Celon Knife.

Tim Simmons · 25th March 2007, 04:19 PM

I got this today. Temptation=Guilt+Explanation to the wife why you need another knife you really cannot afford. Not really my sort of thing with silver foil on the scabbard and frilly knickers work else where. The blade is remarkably heavy with the back being 1cm. Are these widespread? Tamil or Singhalese are they found in India as well? Total length of knife 32cm. I know somebody has got lots of these.

katana · 25th March 2007, 04:23 PM

Hi Tim, looks to be a very nice piece...love the decorative features...can't help with origin though

Flavio · 25th March 2007, 05:05 PM

Congratulations Tim, a beautiful piece

Emanuel · 25th March 2007, 05:30 PM

Hi Tim,
You got a beautiful piha kaetta, from Sri-Lanka. I saw one on ebay a wek ago going for about 40GBP, mis-labelled, but most of the blade had been broken off - I let it go. After Jens indicated that very high quality wootz was traded from Sri-Lanka, I wonder whether these knives indeed have wootx blades. Could you give it an etch and see?

Check out this collection: http://www.pihakaetta.com/gallery.php

Emanuel

Tim Simmons · 25th March 2007, 06:31 PM

Thanks for the praise

As I said not my usual thing. I was hoping for more info than a quick search revealed. Me etch!!!!!!

I do not need my bumps felt thank you

Bill M · 25th March 2007, 08:41 PM

It is a very good piha kaetta. You did very well! Good scabbard also. The scabbards are more rare.

Tim Simmons · 25th March 2007, 09:12 PM

Thanks Bill. I like the handle and the weight of the whole thing, only all the silver decoration is foil. I Know it is still hand chased but it seems to me to be fairly routine work.

not2sharp · 25th March 2007, 09:22 PM

Tim,

That is a nice example; you did well. I find the styling and workmanship on these to be very consistent. They were likely all made by the same school of craftmen in Kandy, Ceylon. Welcome to the club!

n2s

Battara · 30th March 2007, 01:51 AM

I'm not into piha kaetta, but you have a nice puppy (woof!

).

derek · 2nd April 2007, 12:52 AM

Hi Tim,
You did well for someone with different collecting priorities! That's a very complete piha. As Bill noted the scabbards can be the most rare piece.

I like the pattern in the brass (vine patterns are called "liya vela", I think). I have seen a few others with the same. I have a some different variations but not that exact one.

Congrats on that find. I need to do an update on the pihakaetta.com pics. I'll add yours if you're okay with it.

-d

Emanuel · 2nd April 2007, 03:08 AM

Is there any cultural, geographical or temporal distinction between the pihas with a tip that angles towards the edge, and those that curve towards the spine? I noticed this in a number of pieces and I am wondering whether the backwards sweep is due to the blade having been broken.

For comparisons, I'm adding a picture from Oriental-Arms. In this example the sheath follows the same curvature, possibly indicating it was original.

Regards,
Emanuel

derek · 2nd April 2007, 04:01 AM

Hi Manolo,

Take a look at this article:
http://www.pihakaetta.com/sinhala_weapons_armor_low.pdf

Page 8 mentions different names for piha variations. I've noted this before, but "piha kaetta" is a Stone term that is a little contradictory in Sinhalese, but it is in fact used to describe one specific type of chopping knife. "Piha" denotes the decorative knife like we are discussing. "Da Kaetta" is a more utilitarian chopping knife.

Anyway, to answer your question, yes there are many specific names for piha variations such as Ul Piha (the slender straight example you posted), Gal Mita Piha (the kind with the crystal or jade handles), Vak Piha (curved blade), etc.

Sorry, the PDf is a rough scan, but readable if you're interested.

-d

Tim Simmons · 2nd April 2007, 08:14 AM

Thanks for the information. I do not think the blade is wootz. You are welcome to use the pic, I find that rather a compliment. Are these really a fighting knife? It is sharp or was very sharp. Would give a terrible slash or chop. Perhaps more defencive?

Emanuel · 2nd April 2007, 03:26 PM

Thank you very much Derek, I missed that file on your website. I'll get to reading it.

Emanuel

derek · 2nd April 2007, 06:07 PM

Tim,

I have never seen a wootz blade on a piha. Most look to be laminated and possibly some were differentially hardened similar to a Japanese sword. Many of mine have striations in steel very much like the older kukris I have.

I have one piha with very distinct streaks of nickel in the blade.

There is a reference to the fine quality ore found in Ceylon in at least one of my articles. I'll see if I can find it. Most people don't think that quality was reflected in the blades produced there.

From what I've read, the more ornate metalwork on the scarbbards (like yours) came later. That and the elaborate work on the knife itself would be indicative of a gift to honour a person of rank, possibly worn by a chief. I doubt it would have been a useful fighting knife! The phrase "just sit there and look pretty" comes to mind.

I don't know for certain what a fighting piha would be, but maybe it was a plainer version like this:

25th March 2007, 04:19 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Ceylon Knife. I got this today. Temptation=Guilt+Explanation to the wife why you need another knife you really cannot afford. Not really my sort of thing with silver foil on the scabbard and frilly knickers work else where. The blade is remarkably heavy with the back being 1cm. Are these widespread? Tamil or Singhalese are they found in India as well? Total length of knife 32cm. I know somebody has got lots of these. Last edited by Tim Simmons; 25th March 2007 at 09:07 PM.

2nd April 2007, 03:08 AM	#11
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	A question... Is there any cultural, geographical or temporal distinction between the pihas with a tip that angles towards the edge, and those that curve towards the spine? I noticed this in a number of pieces and I am wondering whether the backwards sweep is due to the blade having been broken. For comparisons, I'm adding a picture from Oriental-Arms. In this example the sheath follows the same curvature, possibly indicating it was original. Regards, Emanuel Attached Images

25th March 2007, 04:23 PM	#2
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Hi Tim, looks to be a very nice piece...love the decorative features...can't help with origin though

25th March 2007, 05:05 PM	#3
Flavio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Italia Posts: 1,243	Congratulations Tim, a beautiful piece

25th March 2007, 05:30 PM	#4
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Hi Tim, You got a beautiful piha kaetta, from Sri-Lanka. I saw one on ebay a wek ago going for about 40GBP, mis-labelled, but most of the blade had been broken off - I let it go. After Jens indicated that very high quality wootz was traded from Sri-Lanka, I wonder whether these knives indeed have wootx blades. Could you give it an etch and see? Check out this collection: http://www.pihakaetta.com/gallery.php Emanuel

25th March 2007, 06:31 PM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Thanks for the praise As I said not my usual thing. I was hoping for more info than a quick search revealed. Me etch!!!!!! I do not need my bumps felt thank you

25th March 2007, 08:41 PM	#6
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	It is a very good piha kaetta. You did very well! Good scabbard also. The scabbards are more rare.

25th March 2007, 09:12 PM	#7
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Thanks Bill. I like the handle and the weight of the whole thing, only all the silver decoration is foil. I Know it is still hand chased but it seems to me to be fairly routine work.

25th March 2007, 09:22 PM	#8
not2sharp Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 210	Tim, That is a nice example; you did well. I find the styling and workmanship on these to be very consistent. They were likely all made by the same school of craftmen in Kandy, Ceylon. Welcome to the club! n2s

30th March 2007, 01:51 AM	#9
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,226	I'm not into piha kaetta, but you have a nice puppy (woof! ).

2nd April 2007, 12:52 AM	#10
derek Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 215	Hi Tim, You did well for someone with different collecting priorities! That's a very complete piha. As Bill noted the scabbards can be the most rare piece. I like the pattern in the brass (vine patterns are called "liya vela", I think). I have seen a few others with the same. I have a some different variations but not that exact one. Congrats on that find. I need to do an update on the pihakaetta.com pics. I'll add yours if you're okay with it. -d

2nd April 2007, 04:01 AM	#12
derek Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 215	Hi Manolo, Take a look at this article: http://www.pihakaetta.com/sinhala_weapons_armor_low.pdf Page 8 mentions different names for piha variations. I've noted this before, but "piha kaetta" is a Stone term that is a little contradictory in Sinhalese, but it is in fact used to describe one specific type of chopping knife. "Piha" denotes the decorative knife like we are discussing. "Da Kaetta" is a more utilitarian chopping knife. Anyway, to answer your question, yes there are many specific names for piha variations such as Ul Piha (the slender straight example you posted), Gal Mita Piha (the kind with the crystal or jade handles), Vak Piha (curved blade), etc. Sorry, the PDf is a rough scan, but readable if you're interested. -d

2nd April 2007, 08:14 AM	#13
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Thanks for the information. I do not think the blade is wootz. You are welcome to use the pic, I find that rather a compliment. Are these really a fighting knife? It is sharp or was very sharp. Would give a terrible slash or chop. Perhaps more defencive?

2nd April 2007, 03:26 PM	#14
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Thank you very much Derek, I missed that file on your website. I'll get to reading it. Emanuel

2nd April 2007, 06:07 PM	#15
derek Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 215	Tim, I have never seen a wootz blade on a piha. Most look to be laminated and possibly some were differentially hardened similar to a Japanese sword. Many of mine have striations in steel very much like the older kukris I have. I have one piha with very distinct streaks of nickel in the blade. There is a reference to the fine quality ore found in Ceylon in at least one of my articles. I'll see if I can find it. Most people don't think that quality was reflected in the blades produced there. From what I've read, the more ornate metalwork on the scarbbards (like yours) came later. That and the elaborate work on the knife itself would be indicative of a gift to honour a person of rank, possibly worn by a chief. I doubt it would have been a useful fighting knife! The phrase "just sit there and look pretty" comes to mind. I don't know for certain what a fighting piha would be, but maybe it was a plainer version like this: