Heritage Knives by Kila Tool Works (P.) Ltd. was established to produce and offer the finest handcrafted Kukri/Khukuri/Khukri/Gurkha knives and other blades made in the foothills of the Himalayas of Nepal. We are a family owned small business with roots in Nepal and the coastal islands of Sweden.

For centuries our families have been soldiers, hunters, blacksmiths, farmers, fishermen, sailors and warriors, surviving in harsh conditions of the hills and mountains of the Himalayas and by the Baltic and North Sea.

Prior to starting this project, Heritage Knives, we searched and asked several specialists in various fields to work with us to help us realise the goal of crafting the finest blades in the Himalayas. The team behind Heritage Knives is International and comes from various fields as professionals. In common we were united by a goal, deep friendship, respect and a shared passion for the Kukri and Knives. Most of us have professional experience in using and handling blades, from culinary to military, from mountain expeditions to jungle safari and desert tours, we lived by the blade we used, it is our Heritage.

Heritage Knives started because we wanted something different than what was available. We wanted classical Kukris & knives, that retain originality and functionality, where design, durability and various other factors play a major role, the overall Quality should never be compromised.

Quality for us means attention to the crucial and small details as well as the larger components, that make a blade, a knife, a Kukri great!

The years leading up to the start we found it almost impossible to find modern Kukri´s with the right feel, balance, proportions and with Soul. It was often over built with lack of understanding of the physics of the blade´s design, its history, culture and use over the ages.

We found that little rational thought had been put into the making process as too much relied on (loosely) copying designs from the internet, changing key components of a proper historical Kukri and/or knife designs and naming them something to sell. Basic professional procedures, methods and techniques of forging and making Kukri´s were not followed and much else which gave us no option but to start Heritage Knives, to get it right.

At best we found Kukris that shared a resemblance to the original but key components were not right. It didn´t live up to our expectations in the way it looked, behaved in hand, was made or performed while in use. 

Heritage Knives wanted change and decided to bring Innovation and Functionality into what we make.     

Our blades are made with a purpose, for a purpose and for that we will take the time needed to produce a blade we are proud of and can stand by. Our knives and Kukri´s follow classical designs that have been studied by an international team and then if needed adapted for reproduction and/or use.

The pieces we base our designs on are available to our staff to learn and study from, a photo will never be able to replace a genuine authentic design which has proven itself over time and history. 

We took a dive into the world of current Nepalese black smithing, travelled in all directions of the country and meet with many makers, resellers and craftsmen to be able to gain a better understanding. After several years of research into current practises, we found many faults and decided to start Heritage Knives to make Kukris the "right way". 

It is important for us to be able to oversee sourcing, production, testing and a more conscious way to work for better quality of both the product and our staff`s lives. Life is fragile, our knifes are hardcore!

Each aspect of making a knife is carefully discussed, studied, criticized and modified to be functional, reliable and user friendly with our Team. We keep things simple and focus on originality and quality, for us that is optimal functionality and attention to details of each model we develop and each knife we forge.

Our crafting process is based on a blend of Western techniques and Himalayan traditions through close contacts and studies with black smiths, scientists, outdoor/bush crafters, historians, military staff and users near and far who have contributed a massive amount of knowledge so that our Knives are a notch above most others made in this region. In most cases we have antique pieces to study at hand and these pieces are always with our black smiths to use, feel study and learn

We use NEW imported high carbon steel, cro-van and other suitable knife steels for our large, medium and small knives. Read more about our Steel in another section. Our blades are fully quenched (not water in a kettle), heat treated and follow the western method of a technical approach to black smithing, while the best of Nepalese traditions are blended in as well. 

Each piece forged is harshly tested (please see Menu tab Quality & Testing) based on its main purpose under strict observance and documentation to meet our own and International standards before letting them go into the world.

What leaves us from the Workshop and for you to receive may potentially save your life and there is no time for sub-standard blades that may jeopardise the moment. Heritage Knives makes reliable blades for professional use.

We let our Kukri´s and Knives speak for themselves in use. 

To us at Heritage Knives our work is honest and making Kukri & knives a lifestyle blending art & science.

We look forward hearing from you!