Two Indian Knives for interest and/or comment

[Miguel]

Originally Posted by estcrh

From what I have observed there are two types of Indian tiger tooth jambiya, and they are a type of jambiya....one type has a thick blade and the tang is also thick. The other type is a much less well made type.....a thinner blade, a bit flexible even and also thin at the tang.....for a person of less wealth, or a youth maybe, who knows but there is a world of difference between the two types...I also have one of the lesser types and it is certainly not wootz. hard to tell with a photo but in hand the difference is clear.

Miquel can tell which type his is.

Thin blade, thin tang, not wootz.


Thick blade and tang.

Hello estcrh,
Thank you for the info from which I would say mine is a lesser type. Another reason I think this is the line engraving at the Rivas so. The better quality one look to be chiselled decoration.
Regards
Miguel

[Jens Nordlunde]

Look at the dagger with the blue background. Do you see the peacocks on the blade?
You often see them on early southern katars.
Ok, they are not easy to see, but with a bit of experience it should be possible.

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by Jens Nordlunde

Look at the dagger with the blue background. Do you see the peacocks on the blade?
You often see them on early southern katars.
Ok, they are not easy to see, but with a bit of experience it should be possible.

Here is Runjeets description, he also mentions "South India".

Indian tiger tooth jambiya, 18th century, The blade is earlier and very rare, similar to blades found on hooded Katar from the Vijaynagar empire of South India (1336-1646 AD). The blade was probably traded into North India where it was mounted on this hilt, there is a possibility that the whole dagger was made in South India (The Deccan) in the North Indian ‘Tiger-Tooth’ style using a local blade.

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by Miguel

Hello estcrh,
Thank you for the info from which I would say mine is a lesser type. Another reason I think this is the line engraving at the Rivas so. The better quality one look to be chiselled decoration.
Regards
Miguel

Miguel, yours is in excellent condition, it looks like the chape has been polished. When you put several examples of the same type together you can see the similarities.

[Miguel]

Hello estcrh, I see what you mean they are almost identical. The scabbard and chape for this type of knife follow a similar design as do the knives, interesting.

Regarding my knife with a kukri type blade, I agree that it is Indian as made in India with an Indian style blade but I don't see it as an Indian Kukri. I have a number of kukris and the shortlist blade is 11ins, kukris are far larger weapons. In my opinion I still think it is a hunting knife made for a European. Many years ago I saw a similar size knife in a dealers shop which had a jade /green stone, slab hilt and was told by the dealer that it had been made in India as a hunting knife for a member of the British military The size just doesn't seem right to me to be used as a kukri in my opinion.
Regards
Miguel

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by Miguel

Regarding my knife with a kukri type blade, I agree that it is Indian as made in India with an Indian style blade but I don't see it as an Indian Kukri. I have a number of kukris and the shortlist blade is 11ins, kukris are far larger weapons.

Kukri come in many different shapes and sizes.

[Miguel]

Hello estcrh, nice selection. Have you any images of Kukris with a false back edge similar to the blade of my knife? I have not seen one which is another reason for my believing it to be a custom made knife.
Regards
Miguel

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by Miguel

Hello estcrh, nice selection. Have you any images of Kukris with a false back edge similar to the blade of my knife? I have not seen one which is another reason for my believing it to be a custom made knife.
Regards
Miguel

I do not remember seeing another one like yours, either the blade or hilt. If I run into one I will post it here.

[Jens Nordlunde]

Eric, did you see the peacocks??
Seldom something is written about the decoration, when it is hard to see what is shown, but not many seem to be interested in the 'hidden messages'.
I have often been wondering why?
Jens

[Silver John]

Originally Posted by Miguel

Hello estcrh, nice selection. Have you any images of Kukris with a false back edge similar to the blade of my knife? I have not seen one which is another reason for my believing it to be a custom made knife.
Regards
Miguel

Hi Miguel,

I know you were addressing another member, but I thought I'd chime in. I have seen a number of these knives over the years, though never in the flesh. IMHO it's definitely a style of blade, made over an extended period of time and in varying levels of quality.

Here are a few examples I found with a quick google search.






As you can see, there's a fair bit of variance, I think you picked up a nice example.

Regards

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by Silver John

Hi Miguel,

I know you were addressing another member, but I thought I'd chime in. I have seen a number of these knives over the years, though never in the flesh. IMHO it's definitely a style of blade, made over an extended period of time and in varying levels of quality.

Here are a few examples I found with a quick google search.






As you can see, there's a fair bit of variance, I think you picked up a nice example.

Regards

Good job, what search words did you use? They look like a kukri varient.

[Jens Nordlunde]

I find the dagger with the blue background shown in post 19 interesting, as I think it is a former 17th century karar from south India, changed into a dagger in the 19th century, when the south Indian armouries was sacked, and more tourist pieces were needed.
The decoration on the blade is important, but one can not see the fullers clearly from the pictures. I do, however, think that the fullers may show this change if they can be examined.

[spiritualwarrior1978]

That is anice kukri, I have seen one of those somewhere before. Like someone said previously if you ever get bored...... it would match a few of my pesh kabz/chooses with mother of pearl inlay

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by Miguel

Regarding my knife with a kukri type blade, I agree that it is Indian as made in India with an Indian style blade but I don't see it as an Indian Kukri.

Miguel......"early tourist kukri (1920-40) Northern India"

[Miguel]

Originally Posted by estcrh

Miguel......"early tourist kukri (1920-40) Northern India"

Yes everything seems to point to that fact.