O/T ok it looks like a little like a Pen Khukuri

not2sharp

not2sharp

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Ever since I missed on the Pen knives, I have been trying to shake this one loose from a friends collection. No luck yet, but I am getting closer. At least I managed to borrow it for a few photos (is it borrowing when the owner comes along with it?). :)

I thought you guys might enjoy looking at a 19th century piha kaetta. The amount of detail is almost like looking at a Fractal image. If anyone has an extra one of these around; let me know; Oh, and post plenty of pictures.

n2s
 

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Nice knife and good pix.
Click to expand...

It is, I love the detailed work on the ivory handle, although I have no clue what type of Ivory it is. It looks too tight for elephant ivory; I am leaning towards marine mammal for now.

n2s
 
Here is a magnified view of one of the pictures
 

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Bill,

Those are the true colors. At least as close as I managed to get under indoor lighting. The knife is probably 150-200 years old and it has acquired a patina.

n2s
 
I finally manaaged to reel this one in. Whew! That took a while.

n2s

Fortunately, I managed to distract Tisimi's bats long enough to close the deal.
 
The entire book has been translated and published on this link. So grab your favorite khukuri, or Pia Kaetta, and read on. It is a travel log, by a German naturalist, recording his adventures in Ceylon during 1883.

http://caliban.mpiz-koeln.mpg.de/~stueber/haeckel/ceylon_e/

Warning: The book was written and 1883 and contains racial prejudices common to the period. Accept it as a historical artifact and read on. As, with airconditioning and airtravel, some things have improved.

n2s

(edited to add warning)
 
Warning: The book was written and 1883 and contains racial prejudices common to the period. Accept it as a historical artifact and read on. As, with airconditioning and airtravel, some things have improved. >>>

Isn't it a damn shame the warning is now second nature? It used to be as one read literature and history such prejudices were obvious and hardly bore comment, other than in understanding culture. I've heard some works are being 'cleaned'. I hope not. The flecks in the lens eye, in the perceptions, should be easily seen so that you can weigh the information more accurately.

Believe it or not, when our time is read, our own prejudices will be apparent to future generations.


munk
 
Ferrous, I've been meaning to tell you your new page picture looks like an entity on Star Trek. I think it's the one which hovered around feeding off violence and trouble. Capt Kirk was fighting Klingons. But I may have the thing mixed up with one from another episode.




munk
 
When wasn't the Kirk fighting Klingons? :)

Seriously,tho. It was either that pic or a wedge formation of like 300 of those sword-shaking viking smileys that Yvsa made for me.
033102war_1_prv.gif

033102war_1_prv.gif

033102war_1_prv.gif



Keith
 
Wrongfriend,

With the Pia Kaetta it seems that the further back you go the simpler the blade gets. But, don't let the appearance decieve you; these are heavy well forged blades.

n2s
 
I believe true beauty lies in simplicity. The knife's construction is really attractive. How is it look like when sheathed?
 
Wrongfriend,

Unfortunately, this one has lost it's sheath. The sheaths are usually wooden, carved and flutted, and fitted with an elaborately decorated silver band around the collar. Some sheaths also include a companion stylus which are also elaborately decorated. The knives were usually made for the king by his artesan staff at Kandy (town) Ceylon, and distributed at his pleasure to his nobles, guest, and couriers.

n2s

I barrowed these pictures from a US collector that owns over a hundred of these knives.

e498b.jpg
 
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