Very Good Pichangatti Coorg Knife

The Pichangatti  knife is the traditional knife of the Kodava people resides in what is today Karnataka state in South West India. The word means hand knife. The British named the region “Coorgi”, a corruption of “Kannada” the local word that means “hilly”, the geographical condition of the region. It so happens that the Kodava people are named Coorg and the Pichangatti knife is better known as Coorg knife.

The Pichangatti knife has a short, heavy single edge blade, grip with down curving pommel, silver mounted scabbard and in many cases a silver chain is attached to the scabbard. The Pichangatti is worn below a wide waist belt and the silver chain is folded over the belt. See below.

The Pichangeti is one of the rarest knives of the Indian arsenal. Its rarity is a result of a punishment inflicted by the British administration on the Kodava people in 1884, when a huge number of weapons, including knives, swords and firearms were confiscated and dumped in the sea.

The very good  exemplar shown here has a silver handle gilded pommel cover and partially gilded mounts of the scabbard. Long silver chain and finials.

Blade 6 1/2  inches, total 12 inches, Good condition. Few pitted spots and  forging flaws on the blade .

See also: Robert Elgood “Fireatms of the Islamic World” P/ 184-185