Wootz Katar

Jim McDougall · 16th August 2016, 07:49 PM

Wayne,
Thanks very much for that interesting art work! As always, we try to imagine just how much license went into these paintings, but they seem portrayed pretty fairly.
Well understood about wild boar hunting, but I will say that out here in Sonora desert regions in Arizona, the javelina (peccari) are some of the most fearsome, unpredictable wild animals. Being anywhere one of them with anything as close quarters as a knife sounds pretty insane.

The idea of mounting a knife or katar (as discussed) on a shaft makes sense, and lances using metal blades often from cut down swords or knife blades often the weapon of choice out here in the Southwest.

ariel · 17th August 2016, 12:22 AM

Those are not katar-tipped lances.
Hunting spears had a crossguard close to the tip to prevent the animal from sliding along the shaft toward the hunter.

Remember King Arthur spearing Mordred without that precaution? Didn't end well:-)

estcrh · 17th August 2016, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

Those are not katar-tipped lances.
Hunting spears had a crossguard close to the tip to prevent the animal from sliding along the shaft toward the hunter.

Remember King Arthur spearing Mordred without that precaution? Didn't end well:-)

These spears may be an example.

ariel · 17th August 2016, 01:08 AM

Or these.
And, BTW, the "katar-spear" in Kronckew's post looks like a very recent Indian fantasy:-)

ariel · 17th August 2016, 01:26 AM

Those of us who have cats know full well that just playing with them entails a huge risk of bites and scratches.

Being close enough to an enraged tiger to stab it with a katar guarantees either disembowelment or just decapitation.

The whole idea is to keep a distance much longer than its paws. Spear is good, gun is better. Knife or katar.... forget it!:-)))

Let's take a short break and enjoy the classic!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLdk2C25Z14

17th August 2016, 12:22 AM	#2
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Those are not katar-tipped lances. Hunting spears had a crossguard close to the tip to prevent the animal from sliding along the shaft toward the hunter. Remember King Arthur spearing Mordred without that precaution? Didn't end well:-) Attached Images Last edited by ariel; 17th August 2016 at 12:54 AM.

17th August 2016, 01:08 AM	#4
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Or these. And, BTW, the "katar-spear" in Kronckew's post looks like a very recent Indian fantasy:-) Attached Images

16th August 2016, 07:49 PM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,512	Wayne, Thanks very much for that interesting art work! As always, we try to imagine just how much license went into these paintings, but they seem portrayed pretty fairly. Well understood about wild boar hunting, but I will say that out here in Sonora desert regions in Arizona, the javelina (peccari) are some of the most fearsome, unpredictable wild animals. Being anywhere one of them with anything as close quarters as a knife sounds pretty insane. The idea of mounting a knife or katar (as discussed) on a shaft makes sense, and lances using metal blades often from cut down swords or knife blades often the weapon of choice out here in the Southwest.

17th August 2016, 01:26 AM	#5
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Those of us who have cats know full well that just playing with them entails a huge risk of bites and scratches. Being close enough to an enraged tiger to stab it with a katar guarantees either disembowelment or just decapitation. The whole idea is to keep a distance much longer than its paws. Spear is good, gun is better. Knife or katar.... forget it!:-))) Let's take a short break and enjoy the classic! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLdk2C25Z14