The change of an Indian weapon

Jim McDougall · 10th March 2006, 01:57 AM

Interesting observations on these forward angled blade weapons, many of which of course do descend from the Greek kopis in varying degree, including the yataghan which developed in Turkish and Balkan regions.
I think Jens comment on the associations with these ancient weapons to the kukri and ayda katti are very well placed. It is fascinating to examine the diffusion of these weapon forms throughout the Indian subcontinent, and the influences of the varying cultures being combined.

The kukri, as noted developing from these early weapons depicted iconographically in India as early as the beginning of the 7th c. , seems to have developed in Nepal sometime in the early 1600's. John Powell, who is by far the ultimate authority on the kukri ( and we are all hopeful of his book being published one day!!

has noted the earliest known Nepalese kukri to be held in the arsenal museum in Katmandhu. This example is said to have been owned by Raja Drabya Shah, King of Gorkha, c.1627.
John notes further that the blade design was anciently used by the Egyptians as the khopesh, later by the Greeks as the kopis, and ultimately diffusing to the Macedonians (machiara) and the Romans and in Spain as the 'falcata'.

Best regards,
Jim

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10th March 2006, 01:57 AM	#6
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,670	Interesting observations on these forward angled blade weapons, many of which of course do descend from the Greek kopis in varying degree, including the yataghan which developed in Turkish and Balkan regions. I think Jens comment on the associations with these ancient weapons to the kukri and ayda katti are very well placed. It is fascinating to examine the diffusion of these weapon forms throughout the Indian subcontinent, and the influences of the varying cultures being combined. The kukri, as noted developing from these early weapons depicted iconographically in India as early as the beginning of the 7th c. , seems to have developed in Nepal sometime in the early 1600's. John Powell, who is by far the ultimate authority on the kukri ( and we are all hopeful of his book being published one day!! has noted the earliest known Nepalese kukri to be held in the arsenal museum in Katmandhu. This example is said to have been owned by Raja Drabya Shah, King of Gorkha, c.1627. John notes further that the blade design was anciently used by the Egyptians as the khopesh, later by the Greeks as the kopis, and ultimately diffusing to the Macedonians (machiara) and the Romans and in Spain as the 'falcata'. Best regards, Jim