some new finds

[marthandan]

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DSC02561.JPG

the top one is a dagger about 10~11" long, double edged, with a 6" blade.
the middle two ones are small friction folders. one has a fluted wooden handle and the other one is a stag handle.
the rampuri is about 8" closed

[rraju2805]

Nice blades...

You are a real knive lover.

Are you always carry knives ??

[Raghavachari]

Mart,
Where dyu find these things?
Cheerz
Vasu

[Moin.]

Marthandan, the dagger's very very interesting. Please do some TLC and post some close ups... Are these from down south as well ?

Regards
Moin.

[Mark]

Marthandan,

Can you explain to about the 2 folders in your second picture, the ones that have a "spike" to them?

I do not remember seeing those, there must be a purpose to have the tang be so long, yet that must be difficult to carry, so I suspect it has some purpose? OOPS- I looked at them more closely and now see the spike/awl is folding just like the blade, but I am still curious if these spikes have some sort of common purpose?

Thanks,

Mark

[marthandan]

Nice blades...

You are a real knive lover.

Are you always carry knives ??

thank you raju. yes, i edc either the SAK huntsman/the MUK that i made/the browning folder.

Mart,
Where dyu find these things?
Cheerz
Vasu

there is a small shop opposite of mayajaal that sells old items from the chettinad region, mostly teak/ rosewood cupboards,stone/ wooden pillars, etc. found these while looking for a stone pillar. bought the entire lot for Rs.300 . they still have a few more blades left. sorry, but i picked up all that was worth wile(to me at least). the others are either too badly damaged/stupid looking(IMO) bowies etc(rambo style that you get everywhere)/designs that you can have made today.

Marthandan, the dagger's very very interesting. Please do some TLC and post some close ups... Are these from down south as well ?
Regards
Moin.

the dagger and the 2 folders are designs found down south. dont know if there found only in south India. the dagger, for example, has a double recurve design that is found throughout india (bichwa). it looks well made (no shake/ loose parts), but i would have preferred a curved handle (the straight handle does interfere with the flow of the blade; thats the reason i need to start making one ). will definitely post close ups after a little bit of TLC

Marthandan,

Can you explain to about the 2 folders in your second picture, the ones that have a "spike" to them?

I do not remember seeing those, there must be a purpose to have the tang be so long, yet that must be difficult to carry, so I suspect it has some purpose? OOPS- I looked at them more closely and now see the spike/awl is folding just like the blade, but I am still curious if these spikes have some sort of common purpose?

Thanks,

Mark

the blade was used for prep'ing palm leaves and the awl for writing on it. all parts of the two folders seem very well made. the one with a black wooden handle has flutes cut into it as a design element while the other one has a fully polished stag handle.the rivet bosses are made of brass and have similar flutes cut into them. both the blades have a thick spine (4~5mm) but are deeply hollow forged, such that the cross section of the blades is like that of a razor. the awl is triangular in cross section and has design elements forged into it (something like filework). the awls are very stiff (absolutely no flexing).

will post pics once i start working on them.

[Mark]

I am looking forward to your work!

"the blade was used for prep'ing palm leaves and the awl for writing on it."

Apologies but I do not have palm trees here, what is done to the leaves, and why?

Thanks!

Mark

[Raghavachari]

The palm leaves were cut into strips to be used literally as paper. And the awl (ezhithaani) (don't try and pronounce it) literally meaning "writing nail" was used to write on it. Don't know if there was further prep on them but there are records dating back thousands of years written on palm leaf.

[marthandan]

220px-Borassus_aethiopum_MS_4049.jpg

the leaves of the palmyra tree (above) are dried and split into rectangular strips. words are etched onto the strip using the awl. a mixture of oil and soot is applied to the palm strip. the palm strip is then wiped, thereby leaving back the "black ink" in the etched area which highlights the words (below).

Thirukkural.jpg

[essdee1972]

And here was I, looking at the palm leaf writings in sundry museums, and thinking "what fine pens they had in those ancient days"!!!!!

Awesome finds, Marthandan! And thanks for sharing the slice of history! These things must be a couple of hundred years old, at least? Would love to look in on your collection...... sometime!!

[discovershashank]

Knice blades Mr knife pirate
old blade always facinates. Specially when you got a story to tell. Waiting for the makeover pics.