Mystery "Kollam" knife...

anvilring · 7th June 2009, 02:03 AM

I'm thinking this isn't all that old, but others are thinking differntly. Anyone here ever see any such knife??

I'm thinking modern fantasy, but perhaps not. Has anyone ever seen a blade pattern like this? and if so, from where?

The mark is ....

any help appreciated....

m

Rick · 7th June 2009, 02:26 AM

Hi Anvilring , and welcome !

I am going to move this post to the appropriate forum for you ; The European Armory .

Good to have you on board !

This reminds me of the knife we discussed some months ago with a point similar to your's but more heart shaped .

I don't think it's all that new either .

Rick

Rick · 7th June 2009, 02:37 AM

Having just searched for Kollam and came up with India; I now wonder if this shouldn't be in Ethnographic .

It looks like it may have originated in the Kerala area of India where Kollam is situated .
Very nicely made .
Do I read the length as 47cm correctly ?

It has a European influenced look to it though .

What say you Gentlemen ?

anvilring · 7th June 2009, 03:12 AM

Rick, much thanks. Kill this thread and move it if you like, just leave me a link as I'm discussing this on another forum and am looking for input from the folks here on EA&A as I value your collective impressions....

compliments and regards, m

anvilring · 7th June 2009, 02:32 PM

Thanks for the help. Do you/can you give me a link to that forum post?, where the "heart shaped" blade was discussed?

Its pretty obvious this was made for the tourist trade; otherwise, why stamp it in english complete with a bizarre ampersand.

Definitely made for outsiders.

Many of these tourist blades I think, would have to resemble some ethnic blade of local use, i.e. machetes from So. America, kindals from the Caucusses etc.

So my questions are; what was this used for?, and when was it made?

Did it really come FROM Kollam?, or could it be a fake tourist blade?? representing something from the 19th cen. tourist trade?

Rick · 7th June 2009, 04:38 PM

I highly doubt this is a Tourist Piece ....

Are the fittings Silver ?

The workmanship seems top notch .
Possibly a sacrificial knife ??

No one is going to stab with this blade; it seems much more suited to chopping or slashing; but a bit small for a Machete .
If I had to guess age ; late 19th - mid 20th C.

I'll see if I can hunt up that thread, but after finding out this blade is from India it kind of throws that idea out of consideration ....

I expect the stamping at the forte is British Colonial influenced ; therefore the Western style of mark .

Poor wandering thread; I think It should go to Ethnographic .
We will get more input there I think .

Here is the link to the discussion .

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=kerala

Best,
Rick

Rick · 7th June 2009, 04:57 PM

Anvilring,
Here is the link to the knife I referred to .
I think this might cloud the issue a bit; I don't think there is any correlation between them .

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...hlight=trousse

Rick · 8th June 2009, 02:51 PM

Bump .

7th June 2009, 02:03 AM	#1
anvilring Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 5	Mystery "Kollam" knife... I'm thinking this isn't all that old, but others are thinking differntly. Anyone here ever see any such knife?? I'm thinking modern fantasy, but perhaps not. Has anyone ever seen a blade pattern like this? and if so, from where? The mark is .... any help appreciated.... m

7th June 2009, 02:37 AM	#3
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,376	Having just searched for Kollam and came up with India; I now wonder if this shouldn't be in Ethnographic . It looks like it may have originated in the Kerala area of India where Kollam is situated . Very nicely made . Do I read the length as 47cm correctly ? It has a European influenced look to it though . What say you Gentlemen ? Last edited by Rick; 7th June 2009 at 02:51 AM.

7th June 2009, 04:38 PM	#6
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,376	I highly doubt this is a Tourist Piece .... Are the fittings Silver ? The workmanship seems top notch . Possibly a sacrificial knife ?? No one is going to stab with this blade; it seems much more suited to chopping or slashing; but a bit small for a Machete . If I had to guess age ; late 19th - mid 20th C. I'll see if I can hunt up that thread, but after finding out this blade is from India it kind of throws that idea out of consideration .... I expect the stamping at the forte is British Colonial influenced ; therefore the Western style of mark . Poor wandering thread; I think It should go to Ethnographic . We will get more input there I think . Here is the link to the discussion . http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=kerala Best, Rick Last edited by Rick; 7th June 2009 at 04:50 PM.

7th June 2009, 02:26 AM	#2
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,376	Hi Anvilring , and welcome ! I am going to move this post to the appropriate forum for you ; The European Armory . Good to have you on board ! This reminds me of the knife we discussed some months ago with a point similar to your's but more heart shaped . I don't think it's all that new either . Rick

7th June 2009, 03:12 AM	#4
anvilring Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 5	Rick, much thanks. Kill this thread and move it if you like, just leave me a link as I'm discussing this on another forum and am looking for input from the folks here on EA&A as I value your collective impressions.... compliments and regards, m

7th June 2009, 02:32 PM	#5
anvilring Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 5	Thanks for the help. Do you/can you give me a link to that forum post?, where the "heart shaped" blade was discussed? Its pretty obvious this was made for the tourist trade; otherwise, why stamp it in english complete with a bizarre ampersand. Definitely made for outsiders. Many of these tourist blades I think, would have to resemble some ethnic blade of local use, i.e. machetes from So. America, kindals from the Caucusses etc. So my questions are; what was this used for?, and when was it made? Did it really come FROM Kollam?, or could it be a fake tourist blade?? representing something from the 19th cen. tourist trade?

7th June 2009, 04:57 PM	#7
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,376	Anvilring, Here is the link to the knife I referred to . I think this might cloud the issue a bit; I don't think there is any correlation between them . http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...hlight=trousse

8th June 2009, 02:51 PM	#8
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,376	Bump .