Dating a Nice Pia Kaetta

CharlesS · 5th July 2007, 07:01 PM

I picked up this pia kaetta at a Civil War arms show most unexpectedly and at a bargain price. It was simply labeled "Asian dagger"....and I almost jumped out of my skin. I think this proves you can still find some great stuff in the least likely places.

I do not have many of these in my collection, but for my own reasons, primarily blade shape, I think it is an older one.

Can anyone add something regarding the age of the piece??

Tim Simmons · 5th July 2007, 07:20 PM

I had one very similar. I am not so sure they are that old, early 20th century. Rather like many silver foil covered Dha, picked up during ww2. Still a very attractive knife and to get a good buy is always nice.

I saw a John Wayne film set in ww2 Burma. Silver foil dhas were being given to all the soldiers as gifts.

Lew · 5th July 2007, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CharlesS

I do not have many of these in my collection, but for my own reasons, primarily blade shape, I think it is an older one.

Can anyone add something regarding the age of the piece??

Charles

Well I know it's older than me for sure

. Very nice find. Artzi should be able to tell you how old it is.

Lew

Bill M · 5th July 2007, 08:15 PM

"Dating a Nice Pia Kaetta" are you planning a family?

Looks sharp to me!

CharlesS · 6th July 2007, 02:44 AM

I am just about certain this is not an early 20th Century piece.

G. McCormack · 6th July 2007, 05:57 AM

Beautiful, nice to have the scabbard. I'd say about 1850...yours looks like the last stage of evolution of these...gorgeous piece. Looks like great condition.

just my 2 cents

Oriental-Arms · 6th July 2007, 06:31 PM

It really looks as if made yesterday but I suggest mid to late 18 C. This is based on decoration style, blade shape and the quality of the chiseling and inlay. Great condition to age.

derek · 7th July 2007, 03:03 PM

Hi Charles,

That's a great piha, very complete. Based on the quality work it would almost have to have been made by the Pattal Hattara in Kandy (the king's royal workshops). They were not around long after the British took over. I would date it a little older, probably very early 1800's.

That's a beauty, a really good find.

-d

www.pihakaetta.com for some more info.

CharlesS · 8th July 2007, 11:47 PM

Great web site. Thanks for the reference, and your info regarding the pia kaetta.

derek · 12th July 2007, 03:47 AM

Slightly changing the topic, there is a piha currently offered at Lion's Gate with a very old hand written label that calls it a "pihiye", along with the phrase "Sinhalese hunter's knife".

That's interesting to me, because it supports Mr. Mohan Daniel's assertion (he owns the Serendib Gallery in Colombo) that simply "pihiya" (his spelling) is the correct general name for these knives. He explained that "da kaetta" is a different, sickle-shaped type of work knife. The term piha kaetta was something of an oxymoron to his Sinhalese ear. I think the term piha kaetta is officially stuck in the west and there's no hope of changing it, but it was probably a slight error on the part of Mr. Stone.

-d

CharlesS · 12th July 2007, 01:03 PM

....this may go into the heap of weapons 'misnomers'...and there are many.

Very interesting!

5th July 2007, 07:01 PM	#1
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,855	Dating a Nice Pia Kaetta I picked up this pia kaetta at a Civil War arms show most unexpectedly and at a bargain price. It was simply labeled "Asian dagger"....and I almost jumped out of my skin. I think this proves you can still find some great stuff in the least likely places. I do not have many of these in my collection, but for my own reasons, primarily blade shape, I think it is an older one. Can anyone add something regarding the age of the piece?? Attached Images

5th July 2007, 08:15 PM	#4
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	Dating a Nice Pia Kaetta "Dating a Nice Pia Kaetta" are you planning a family? Looks sharp to me!

5th July 2007, 07:20 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,739	I had one very similar. I am not so sure they are that old, early 20th century. Rather like many silver foil covered Dha, picked up during ww2. Still a very attractive knife and to get a good buy is always nice. I saw a John Wayne film set in ww2 Burma. Silver foil dhas were being given to all the soldiers as gifts.

6th July 2007, 02:44 AM	#5
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,855	I am just about certain this is not an early 20th Century piece.

6th July 2007, 05:57 AM	#6
G. McCormack Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 131	Beautiful, nice to have the scabbard. I'd say about 1850...yours looks like the last stage of evolution of these...gorgeous piece. Looks like great condition. just my 2 cents

6th July 2007, 06:31 PM	#7
Oriental-Arms Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Haifa, Israel Posts: 183	It really looks as if made yesterday but I suggest mid to late 18 C. This is based on decoration style, blade shape and the quality of the chiseling and inlay. Great condition to age.

7th July 2007, 03:03 PM	#8
derek Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 215	Hi Charles, That's a great piha, very complete. Based on the quality work it would almost have to have been made by the Pattal Hattara in Kandy (the king's royal workshops). They were not around long after the British took over. I would date it a little older, probably very early 1800's. That's a beauty, a really good find. -d www.pihakaetta.com for some more info.

8th July 2007, 11:47 PM	#9
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,855	Great web site. Thanks for the reference, and your info regarding the pia kaetta.

12th July 2007, 03:47 AM	#10
derek Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 215	Slightly changing the topic, there is a piha currently offered at Lion's Gate with a very old hand written label that calls it a "pihiye", along with the phrase "Sinhalese hunter's knife". That's interesting to me, because it supports Mr. Mohan Daniel's assertion (he owns the Serendib Gallery in Colombo) that simply "pihiya" (his spelling) is the correct general name for these knives. He explained that "da kaetta" is a different, sickle-shaped type of work knife. The term piha kaetta was something of an oxymoron to his Sinhalese ear. I think the term piha kaetta is officially stuck in the west and there's no hope of changing it, but it was probably a slight error on the part of Mr. Stone. -d

12th July 2007, 01:03 PM	#11
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,855	....this may go into the heap of weapons 'misnomers'...and there are many. Very interesting!