Piha Kaetta off the bucket list

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 3rd November 2017, 10:57 AM

Although we already know that this knife was a presentation as well as social status Icon and probably not intended in this regard as a battlefield weapon...the fact is that we have no evidence of it being used in a fight but as already stated that doesn't make it a feather duster either!

An interesting side issue to the pihā-kaetta is the peculiar spike or stylus which is supposed to be for writing on palm leaves, however, "it is said that" the spike as a weapon is extremely dangerous and seen sheathed in the same scabbard as the pihā-kaetta ..

I gleaned from Sri Lankan friends here that the spike is called keynithuh and is very dangerous since it was often poisoned. It is also suggested that special forces carry this concealed weapon ...

I have also seen huge pihā-kaetta which may be viewed on video simply by typing in Piha Kaetta to web search and selecting the correct video.

In my view therefor it may well have been an Icon worn with honour as a badge of office etc and also used in the palm leaf writing situation but if required it may also have been used as a knife...for cutting string, killing chickens or as a weapon in a fight...

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 3rd November 2017, 11:19 AM

Please view~

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=765

~where at #10 there is an excellent description of the different dagger stytles...which I have pleasure in recording again here ...by Derek in 2005.viz;

Quote" Daggers possess a variety of names depending upon the material forming the hilt and the shape of the blade. Those with handles of rocks such as crystal (J.F. Pieris 1938) or green marble are "Gal Mita Pihiya", the delicate narrow blades are "Ul Pihiya", the curved ones are the "Vak Pihiya" , and the chopper form is the "Pihiya Kattha" The hilt is either straight with the pommel twisted downward towards the edge, or downward and then upward towards the reverse of the blade."Unquote.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 3rd November 2017, 11:37 AM

Some Museum items ~ The Piha Keatta and Stylus from Met Museum at ~

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/32248

The Met. gets right down to it and calls this spike a skewer! It is clearly designed to go with the dagger since it has a special hole slotted into the front of the scabbard. It is suggested that originally this form may have been for the fine art of writing on Palm Leaves so that what the dagger may have been for originally was for the purpose of cutting leaves.

The bird head original style hilt gave way to an amorphous blob highly decorated and beautifully carved in abstract form. Some scabbards show what is probably original form carved parrot heads at the end...similar to Kastane scabbards.

3rd November 2017, 11:37 AM	#3
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Some Museum items ~ The Piha Keatta and Stylus from Met Museum at ~ https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/32248 The Met. gets right down to it and calls this spike a skewer! It is clearly designed to go with the dagger since it has a special hole slotted into the front of the scabbard. It is suggested that originally this form may have been for the fine art of writing on Palm Leaves so that what the dagger may have been for originally was for the purpose of cutting leaves. The bird head original style hilt gave way to an amorphous blob highly decorated and beautifully carved in abstract form. Some scabbards show what is probably original form carved parrot heads at the end...similar to Kastane scabbards. Attached Images Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 3rd November 2017 at 11:54 AM.

3rd November 2017, 10:57 AM	#1
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	pihā-kaetta Although we already know that this knife was a presentation as well as social status Icon and probably not intended in this regard as a battlefield weapon...the fact is that we have no evidence of it being used in a fight but as already stated that doesn't make it a feather duster either! An interesting side issue to the pihā-kaetta is the peculiar spike or stylus which is supposed to be for writing on palm leaves, however, "it is said that" the spike as a weapon is extremely dangerous and seen sheathed in the same scabbard as the pihā-kaetta .. I gleaned from Sri Lankan friends here that the spike is called keynithuh and is very dangerous since it was often poisoned. It is also suggested that special forces carry this concealed weapon ... I have also seen huge pihā-kaetta which may be viewed on video simply by typing in Piha Kaetta to web search and selecting the correct video. In my view therefor it may well have been an Icon worn with honour as a badge of office etc and also used in the palm leaf writing situation but if required it may also have been used as a knife...for cutting string, killing chickens or as a weapon in a fight...

3rd November 2017, 11:19 AM	#2
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Please view~ http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=765 ~where at #10 there is an excellent description of the different dagger stytles...which I have pleasure in recording again here ...by Derek in 2005.viz; Quote" Daggers possess a variety of names depending upon the material forming the hilt and the shape of the blade. Those with handles of rocks such as crystal (J.F. Pieris 1938) or green marble are "Gal Mita Pihiya", the delicate narrow blades are "Ul Pihiya", the curved ones are the "Vak Pihiya" , and the chopper form is the "Pihiya Kattha" The hilt is either straight with the pommel twisted downward towards the edge, or downward and then upward towards the reverse of the blade."Unquote.