Small sickle chopper -- Southern Indian (?)

Ian · 25th June 2005, 08:08 PM

This is a small but well made sickle weapon. I've searched my files and references and the closest I can come to an ID is either a Moplah chopper from the Malabar Coast of SW India, or something a little further inland from Mysore. Egerton has an example that resembles the one pictured below.

The blade measures 8 1/4 inches from tip to bolster and is 1 5/8 inches at its widest. Blade is 3/16 inches thick just in front of the bolster. There is a 1/2-inch steel bolster and the rest of the handle is 4 1/4 inches in length, with a brass and a steel ferrule flanking the circular wooden grip. There is a thin metal plate at the end of the hilt, with a peened tang to secure the hilt.

There are elongated S-shapes along the spine of the blade and other designs at "forte" -- see the pictures below. Perhaps the most unusual feature is a humped protrusion from the back of the blade immediately before the bolster. I have included detailed pictures of this area. The only similar arrangement I have found is a Malabar chopper illustrated in Egerton.

Close up views of the blade show some patination and there is evidence of an inserted edge. Overall, I would say the blade is at least 100 years old, probably older, but the hilt may be a replacement.

Opinons and observations would be most welcome.

Ian.

Battara · 25th June 2005, 10:37 PM

I've seen this example in Stone's book. Don't remember if it is in Elgood's book.

Tim Simmons · 25th June 2005, 10:41 PM

Hello Ian, what is that red stuff we can see in the picture, it looks a bit like polishing compound. I am not trying to be rude. I would agree with you that there is age with this blade. It might be red paint? A drop of meths should clean out any pre- sale buffing. I have been on the look out for one of these knives with a scabbard, but I have come to the conclusion that with or with out a scabbard they are thin on the ground.Tim

Ian · 25th June 2005, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

Hello Ian, what is that red stuff we can see in the picture, it looks a bit like polishing compound.

Yep, just some polishing compound. Came off pretty easily.

Quote:

I have been on the look out for one of these knives with a scabbard, but I have come to the conclusion that with or with out a scabbard they are thin on the ground.Tim

If this one is from Southern India, I agree that typical southern Indian edged weapons are hard to find. The Kerala knives, the adya katti and pinchangatti of the Coorg, Moplah choppers, and the Nias weapons are all scarce (and expensive).

RobT · 4th July 2005, 06:34 AM

Tim,
If Stone is correct on pg 456: "The sword is carried without a scabbard, blade up, with the handle thrust inside the belt at the back." you're not going to find one with a scabbard. I agree with you that they aren't common. I grabbed the only one I ever saw for sale.
Sincerely,
RobT

Jens Nordlunde · 4th July 2005, 11:31 AM

In ‘Hindu Arms and Ritual’ Elgood shows some choppers on page 70 fig. 6.3. One of them seems to be the same as the one Stone shows on page 180.

It is a nice chopper you show, and old as well, but I agree with you about the hilt. This one could be from the SW coast of India, but it is not what you understand under a Moplah chopper nor is it an Adya Katti, they are both heavier and look different.

On the picture below is an Adya Katti. Total length 54 cm, length of blade 41 cm.

Jens Nordlunde · 4th July 2005, 01:29 PM

Ian, Here is another chopper from south India.
http://forums.swordforum.com/showthr...threadid=53613

Bill · 13th July 2005, 02:13 AM

This one is pretty big, weighs over 4 lbs., not really sure what it is or what it was used for. Malabar chopper? Inside curve is sharpened as well as the "axe" portion. In Tirri's book he has a # of choppers from India, as well as some smaller sickels in the Malay/Indo section he refers to as Arit.

olikara · 16th September 2007, 09:43 AM

I was going through some older threads and just resurrected this one as I saw a chopper from kerala that Bill wanted an ID on.

We still see these choppers in kerala and this one is called 'Aruvala' - 'Vala' means edged weapon. I am not sure if they were used in war in kerala earlier, but they do come up in various sizes today. However their basic shape remains the same. The hilt is rarely as ornate as the one Bill has shown here.

They serve a unique purpose. The sharper edge is used to cut through thick grass and to dehusk coconuts. Once the coconut is dehusked, the other side of the Aruval is used to strike the coconut shell and split it into two. This is the use of the leading edge on the blunt face that you can see in Bill's photograph.

Kerala has the largest area of land under coconut cultivation till recently. Now cash crops like rubber, vanilla and cocoa are taking a toll on coconut. Incidentally, Kerala itself is derieved fron 'Kera' - Sanskrit for Coconut. The English word 'Coir' is inturn also derived from the same root 'Kera'.

Jim McDougall · 16th September 2007, 08:44 PM

Hi Olikara,
Thank you so much for reviving this and bringing in this valuable information! It is always so rewarding to see threads that had important discussion going on identifying a certain weapon brought up with new evidence or material.
It is very kind of you to show such diligence in sharing such data.

All very best regards,
Jim

Emanuel · 17th September 2007, 02:17 AM

Hello,

The last blade posted by Bill bears an uncanny resemblance to a western bill hook also known as a fascine knife. This European variant is purely a tool and not a weapon, used cutting brush and building fortifications. Could the above blade be an European one rehilted and adopted in India and SEA?
Attached are are some pictures I found on google.

Regards,
Emanuel

Billman · 5th November 2010, 06:49 PM

Yes, all of these tools bear more than a superficial resemblence to the European billhook (only called a fascine knife in the USA). Working tool/weapon/ceremonial use must depend upon the context - but the billhook became the bill (halberd or pike) of the English foot soldier - and most when called to arms by their lord probably took their working handbill to the village blacksmith for a spike or hook to be welded on, and the tang changed to a socket for a longer handle - and off to war they went - if they survived they probably had it made back into a handbill. I saw a few that are obvious conversions from billhooks in the York museum (UK) some years ago...

But, I digress - even working tools were decorated (c.f. the billhooks and axes from Austria, Hungary and the Alpine regions of France and Italy) and handles could be plain or exotic, see: http://outils-anciens.xooit.fr/t1883...r-une-lame.htm (bottom of page) and http://outils-anciens.xooit.fr/t997-...htm?q=serpette

A working tool could thus become weapon or an object of beauty....

25th June 2005, 08:08 PM	#1
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,198	Small sickle chopper -- Southern Indian (?) This is a small but well made sickle weapon. I've searched my files and references and the closest I can come to an ID is either a Moplah chopper from the Malabar Coast of SW India, or something a little further inland from Mysore. Egerton has an example that resembles the one pictured below. The blade measures 8 1/4 inches from tip to bolster and is 1 5/8 inches at its widest. Blade is 3/16 inches thick just in front of the bolster. There is a 1/2-inch steel bolster and the rest of the handle is 4 1/4 inches in length, with a brass and a steel ferrule flanking the circular wooden grip. There is a thin metal plate at the end of the hilt, with a peened tang to secure the hilt. There are elongated S-shapes along the spine of the blade and other designs at "forte" -- see the pictures below. Perhaps the most unusual feature is a humped protrusion from the back of the blade immediately before the bolster. I have included detailed pictures of this area. The only similar arrangement I have found is a Malabar chopper illustrated in Egerton. Close up views of the blade show some patination and there is evidence of an inserted edge. Overall, I would say the blade is at least 100 years old, probably older, but the hilt may be a replacement. Opinons and observations would be most welcome. Ian. Attached Images

4th July 2005, 06:34 AM	#5
RobT Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 489	Maybe no Sheath Tim, If Stone is correct on pg 456: "The sword is carried without a scabbard, blade up, with the handle thrust inside the belt at the back." you're not going to find one with a scabbard. I agree with you that they aren't common. I grabbed the only one I ever saw for sale. Sincerely, RobT

4th July 2005, 11:31 AM	#6
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	In ‘Hindu Arms and Ritual’ Elgood shows some choppers on page 70 fig. 6.3. One of them seems to be the same as the one Stone shows on page 180. It is a nice chopper you show, and old as well, but I agree with you about the hilt. This one could be from the SW coast of India, but it is not what you understand under a Moplah chopper nor is it an Adya Katti, they are both heavier and look different. On the picture below is an Adya Katti. Total length 54 cm, length of blade 41 cm. Attached Images

13th July 2005, 02:13 AM	#8
Bill Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Chicago area Posts: 327	This one is pretty big, weighs over 4 lbs., not really sure what it is or what it was used for. Malabar chopper? Inside curve is sharpened as well as the "axe" portion. In Tirri's book he has a # of choppers from India, as well as some smaller sickels in the Malay/Indo section he refers to as Arit. Attached Images

16th September 2007, 09:43 AM	#9
olikara Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: India Posts: 100	Coconut Chopper - Aruvala I was going through some older threads and just resurrected this one as I saw a chopper from kerala that Bill wanted an ID on. We still see these choppers in kerala and this one is called 'Aruvala' - 'Vala' means edged weapon. I am not sure if they were used in war in kerala earlier, but they do come up in various sizes today. However their basic shape remains the same. The hilt is rarely as ornate as the one Bill has shown here. They serve a unique purpose. The sharper edge is used to cut through thick grass and to dehusk coconuts. Once the coconut is dehusked, the other side of the Aruval is used to strike the coconut shell and split it into two. This is the use of the leading edge on the blunt face that you can see in Bill's photograph. Kerala has the largest area of land under coconut cultivation till recently. Now cash crops like rubber, vanilla and cocoa are taking a toll on coconut. Incidentally, Kerala itself is derieved fron 'Kera' - Sanskrit for Coconut. The English word 'Coir' is inturn also derived from the same root 'Kera'.

25th June 2005, 10:37 PM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,219	I've seen this example in Stone's book. Don't remember if it is in Elgood's book.

25th June 2005, 10:41 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Hello Ian, what is that red stuff we can see in the picture, it looks a bit like polishing compound. I am not trying to be rude. I would agree with you that there is age with this blade. It might be red paint? A drop of meths should clean out any pre- sale buffing. I have been on the look out for one of these knives with a scabbard, but I have come to the conclusion that with or with out a scabbard they are thin on the ground.Tim

4th July 2005, 01:29 PM	#7
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Ian, Here is another chopper from south India. http://forums.swordforum.com/showthr...threadid=53613

16th September 2007, 08:44 PM	#10
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,945	Hi Olikara, Thank you so much for reviving this and bringing in this valuable information! It is always so rewarding to see threads that had important discussion going on identifying a certain weapon brought up with new evidence or material. It is very kind of you to show such diligence in sharing such data. All very best regards, Jim

17th September 2007, 02:17 AM	#11
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Hello, The last blade posted by Bill bears an uncanny resemblance to a western bill hook also known as a fascine knife. This European variant is purely a tool and not a weapon, used cutting brush and building fortifications. Could the above blade be an European one rehilted and adopted in India and SEA? Attached are are some pictures I found on google. Regards, Emanuel Attached Images

5th November 2010, 06:49 PM	#12
Billman Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 129	Yes, all of these tools bear more than a superficial resemblence to the European billhook (only called a fascine knife in the USA). Working tool/weapon/ceremonial use must depend upon the context - but the billhook became the bill (halberd or pike) of the English foot soldier - and most when called to arms by their lord probably took their working handbill to the village blacksmith for a spike or hook to be welded on, and the tang changed to a socket for a longer handle - and off to war they went - if they survived they probably had it made back into a handbill. I saw a few that are obvious conversions from billhooks in the York museum (UK) some years ago... But, I digress - even working tools were decorated (c.f. the billhooks and axes from Austria, Hungary and the Alpine regions of France and Italy) and handles could be plain or exotic, see: http://outils-anciens.xooit.fr/t1883...r-une-lame.htm (bottom of page) and http://outils-anciens.xooit.fr/t997-...htm?q=serpette A working tool could thus become weapon or an object of beauty....