Scissors Katar

Iliad · 6th March 2012, 09:49 PM

Hi all,
Herewith pics of a scissors katar which I have recently acquired. It is in poor condition and I am not expecting complimentary comment about it, but the issue which I am raising is not about this particular katar but about scissor katars in general.What is the purpose of such katars? If used to stab with the blades closed, then the blades cannot be opened while inside the body of the victim; if stabbing while the blades are open, then surely quite ineffective. Is it a parrying dagger? If so, then how effective?
Regards to all,
Brian

Stan S. · 6th March 2012, 10:21 PM

Hi Brian,

Compliments on your new aquisition. The question of scissor katars had been discussed on this and other forums in length. General consensus points at these not being designed for fighting. However, it is possible the original prototype was intended as a sword catcher of sorts. I have never seen one of the functional examples but perhaps someone else had?

While a scissor katar looks like it has 3 blades. 2 of which are spring loaded like a switchback knife, in reality (and as evident from your example), pivoting “blades” are just a type of a steel scabbard. They are not designed for cutting/thrusting and would greatly interfere with the functionality of the center blade if someone chose to use the weapon for its intended purpose. Besides, the central blade on most examples is made of some low quality alloy, which is sometimes etched to resemble wootz steel.

With this being said, scissor katars are still manufactured in India for the tourist trade. And they originally came to be in the late 19th century to serve the same niche market, which at the time was mostly British military men stationed in India or wealthy westerners visiting the country and wanting an “authentic” souvenir. Your katar appears to be just that: it is clearly not newly made and is probably around 75-125 years old.

Is the spring mechanism still functional in your katar? Its actually not in that bad of a condition for it’s age and should clean up nicely.

Iliad · 6th March 2012, 11:33 PM

Hi Stan,
Thank you for the prompt reply. Yes, the spring mechanism still works, but not well. Even though in poor condition, I am pleased to have it, as we don't see too many of these here at the bottom of the world!
Best,
Brian

Stan S. · 7th March 2012, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iliad

Hi Stan,
Thank you for the prompt reply. Yes, the spring mechanism still works, but not well. Even though in poor condition, I am pleased to have it, as we don't see too many of these here at the bottom of the world!
Best,
Brian

You may want to lubrcate the spring. If you are able to get teh action from squeezing the bards, teh spring is still there but probably quite oxidised.

Also, don't be discouraged by this not being a real battle weapon. It is still a very nice and somewhat rare item, and makes a great addition to any collection.

Jens Nordlunde · 9th March 2012, 03:39 PM

In the book Damascene Work in India the author, Surgeon-Lieut.-Colonel Thomas Holbein Hendley in 1892 wrote. “Sometimes the blade is made to open when the central bars are pressed, as to make the wound which is inflicted more horrible”.

Considering Hendley's job as a military surgeon, I think we can take his word for the kind of wound such a katar could make.

Stan S. · 10th March 2012, 05:27 AM

Jens, sadly I am not familiar with Dr. Hendley's work. However being a surgeon to the British army does not necessarily entail fixing wounds on anyone other than British soldiers. And unless there is a record of him specifically treating injuries that resulted from a scissor katar, his commentary on the use of this weapon is a hearsay, however educated it may be.

With this being said, I don't doubt that the not-so-commonly encountered examples of scissor katar such as the one posted here are based on a fully functional weapon designed to inflict "horrible wounds" or act as a sword catcher. Without a doubt this would require a stronger spring and a blade arrangement actually cosisting of 3 blades that slide one behind the other like blades of a scissor (rather than a single blade and two halves of a "shell"). In my years of collecting and researching Indian weapons I am yet to encounter one. If anyone had seen it, or even better, has it in their coleection, I would love to hear about it or see some pictures.

6th March 2012, 09:49 PM	#1
Iliad Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 187	Scissors Katar Hi all, Herewith pics of a scissors katar which I have recently acquired. It is in poor condition and I am not expecting complimentary comment about it, but the issue which I am raising is not about this particular katar but about scissor katars in general.What is the purpose of such katars? If used to stab with the blades closed, then the blades cannot be opened while inside the body of the victim; if stabbing while the blades are open, then surely quite ineffective. Is it a parrying dagger? If so, then how effective? Regards to all, Brian Attached Images

6th March 2012, 10:21 PM	#2
Stan S. Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Brooklyn, NY USA Posts: 227	Hi Brian, Compliments on your new aquisition. The question of scissor katars had been discussed on this and other forums in length. General consensus points at these not being designed for fighting. However, it is possible the original prototype was intended as a sword catcher of sorts. I have never seen one of the functional examples but perhaps someone else had? While a scissor katar looks like it has 3 blades. 2 of which are spring loaded like a switchback knife, in reality (and as evident from your example), pivoting “blades” are just a type of a steel scabbard. They are not designed for cutting/thrusting and would greatly interfere with the functionality of the center blade if someone chose to use the weapon for its intended purpose. Besides, the central blade on most examples is made of some low quality alloy, which is sometimes etched to resemble wootz steel. With this being said, scissor katars are still manufactured in India for the tourist trade. And they originally came to be in the late 19th century to serve the same niche market, which at the time was mostly British military men stationed in India or wealthy westerners visiting the country and wanting an “authentic” souvenir. Your katar appears to be just that: it is clearly not newly made and is probably around 75-125 years old. Is the spring mechanism still functional in your katar? Its actually not in that bad of a condition for it’s age and should clean up nicely.

6th March 2012, 11:33 PM	#3
Iliad Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 187	Hi Stan, Thank you for the prompt reply. Yes, the spring mechanism still works, but not well. Even though in poor condition, I am pleased to have it, as we don't see too many of these here at the bottom of the world! Best, Brian

9th March 2012, 03:39 PM	#5
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	In the book Damascene Work in India the author, Surgeon-Lieut.-Colonel Thomas Holbein Hendley in 1892 wrote. “Sometimes the blade is made to open when the central bars are pressed, as to make the wound which is inflicted more horrible”. Considering Hendley's job as a military surgeon, I think we can take his word for the kind of wound such a katar could make.

10th March 2012, 05:27 AM	#6
Stan S. Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Brooklyn, NY USA Posts: 227	Jens, sadly I am not familiar with Dr. Hendley's work. However being a surgeon to the British army does not necessarily entail fixing wounds on anyone other than British soldiers. And unless there is a record of him specifically treating injuries that resulted from a scissor katar, his commentary on the use of this weapon is a hearsay, however educated it may be. With this being said, I don't doubt that the not-so-commonly encountered examples of scissor katar such as the one posted here are based on a fully functional weapon designed to inflict "horrible wounds" or act as a sword catcher. Without a doubt this would require a stronger spring and a blade arrangement actually cosisting of 3 blades that slide one behind the other like blades of a scissor (rather than a single blade and two halves of a "shell"). In my years of collecting and researching Indian weapons I am yet to encounter one. If anyone had seen it, or even better, has it in their coleection, I would love to hear about it or see some pictures.