2019-20 BSI Service Kukri (Current Issue)

Own the famous current issue Gurkha Knife of the legandary British Gurkhas .. << 2019-2020 official issue >>

What is BSI ?
It means British Standard Issue. Its also called BAS (British Army Standard) sometimes. It is the one that is obtained through official open tender, well inspected, approved by army officers from BGN (British Gurkhas Nepal) and actually used by the soldier. Unlike in the previous years, this year INTAKE 2020 is engraved (stamped) in each side of the blade [INTAKE (one side) 2020 (another side)].

These are the current service issue of British Gurkhas for the year 2019-20. Service No.1 is a parade and duty knife where as Service No.2 is a fight and field knife (training, combat) provided to each new recruit by the British Army. The annual tender was for 2 kukri knives and a cap badge for the new recruits. This time the recruitment and selection process was late which only started from end 2019 and completed by Jan end 2020.

“BSI 2019-20 (Current Issue)” is the exact reproduced version of the original, in fact betterly and more strongly made by KHHI Nepal for public procurement. Both the kukris are pretty much the same as the last year’s having almost same dimensions. After the official system of issuing 2 kukris for one soldier started from early 2000, all the models have been very identical except for little minor detail in shape, size and weight. This is majorly due to the knife being 100% handmade and supplied by various contractors each year. The history of these knives can be briefly studied in this LINK. 
 

Usage / Know both kukris >>
BSI 2019-20 (Service #1; Full Polished with Shiny Patent Leather Sheath) is objected for duty, parade and ceremonial events only. It is a dressed knife that a Gurkha carries in his belt when he is on duty, on guard, in parade drill and in special army events. It is always worn in the center back of the waist. The kukri and sheath both have to be highly maintained for cleanliness and shininess. It is regularly inspected by senior officers in an army event called “Khukuri JaanchPass” where soldier draw out the blade and submits the blade to the inspector.

BSI 2019-20 (Service #2; Unpolished with Dull Leather Sheath) has its blade identical to no.1 except it is fully unpolished objected for rough and tough usage. It is what we call as the "Fight and Field Knife". A Gurkha carries the kukri for training, exercise, in jungle and even in war. The knife is mostly worn in the right side of the waist. Sometimes soldiers camouflage the sheath by an army green coarse fabric. This to conceal the kukri into nature and also to protect the khukuri from rough carriage. BSI service #2 kukri can also be replaced by other models preferred by the carrier but on his own. 

FREE items >> 
1. Gurkha Regimental Poster: 35.5 x 25.5 cm displaying all regimental cap badges of Gurkhas (post 1947)
2. Nepali national cap: The prestigious nepal cap (topi). This is the bhaadgaule version
3. Famous Cross Kukri Cap/Hat Badge
4. Iconic Gurkha Badge that is wearable (Gurkha hat over Kukri blade)
5. Locally made and very famous "Sancho" herbal healing oil for cold, cough, rheumatism, stuffy nose, fatigue, bodyache, muscular ache, headache, neuralgia, sprain, itching, cut and bruises


NOTE
Price is for ONLY 1 kukri. Please mention which one in YOUR MESSAGE field in CHECKOUT page if you have bought only 1 piece. To buy both make quantity 2. 5 x FREE items with each kukri (see the list above).

know the brief history of the BSI kukri >>
The history of BSI kukri goes back to Indian Independence in 1947 when the “Brigade of Gurkhas”  was formed by British Army from British Indian Army 

Gorkha regiments like 2, 6, 7 and 10th. However the 1st (proto) BSI official pattern came to use only from late 1950’s (ca 59-60) when British Gurkha Recruiting Center (Depot) was established in Dharan (east Nepal) to serve the British Army from Nepal. This is where the service kukri actually took a major development. Before that, between 1947-1958, any definite official pattern could not come out which are normally addressed as “Interim” kukris in kukri communities. It ranged from 10-11” in much simpler profile than its predecessors and were locally made in places like Gorakhpore, Barrackpore, Lehra and few in Dharan too. By the time BSI was finally designed and approved it was recognized as a secondary weapon hence its features and usage were limited to more as a recognition item and utility tool. Each soldier was given one piece. The pattern continues till today but over its long years in service many variants came along from very poorly made to high qualitative ones. From early 1990’s issuance of 2 pcs BSIs [no1 (duty/parade) and No2 (training/combat)] started. Today’s BSI 2019-20 is the latest (current) service kukris belonging to the British Gurkhas that has direct tie to the 1960’s mother pattern. Horn handle, Brass fixtures, Twin loop frog, Karda + Chakmak have always been the common features of all BSI variants form then till today.



 

Kukri Making >> All service kukris are made from High Carbon (HC) 5160 steel supplied by scrape shops. The makers (Kamis) bring the right size steel needed to make the kukri and then the making process begins. It normally takes about 2-3 days to make a single kukri (blade+handle). Forging and hammering is a team work of at least 3 kamis in which the basic shape is forged out in a forge furnace. Then the main maker single handedly completes the knife from tip to toe in raw format (phase). After this the machinery process of finishing the kukri takes place which is done by another expert kami designated for the job. He is called a “Finisher” whose job is the give finishing (polishing) to the raw kukri prepared by the main kami, from raw to refine. To see the traditional way of making please click THE MAKING.

SEE HOW THE BSI KUKRI IS MADE IN A TRADITIONAL METHOD @ KHHI NEPAL..