Etched & Engraved Kukri — Hand-Carved Decorative Khukuris from Nepal

Etched & Engraved Kukri — Hand-Carved Decorative Khukuris from Nepal

Where the kukri becomes art. 16 hand-forged kukris with hand-engraved decorative artwork — dragons, temples, regimental crests, military tributes, floral patterns, Gurkha proverbs, religious motifs. Every blade is fully functional 5160 spring steel forged by Kami caste blacksmiths in our Kathmandu workshop, then hand-engraved by skilled Nepali artisans before shipping. The engraving on these pieces isn't a sticker or a laser etch — it's chiseled into the steel by hand, the way it's been done in Nepal for generations.

This is your collection for the gift that has to be more than a knife: military retirement, Gurkha Brigade tribute, wedding gift, religious or cultural commemoration, corporate presentation piece, family heirloom for the next generation.

Personalisation vs Custom Engraving — The Difference

This is where buyers often get confused. We offer two different services — and one is free, one is a premium add-on:

Free Personalisation (every order, every kukri across the entire site): Simple text engraving — name, date, dedication, regiment number, unit motto, short message (typically up to 30 characters). Done by our smiths before shipping at no extra cost. Available on every product page, not just this collection.

Custom Hand-Engraving / Decorative Etching (the premium service this collection showcases): Hand-chiseled decorative artwork — dragon and temple scenes, regimental crests, military insignia (USMC, BSI Gurkha Brigade, Iraqi Freedom, Afghanistan Operation), Gurkha proverbs in Devanagari, floral patterns (Royal Bloom, Survival Bloom), religious deities and Hindu / Buddhist iconography, custom artwork from your own reference image. This is a paid premium service and the products in this collection are pre-designed examples. Custom designs available — contact us for pricing.

The 16 products on this page show the engraving styles we've already designed and offer for direct purchase. Want a different design — your family crest, your unit's insignia, a religious figure not shown, or your own custom artwork? Request through Custom Forge with your reference image and we'll quote it.

How These Are Engraved — Hand-Chiseled, Not Machine-Cut

Most "engraved" knives on the market today are laser-etched — a laser scratches a surface design that wears off with use. Our engravings are hand-chiseled into the steel by Nepali engraving artisans using traditional tools. Each line is cut, not burned. The depth and detail are visible to the touch, not just the eye. They survive cleaning, sharpening, and decades of use.

This matters for a working blade: laser etching disappears when you sharpen the edge or polish the spine. Hand-chiseled engraving is permanent. The artistry stays as long as the steel does.

Browse by Engraving Style

Military Tribute & Regimental Engravings

The most popular engraving category — for retirement gifts, regimental presentations, and military tributes.

WWII Gurkha Victory Kukri — VC Tribute Edition ($139.99) — Faithful Burma-Campaign WWII kukri reproduction with Victoria Cross tribute engraving. The premier gift for Gurkha Brigade veterans and military historians.

WWII Issue Kukri with Gurkha Brigade Insignia ($144.99) — 12" historical Gurkha kukri with hand-engraved Brigade of Gurkhas regimental insignia on the blade.

Service No.1 BSI with Regimental Insignia ($114.99) — Official issue Gurkha Service No.1 with hand-engraved BSI regimental insignia. Authentic to British Gurkha Army issue spec.

Service No.1 Peace Keeper with USMC Logo & Gurkha Motto ($114.99) — Cross-cultural tribute combining the official Gurkha Service No.1 platform with USMC logo and Gurkha motto engraving. Popular with US Marines who served alongside Gurkhas.

Panawal Service Kukri with Etched Gurkha Proverbs ($124.99) — Battle-ready Gurkha-issue kukri with traditional Gurkha proverbs hand-etched into the blade.

Gurkha Kukri with Engraved Gurkha Proverb ($144.99) — 12" Burma Campaign WWII kukri with engraved Gurkha proverb on the blade. The legendary "Kayar hunnu bhanda marnu ramro" ("Better to die than be a coward") and other proverbs available.

Gurkha Brigade Engraved Sirupate ($119.99) — Panawal Sirupate kukri-machete with regimental Brigade of Gurkhas insignia engraving.

Iraqi Freedom Kukri (Flower-Etched) ($129.99) — 11" Operation Iraqi Freedom kukri tribute with floral etching. Combination of military tribute and decorative artistry.

Dragon, Temple & Cultural Engravings

For collectors and cultural enthusiasts. Hand-engraved Hindu and Buddhist iconography from Nepal.

Bhojpure Khukuri with Dragon & Temple Engraving ($194.99) — 16" Bhojpure (Nepal's most culturally significant working kukri) with hand-engraved dragon and Nepali temple scene. The premium piece in this collection.

Engraved Bhojpure Khukuri (Dragon & Temple) ($114.99) — Traditional Bhojpure with hand-engraved dragon and temple artistry. The accessible-price entry to the dragon-temple style.

Dragon Engraved Ganjawal Khukuri ($124.99) — 10" traditional Ganjawal-style kukri from Eastern Nepal with detailed hand-engraved dragon and temple artwork.

Dragon Sirupate Kukri ($139.99) — 13" Sirupate-pattern blade with hand-engraved dragon. Slim heritage profile meets bold decorative artwork.

Floral & Artistic Engravings

For wedding gifts, anniversaries, decorative collectors, and modern aesthetic buyers.

Royal Bloom Kukri ($144.99) — 13" etched blade with elegant floral pattern and rosewood handle. Luxurious take on the traditional khukuri.

Survival Bloom Kukri ($129.99) — 12" flower-etched heavy-duty bushcraft khukuri. Combines floral artistry with rugged survival functionality.

Compact Angkhola — Etched Edition ($129.99) — 9" full-tang utility kukri with flower pattern etching. Compact size makes this a popular gift item.

Tactical Gripper Kukri — Etched Edition ($109.99) — Modern tactical kukri with full guard and floral etching. Tactical buyer who wants visual character.

Custom Hand-Engraving — Your Design, Our Artisans

Every kukri on this site (not just this collection) can be ordered with custom hand-engraving. Send us your reference: a religious figure (Ganesh, Hanuman, Buddha, Tara, Shiva), a regimental crest (any military unit), a family coat of arms, a custom artwork from a sketch or photograph, a personal motto in any script (Latin, Devanagari, Tibetan, Arabic, Chinese), or a complex scene we'll quote per design complexity.

Pricing depends on engraving complexity: simple symbols and text are at the lower end; multi-figure scenes (dragon-temple combinations, religious tableaux) are at the higher end. We quote each request individually after seeing your reference.

Process: Send your reference image and the kukri model you want it on through our Custom Forge page. We respond with a quote, refinement suggestions, and timeline. Once approved, our smiths forge the blade and our engraving artisans hand-cut the design. We send photos for your approval before shipping. You can request adjustments. Total turnaround: typically 14–21 days door-to-door for custom-engraved pieces (vs 10–14 days for standard).

Request a Custom Hand-Engraved Kukri →

Most Common Engraving Use Cases

Gurkha Brigade retirement gifts — regimental insignia, BSI Service No.1 platform, retirement date, soldier's name. We've forged retirement-presentation kukris for British Gurkha veterans, Indian Gorkha Rifles, and Singapore SPF Gurkha Contingent.

USMC / US Military presentation — USMC logo, unit insignia, deployment dates. The Service No.1 Peace Keeper with USMC Logo is one of our bestsellers for US Marines who served alongside Gurkhas.

Wedding and anniversary gifts — couple's names, wedding date, family crest, decorative floral work. The Royal Bloom and Survival Bloom kukris are popular choices.

Hindu and Buddhist religious commemorations — deity engravings (Hanuman, Ganesh, Shiva, Buddha, Tara), mantras in Devanagari, sacred geometry. Popular with diaspora Nepali, Indian, and Tibetan Buddhist buyers.

Corporate presentation pieces — company logo, executive name, milestone date. We've forged corporate gifts for milestone employee recognitions and high-value client appreciation.

Family heirlooms — family crest, family name, "From Father to Son" engravings, dates spanning generations. The piece becomes a generational object.

Direct From the Forge — Authentic Hand Engraving, Not Mass Production

Marketplaces sell "engraved kukris" that are mostly laser-etched factory pieces with surface-level designs that wear off in months. Real hand-chiseled engraving — by Nepali artisans, on hand-forged Kami blacksmith blades — is rare and increasingly threatened by mass production. Buying direct from us means the engraving is real, the blade is real, and you can communicate directly with the artisans about your design. We send photos before shipping. You approve, we ship.

What's Included With Every Etched & Engraved Kukri

→ Hand-forged kukri blade — 5160 high-carbon spring steel, water-tempered
→ Hand-chiseled decorative engraving — chiseled, not laser-etched
→ Rosewood, buffalo horn, or hardwood handle (varies by design)
→ Hand-stitched water-buffalo leather scabbard, sometimes with matching engraved metalwork
→ Karda and Chakmak on traditional patterns
→ Free text personalisation add-on — name, date, dedication, regiment (in addition to the existing engraving design)
→ Photo approval before shipping
→ 30-day full refund guarantee

Worldwide Shipping

Frequently Asked Questions