design.
As with katana, there is a persistent myth that the blade must 'taste blood' before it is sheathed. This is untrue, as a Kukri is [[Swiss Army Weapon|useful for far more than just violence]]. However there have been instances of Gurkhas slicing their fingers with it as a practical joke to [[Shrouded in Myth|impress]] outsiders with their [[Proud Warrior Race|ferocity]]. It's also been theorized that the "must taste blood" was something that annoyed Gurkhas started telling tourists, to make them stop asking to see the kukris.
Line 44:
* White Court Vampire Thomas Raith in ''[[The Dresden Files]]'' uses a kukri in battle in one book. In that book, Harry refers to it in narration as "some kind of curved knife" for most of the book, before finally just calling it a kukri, and pausing his narration to add that he ''knew'' he'd remember the name eventually.
* The Drow Ranger Valas Hune dual wields them in ''[[War of the Spider Queen]]''.
* In ''[[Sten]]'', the Gurkha mercenaries who guard the Emperor carry these. In later books, Sten carries one as a memento from his time as their commander.
== Live Action TV ==
* In ''[[Heroes (TV series)|Heroes]]'', Edgar wields two kukri blades.
* In ''[[Angel]]'', {{spoiler|Wesley}} is killed with one of these.
* For a while Spike had one on ''[[Buffy]]''. If memory serves, he kept it tucked into the back of his pants under the Badass Longcoat.
* In ''[[Kindred: The Embraced]]'' Julian Luna, the Venture Prince of San Franscisco uses a kukri in battle. Seeing a vampire+kukri theme?
* Auggie had a Kukri in his bag in ''[[Covert Affairs]]''.
Line 57:
* In the ''Kingdom Of Champions'' supplement for the ''[[Champions]]'' roleplaying game, one of the members of the United Kingdom's national superhero team 'The New Knights' is called Gurkha and wields kukris.
* In ''[[Dungeons and Dragons]] 3rd Edition and 3.5,'' Kukris are martial melee weapons; although they don't do much damage, they're one of the few non-exotic weapons to threaten a critical hit on a roll of 18. However, this becomes less impressive when you remember that [[Awesome but Impractical|many monster types are immune to criticals]].
** Of course, many more aren't immune to criticals. As a melee weapon, the kukri is strictly better than a dagger and is a good choice for an off-hand weapon.
*** A number of special abilities also trigger any time a weapon "threatens" a critical hit whether or not it actually lands, and so work very well with the kukri.
**** Made even nastier by the fact that the Improved Criticals feat or the Keen special weapon property doubles the threat range. A character that has applied this to a kukri threatens on a 15-20.
Line 68:
== Video Games ==
* In ''[[Rage (video game)|Rage]]'', several melee focused enemies, especially Ghosts, use kukri. Just before the self-revival tutorial, you get a very close look at one.
* Warrant Officer Emile-A239, one of the SPARTAN-III teammates in ''[[Halo: Reach]]'', is often seen sharpening the kukri he keeps sheathed on his shoulder. He finally gets to use it {{spoiler|on the Elite Zealot that just impaled him on an energy sword}}.
** A player of sufficiently high rank can purchase Emile's right shoulder piece, which carries a kukri, for his/her custom Noble Six. The player can't use it, though, sticking to the combat knife mounted on his/her chest armor.
Line 87:
* In ''[[Jumper (novel)|Jumper]]: Griffin's Story'', Griffin can use a kukri.
* In ''[[Castlevania]]: Symphony of the Night'', there's an enemy called Gurkha, who wields what is supposed to be a very stylized giant kukri.
** Gurkha Masters also appear in ''Order of Ecclesia''.
* In the [http://www.wowpedia.org/File:Troll_Shadow_Hunter.jpg official art] of ''[[Warcraft]] III'', trolls shadow hunters use kukris. In the game, they seem to be using a [[Double Weapon]] version.
* In ''[[The Last Remnant]]'', Kukris are wielded by Qsiti (small frog-rabbit people) warriors as swords.
Line 110:
[[Category:Weapons and Wielding Tropes]]
[[Category:Kukris Are Kool]]
[[Category:Alliterative Trope Titles]]
| |||