Kerala knife

Ian · 25th June 2005, 11:44 PM

These are not very common and this is an unusually nice example of a small Kerala knife. The mountings are pure silver (and heavy) and the sheath may be original.

This is a fairly old knife, and the person from whom I purchased it claimed it was 17th C. I doubt it is that old, perhaps 18th C.

OAL = 10 7/8 inches
Blade = 6 1/4 inches (tip to bolster)
Hilt = 4 1/2 inches (bolster to end of hilt)

Rich · 26th June 2005, 12:40 PM

Beautiful, what culture is Kerala associated with?
I'm not at all familiar with the term.

Thanks
Rich

Ian · 26th June 2005, 07:31 PM

Hi Rich:

Kerala is an Indian state on the lower western coast of India. It's most prominent cities are Calicut and Cochin, which have been prominent trading ports with the Middle East and Africa for at least 2 millennia.

Southwestern India is culturally an old part of the world. In the 14th and 15th C. it was a major trade center, interesecting between Chinese trade from the east and Muslim trade to the west. Calicut was one of the prime hubs for this multinational trade.

There has been a prominent Muslim population in Kerala since the very early years of Islam, and it is one of the most secular parts of India which is a country long tolerant of many different religious beliefs.

While the State of Kerala is presently one of the poorest in India, it has had a socialist government for many years and provides high levels of education and social services to its people. The health of the Kerala population overall is among the highest of any group in India.

Kerala also has a reputation of valuing education very highly. It is perhaps less belligerent than more northern areas of India. and inter-racial tensions are lower.

The edged weapons of Kerala have been influenced by the Moplah (the original term for Muslims living along the Malabar Coast), the Nias (describing the Hindus in this area), and other local groups such as the Coorg who live to the north in Karnataka and the Tamils to the east. Christians and other groups are represented sporadically in the area, notably the Syrian Coptics.

The "Kerala knife" is a style such as shown above, with a wide, dropped point, spear-shaped blade, a T-spine, and a sheath of similar shape that encloses more than half of the hilt. Hilts vary in style but arise from the back of the blade and there is usually a small bolster.

Artzi Yarom had pictures of another nice example on his site, but I can't see them now. Perhaps he might post those here so that we can see some of the variation in styles of these knives, which are quite uncommon.

BTW, I forgot to mention that the one pictured above is a deaccessed museum piece, but I can't read the old inscription or number on the back of the scabbard -- faded too much with age and discoloration of the paper.

Ian.

Tim Simmons · 13th March 2006, 10:40 PM

I have brought this to the surface because Lew suggested this bowie was from Madras which is the state of Tamill Nadu to the east of Kerala. look at the decoration on the handle. I am told by my brother inlaw who lives in Madras or should I say Chennai, that there is considerable cultural cross over/links and trade with Burma in the past. He is on the large side and said the food was very similar. I feel it is clear there is some relationship in the origin of these to knives.

Ian · 13th March 2006, 11:12 PM

Hi Tim:

Great knife -- very interesting mix of cultures. The hilt appears brass, and the cross guard looks European in style to me. But the blade is definitely Burmish. That koftgari style is typical of Burmese decoration, with the scrolls and spirals being characteristic (what is sometimes called "Burmese roccoco").

I'm going to speculate about this one because you mentioned trade between Burma and Madras (Chennai). I think this is a Burmese blade originally, that was later reworked and rehilted for a European. And I will suggest that the European was most likely Portuguese or British. Portuguese mercenaries were prominent in Burma, dating from before the Anglo-Burmese Wars in the 19th C., and of course the British assumed increasing influence in Burma during the 19th C. as a result of those conflicts. The remodeling of the blade in a "Bowie" style, the addition of a European-style cross guard, and a sculpted bronze hilt suggest adaptation for a Westerner; the wooden sheath is evocative of the leather European sheaths with silver mounts top and bottom seen in the second half of the 19th C.

All this suggests to me a late 19th C. origin for this interesting knife. Thanks for showing it to us.

Regards,

Ian.

Oriental-Arms · 16th March 2006, 11:11 AM

Here is one example:

with gold and silver inlay on the blade:

and another one:

It should be mentioned here that while traveling in Rajhstan, I have seen several similar ones where the dealers / owners claimed it to be a Rajhastani knife, but I im inclined more toward the Kerala origin

Ian · 16th March 2006, 03:52 PM

Thanks Artzi. I thought you had a couple of these. Beautiful knives.

Ian.

Tim Simmons · 16th March 2006, 05:04 PM

How very helpful, although mine is a bowie style knife the scabbard could almost be from one of the other knives in it's similarity. Certainly a south India origin.

Montino Bourbon · 17th March 2006, 06:40 AM

Ian, it's amazing how much that knife resembles in shape a modern chef's knife!

Could you slice and dice your enemies with that?

Tim Simmons · 17th March 2006, 07:06 PM

The big Khyber knives must have been made so that you could cut onions without crying.

Ian · 17th March 2006, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Montino Bourbon

Ian, it's amazing how much that knife resembles in shape a modern chef's knife!

Could you slice and dice your enemies with that?

No doubt one could slice and dice very finely with that puppy.

25th June 2005, 11:44 PM	#1
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,209	Kerala knife These are not very common and this is an unusually nice example of a small Kerala knife. The mountings are pure silver (and heavy) and the sheath may be original. This is a fairly old knife, and the person from whom I purchased it claimed it was 17th C. I doubt it is that old, perhaps 18th C. OAL = 10 7/8 inches Blade = 6 1/4 inches (tip to bolster) Hilt = 4 1/2 inches (bolster to end of hilt) Attached Images

13th March 2006, 10:40 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,808	I have brought this to the surface because Lew suggested this bowie was from Madras which is the state of Tamill Nadu to the east of Kerala. look at the decoration on the handle. I am told by my brother inlaw who lives in Madras or should I say Chennai, that there is considerable cultural cross over/links and trade with Burma in the past. He is on the large side and said the food was very similar. I feel it is clear there is some relationship in the origin of these to knives. Attached Images

13th March 2006, 11:12 PM	#5
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,209	Interesting!!! Hi Tim: Great knife -- very interesting mix of cultures. The hilt appears brass, and the cross guard looks European in style to me. But the blade is definitely Burmish. That koftgari style is typical of Burmese decoration, with the scrolls and spirals being characteristic (what is sometimes called "Burmese roccoco"). I'm going to speculate about this one because you mentioned trade between Burma and Madras (Chennai). I think this is a Burmese blade originally, that was later reworked and rehilted for a European. And I will suggest that the European was most likely Portuguese or British. Portuguese mercenaries were prominent in Burma, dating from before the Anglo-Burmese Wars in the 19th C., and of course the British assumed increasing influence in Burma during the 19th C. as a result of those conflicts. The remodeling of the blade in a "Bowie" style, the addition of a European-style cross guard, and a sculpted bronze hilt suggest adaptation for a Westerner; the wooden sheath is evocative of the leather European sheaths with silver mounts top and bottom seen in the second half of the 19th C. All this suggests to me a late 19th C. origin for this interesting knife. Thanks for showing it to us. Regards, Ian.

16th March 2006, 11:11 AM	#6
Oriental-Arms Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Haifa, Israel Posts: 183	Kerala knife Here is one example: with gold and silver inlay on the blade: and another one: It should be mentioned here that while traveling in Rajhstan, I have seen several similar ones where the dealers / owners claimed it to be a Rajhastani knife, but I im inclined more toward the Kerala origin

26th June 2005, 12:40 PM	#2
Rich Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: comfortably at home, USA Posts: 432	Beautiful, what culture is Kerala associated with? I'm not at all familiar with the term. Thanks Rich

26th June 2005, 07:31 PM	#3
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,209	Hi Rich: Kerala is an Indian state on the lower western coast of India. It's most prominent cities are Calicut and Cochin, which have been prominent trading ports with the Middle East and Africa for at least 2 millennia. Southwestern India is culturally an old part of the world. In the 14th and 15th C. it was a major trade center, interesecting between Chinese trade from the east and Muslim trade to the west. Calicut was one of the prime hubs for this multinational trade. There has been a prominent Muslim population in Kerala since the very early years of Islam, and it is one of the most secular parts of India which is a country long tolerant of many different religious beliefs. While the State of Kerala is presently one of the poorest in India, it has had a socialist government for many years and provides high levels of education and social services to its people. The health of the Kerala population overall is among the highest of any group in India. Kerala also has a reputation of valuing education very highly. It is perhaps less belligerent than more northern areas of India. and inter-racial tensions are lower. The edged weapons of Kerala have been influenced by the Moplah (the original term for Muslims living along the Malabar Coast), the Nias (describing the Hindus in this area), and other local groups such as the Coorg who live to the north in Karnataka and the Tamils to the east. Christians and other groups are represented sporadically in the area, notably the Syrian Coptics. The "Kerala knife" is a style such as shown above, with a wide, dropped point, spear-shaped blade, a T-spine, and a sheath of similar shape that encloses more than half of the hilt. Hilts vary in style but arise from the back of the blade and there is usually a small bolster. Artzi Yarom had pictures of another nice example on his site, but I can't see them now. Perhaps he might post those here so that we can see some of the variation in styles of these knives, which are quite uncommon. BTW, I forgot to mention that the one pictured above is a deaccessed museum piece, but I can't read the old inscription or number on the back of the scabbard -- faded too much with age and discoloration of the paper. Ian.

16th March 2006, 03:52 PM	#7
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,209	Thanks Artzi. I thought you had a couple of these. Beautiful knives. Ian.

16th March 2006, 05:04 PM	#8
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,808	How very helpful, although mine is a bowie style knife the scabbard could almost be from one of the other knives in it's similarity. Certainly a south India origin.

17th March 2006, 06:40 AM	#9
Montino Bourbon Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Santa Barbara, California Posts: 301	Ian, it's amazing how much that knife resembles in shape a modern chef's knife! Could you slice and dice your enemies with that?

17th March 2006, 07:06 PM	#10
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,808	The big Khyber knives must have been made so that you could cut onions without crying.