Dagger

Dagger "Pinchangatti" from South India, 19th century.
Metal and wood.
Measurements: 32 cm.

The 'Pinchangatti' is the iconic knife used by the Coorg or 'Kodova' men in the Karnataka region of southwest India. It was worn at the front, concealed in the sash and was considered of great importance among its owners. The British troops called the traditional Kodava people Coorg, indicating its origin in terms of habitat, as Coorg is a mistranslation of the word 'Kannada', which is their local term for 'hilly area'.
During the British annexation of the Coorg region, most of the local weapons were confiscated to prevent armed rebellion and thrown into the ocean. Among them were many traditional weapons such as rifles, swords and daggers like the 'Pinchangatti'. This aforementioned fact and the fact that these knives are considered very important in the local culture, makes it rare to find a high-end example on the market today.