Keith, 
 
You have a very nice pair of knives there.  I think your friends are on the right track with the probable origin of these knives.  They have a certain resemblance to Ayda Katti found amongst the Coorg.  The blade, with the double fullers, have an almost Nepalese Khukri look to them and is not something I recall seeing in Ayda Katti.  The checkered grip is also reminiscent of Ayda Katti.  The Coorg reside in the broad region referred to as the Malabar Coast so I think these knives certainly originate in this broad region but perhaps more closely to the Coorg.
		 
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
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