A Rare Silver Mounted Pichangatti Coorg Knife, Late 18th Early 19th Century

A most scarce silver Indian Pichangatti Coorg knife for the specialist collector of Oriental daggers. There is a near identical example, however, in much poorer condition, within the Royal Armouries collection. Object number XXVID in the Oriental Gallery in Royal Armoury, Leeds. This is a fine 19th century Pichangatti knife of the Coorg people of Southwest India. The heavy, broad steel blade is quite sharp and has a single fuller on each side. The blade is engraved traditional Coorg eyelash design. The silver hilt is engraved. With an overall length of just 22cm (8 5/8 inches), this is not a particularly large knife. Nevertheless, it is sharp and deadly in the hand as well as a beautiful work of art. The Coorgis pronounci it Peechekathi and not Pichangatti. The word kathi in Coorgi (and most other Dravidian tongues such as Tamil and Malayalam) means knife or dagger. The Pichangatti cannot be purchased off the shelf even in the heart of Coorg (also known as Mercara). Like the Keris of Java and heirlooms of other cultures, it is handed down over generations. Coorg (an anglicized corruption of Kodagu, said to be derived from the Kanarese Kudu, " steep," or "hilly"), is a province of India. The Coorgis, or more properly, Kodagas, are renowned warriors (sometimes known as the Lords of War) who live on the east coast of India in the north of the state of Karnataka. Their homeland has been defended vigorously (and successfully) for two millennia. Some people believe they are descendants of part of Alexander the Great's army. These men in Alexander's army may have come from what is now Syria.

Code: 22359