Moplah

Jens Nordlunde · 20th October 2007, 09:03 AM

Bill, a very nice Moplah. I was surprised to hear that it is double edged, as I have always thought it would be edged only on the inside like the Adya Katti from Coorg. Thank you for showing it, I have never had one in my hands, and so it fails in my collection. The little spot you can see on the blade is the seal of Coorg.

Olikara, thank you for the historic background. I did not know that the Malibar’s and the Coorg’s were enemies. The more you learn, the more you understand how little you know.

Bill M · 21st October 2007, 05:38 PM

Found some more information on the Ayda katti. Wish I could find a picture of this belt.

"The Ayda never was known to have a sheath. carried, slung naked across the hips through a slit in a metal belt called a "Todunga," made from brass or silver, fastening in front with massive chains.

Some of these belts had a spike projecting from the center of the plate in the back. The spike has no apparent definite use, but it was remarked as the imperial assemblage at Dehli that the Coorg chiefs who were there in the costume and wearing the arms of their native country were not incommoded by any crowd pressing on them from behind."

----------- Blackwood 's Magazine 1886

Bill M · 21st October 2007, 07:36 PM

I made a mistake in my original post. The overall length is 23" not 28".

KuKulzA28 · 3rd April 2009, 08:18 PM

Seems like the Moplah's blade would have a similar usage as the Chinese Da-dao... with single and dual handed capability depending on the handle and heavy chopping power due to the push-pull mechanics. Was the Moplah sword ever a work knife/tool? Also was the Ayda-katti a jungle-clearing/survival tool in addition to being a fearsome weapon?

Mel H · 25th October 2017, 07:48 PM

Interested to see the picture of the Ayda Katti posted by Jens in this old thread, I thought some may be interested is seeing a picture of the TODUNGA used to carry the sword and was worn across the shoulders. They seem to be less seen than the swords.
There is a story that tells of a rebellion by the Coorg which resulted in the death of the local British dignitary, after which all of the Ayda Katti were confiscated from the local natives then dumped in the sea.
M.H.

Jens Nordlunde · 26th October 2017, 10:24 AM

The Aydha Katthi is a rare weapon to find, but the Todunga is even rarer. Thank you for showing.
I have two Aydha Katthis from two different rulers of Coorg, both are shown in my catalogue 'A Passion for Indian Arms'. In The Journal of The Arms and Armour Society.UK. Vol. XXII. No 4, September 2017 Nidhin Olikara has written an article about the markings on some of the blades, telling how you can see which rulers mark it is.

The weapons dumped at see were not only Aydha Katthis, but any kind of weapon, and to this comes, that it was about 17000 weapons.

Mel H · 26th October 2017, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jens Nordlunde

The Aydha Katthi is a rare weapon to find, but the Todunga is even rarer. Thank you for showing.
I have two Aydha Katthis from two different rulers of Coorg, both are shown in my catalogue 'A Passion for Indian Arms'. In The Journal of The Arms and Armour Society.UK. Vol. XXII. No 4, September 2017 Nidhin Olikara has written an article about the markings on some of the blades, telling how you can see which rulers mark it is.

The weapons dumped at see were not only Aydha Katthis, but any kind of weapon, and to this comes, that it was about 17000 weapons.

I've added a couple more pic's that may give a better perspective. The slot that the blade passes through is quite large, to allow the blade to pass through, but it occurs to me that once in position the knife would hang rather loosely.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 26th October 2017, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jens Nordlunde

The Aydha Katthi is a rare weapon to find, but the Todunga is even rarer. Thank you for showing.
I have two Aydha Katthis from two different rulers of Coorg, both are shown in my catalogue 'A Passion for Indian Arms'. In The Journal of The Arms and Armour Society.UK. Vol. XXII. No 4, September 2017 Nidhin Olikara has written an article about the markings on some of the blades, telling how you can see which rulers mark it is.

The weapons dumped at see were not only Aydha Katthis, but any kind of weapon, and to this comes, that it was about 17000 weapons.

Yes indeed they dropped a whole lot into the sea...The local British administration confiscated all arms, seizing 17,295 weapons of which 7,503 were guns. The Madras Museum selected a few of the better examples and the remainder were dumped into the sea.
(Elgood, 1995, p. 185)

20th October 2007, 09:03 AM	#1
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,713	Bill, a very nice Moplah. I was surprised to hear that it is double edged, as I have always thought it would be edged only on the inside like the Adya Katti from Coorg. Thank you for showing it, I have never had one in my hands, and so it fails in my collection. The little spot you can see on the blade is the seal of Coorg. Olikara, thank you for the historic background. I did not know that the Malibar’s and the Coorg’s were enemies. The more you learn, the more you understand how little you know. Attached Images

25th October 2017, 07:48 PM	#5
Mel H Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: North East England. Posts: 107	Interested to see the picture of the Ayda Katti posted by Jens in this old thread, I thought some may be interested is seeing a picture of the TODUNGA used to carry the sword and was worn across the shoulders. They seem to be less seen than the swords. There is a story that tells of a rebellion by the Coorg which resulted in the death of the local British dignitary, after which all of the Ayda Katti were confiscated from the local natives then dumped in the sea. M.H. Attached Images

21st October 2007, 05:38 PM	#2
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	Found some more information on the Ayda katti. Wish I could find a picture of this belt. "The Ayda never was known to have a sheath. carried, slung naked across the hips through a slit in a metal belt called a "Todunga," made from brass or silver, fastening in front with massive chains. Some of these belts had a spike projecting from the center of the plate in the back. The spike has no apparent definite use, but it was remarked as the imperial assemblage at Dehli that the Coorg chiefs who were there in the costume and wearing the arms of their native country were not incommoded by any crowd pressing on them from behind." ----------- Blackwood 's Magazine 1886

21st October 2007, 07:36 PM	#3
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	I made a mistake in my original post. The overall length is 23" not 28".

3rd April 2009, 08:18 PM	#4
KuKulzA28 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: between work and sleep Posts: 731	Seems like the Moplah's blade would have a similar usage as the Chinese Da-dao... with single and dual handed capability depending on the handle and heavy chopping power due to the push-pull mechanics. Was the Moplah sword ever a work knife/tool? Also was the Ayda-katti a jungle-clearing/survival tool in addition to being a fearsome weapon?

26th October 2017, 10:24 AM	#6
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,713	The Aydha Katthi is a rare weapon to find, but the Todunga is even rarer. Thank you for showing. I have two Aydha Katthis from two different rulers of Coorg, both are shown in my catalogue 'A Passion for Indian Arms'. In The Journal of The Arms and Armour Society.UK. Vol. XXII. No 4, September 2017 Nidhin Olikara has written an article about the markings on some of the blades, telling how you can see which rulers mark it is. The weapons dumped at see were not only Aydha Katthis, but any kind of weapon, and to this comes, that it was about 17000 weapons.