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Old 8th January 2012, 11:31 PM   #1
Atlantia
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Default ID required and translation

Interesting heavy knife for ID.
Not evn sure what the language is on the handle.
Pictures say it all really.
Any help appreciated.
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Old 9th January 2012, 12:31 AM   #2
laEspadaAncha
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Hi Gene,

Looks South Indian on first glance IMO... Maybe Malabar coast?

Regards,

Chris
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Old 9th January 2012, 03:51 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by laEspadaAncha
Hi Gene,

Looks South Indian on first glance IMO... Maybe Malabar coast?

Regards,

Chris
My first thoughts looking at the Rosettes...Gav
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Old 9th January 2012, 06:38 AM   #4
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Most interesting piece Gene. My pick would also be India and those rosettes and the blade decoration suggest some quality also. There are Indian knives which are somewhat similar but not the same. I am thinking of Moplah, Ayda-Katti etc. Perhaps those who are serious collectors of Indian blades may be able to help.
The letters in the ferrule look as if they could be someone's initials---
V W B ?? Perhaps something from the years of the Raj?
Stu
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Old 9th January 2012, 09:57 PM   #5
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Chris, Gav, Stu.

Thanks chaps. Is this shape familiar to any of you? It seems strangely familiar but I can't place it.
The cutting edge at such a strange anlge makes me wonder if it's had some nefarious neck useage!
Certainly for some kind of chopping.
The characters are mystifying me as well, Like Stu I did think european initials, but the little tails made me decide not... Now I'm not sure.

Best
Gene
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Old 9th January 2012, 11:47 PM   #6
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Those "tails" are typical of Victorian styling IMHO. As to this being a chopper....I would have thought not likely, as the downward swing would not produce a strong cut. Maybe your idea of some sort of neck rearranging tool might fit better
Stu
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Old 10th January 2012, 08:59 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kahnjar1
Those "tails" are typical of Victorian styling IMHO. As to this being a chopper....I would have thought not likely, as the downward swing would not produce a strong cut. Maybe your idea of some sort of neck rearranging tool might fit better
Stu
Its a very odd thing mate.
But so distinctive I'd have thought someone would be able to pin it
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Old 17th January 2012, 06:36 PM   #8
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Any further thoughts?
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Old 17th January 2012, 11:54 PM   #9
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I pretty much get the same feel as everybody else on this, and think of Malabar and the ayda katti, but something else came to mind. The ram dao which is more associated with Bengal, Assam and Nepal....it seems there was something a while back with an unusual bladed item something like this, and there were initials, which in three like this seem usually as noted British or European. In this case the item was I think from one of those areas during the British Raj, and from a plantation . It may have been a presentation or gift to the plantation owner and perhaps a utility type knife similar to the ram dao. The chrysanthemum type rosettes, while India seem SE Asian as well.
The 'tails' on the letters may be simply a linguistic fluorish simulating local language characters?
Just thoughts, interesting item.......the motif on the blade though does seem toward the ayda katti....so it is a real quandry.

All the best,
JIm
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Old 18th January 2012, 11:09 AM   #10
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Hi Guys,

I have to say I'm coming a round to y'all way of thinking here.
My experience of ayda katti is from pictures of the classic 'sword' form in books where the blades are more bill shaped.
But having now had time to sniff around the net and see some variations, I do see what you all mean. There are examples with straight angled edges. That combined with Coorg type handle etc....

It seems a mixture of various elements from the weapons of that culture.
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Old 24th January 2012, 02:30 AM   #11
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Default Ayda Katti

Here is a forum thread from 2006 showing Ayda Katti. I'm not so sure.

Ayda Katti

On the other hand, here is a picture of an Ayda Katti that I've saved because it is a fine example of a weapon I've sought for a long time for my collection but alas too pricey still for me. Image credit: http://eriksedge.com/product.php?id=...=Malabar_Sword
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Last edited by DaveA; 24th January 2012 at 02:35 AM. Reason: added URL to source of image
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Old 24th January 2012, 04:06 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveA
Here is a forum thread from 2006 showing Ayda Katti. I'm not so sure.

Ayda Katti

On the other hand, here is a picture of an Ayda Katti that I've saved because it is a fine example of a weapon I've sought for a long time for my collection but alas too pricey still for me. Image credit: http://eriksedge.com/product.php?id=...=Malabar_Sword
Hi Dave,
Thanks for coming in on this one.
I think that as has been suggested we might be seeing a kind of hybrid or Anglocised version of the Ayda Katti. Which would also account for the western initials.
Seems to be an unusual thing. Strange patterns in the steels surface too. Not wootz or anything 'good' but..... I better take a pic as it's hard to describe.

Best
Gene
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Old 24th January 2012, 04:26 PM   #13
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Pictures of the steel.
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Old 28th January 2012, 08:09 PM   #14
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BUMP
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Old 31st January 2012, 02:27 PM   #15
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Good afternoon,
I would just like to point out the similarity of shape of the hilt of Atlantia's chopper and my knife on Henrik's thread.http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=14832
Regards
Richard
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Old 4th February 2012, 07:16 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard G
Good afternoon,
I would just like to point out the similarity of shape of the hilt of Atlantia's chopper and my knife on Henrik's thread.http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=14832
Regards
Richard
Hi Richard

Excellent point. Here are the pictures for others to see:
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