A Nice Quality Moplah/Mapilla Knife

Miguel · 19th May 2018, 08:41 PM

One word beautiful, three moe I love it.
Regards
Miguel

drac2k · 20th May 2018, 02:24 AM

Nothing mundane about anything on that chopper !!!

Jens Nordlunde · 21st May 2018, 03:49 PM

Charles, you have a very nice Moplah - congratulations:-).

Another weapon but of Hindu origin is the Aydha Katthi from Coorg, which is from about the same area as the Moplah.
After a violent outbreak in 1884, where the magistrate was copped to pieces on his veranda, more than 15'000 weapons were confiscated and most dumped at sea. Only a small number were alowed to go into museums.
This is why realy old knives/swords of this kind are so rare.
The one shown below is 18th to early 19th century. The stamp on the blade says LIN or LIM in Kannada script, and stands for the rulers name Lingaraja.
See The Journal of The Arms and Armour Society. Vol. XXII, no 4. September 2017. Two Iconic Knives of the Rajah og Coorg by Nidhin Olikara.

CharlesS · 21st May 2018, 04:32 PM

Jens,

Thanks for the input and impressive photos! I had no idea about why so many of these pieces were lost...what a shame!

I do know it is next to impossible to find either of these weapons with their original scabbard, or in the case of the aydha katthi, more like a 'holster'.

Jens Nordlunde · 21st May 2018, 06:06 PM

Charles, it is not next to impossible, it is impossible, as the did not have a scabbard, they were worn in a kind of belt over the shoulder - at least the ones from Coorg.

21st May 2018, 03:49 PM	#3
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Charles, you have a very nice Moplah - congratulations:-). Another weapon but of Hindu origin is the Aydha Katthi from Coorg, which is from about the same area as the Moplah. After a violent outbreak in 1884, where the magistrate was copped to pieces on his veranda, more than 15'000 weapons were confiscated and most dumped at sea. Only a small number were alowed to go into museums. This is why realy old knives/swords of this kind are so rare. The one shown below is 18th to early 19th century. The stamp on the blade says LIN or LIM in Kannada script, and stands for the rulers name Lingaraja. See The Journal of The Arms and Armour Society. Vol. XXII, no 4. September 2017. Two Iconic Knives of the Rajah og Coorg by Nidhin Olikara. Attached Images

19th May 2018, 08:41 PM	#1
Miguel Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 584	One word beautiful, three moe I love it. Regards Miguel

20th May 2018, 02:24 AM	#2
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,258	Nothing mundane about anything on that chopper !!!

21st May 2018, 04:32 PM	#4
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,854	Jens, Thanks for the input and impressive photos! I had no idea about why so many of these pieces were lost...what a shame! I do know it is next to impossible to find either of these weapons with their original scabbard, or in the case of the aydha katthi, more like a 'holster'.

21st May 2018, 06:06 PM	#5
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Charles, it is not next to impossible, it is impossible, as the did not have a scabbard, they were worn in a kind of belt over the shoulder - at least the ones from Coorg.