My Pata

[Jim McDougall]

In answering my own questions, I'll assume the term Maratha and Mahratta were simply spelling variations pending any possible input It seems I once read that the Maratha term applied to the language rather than the people. Source unfortunately cannot recollect.
As for Rajput use of the pata, I can only presume that it would have found such use, there seem to have been Mughal examples, and in Egerton one is shown with Punjab provenance. I just thought it would be interesting if anyone had specific knowledge.
I do hope the material I compiled and wrote in my post might be of assistance to any readers who might be interested in these distinctly recognizable weapons of the Indian armoury, and wrote with this in mind.

Best regards,
Jim

[rand]

In Burtons book, page 110, relating to the Rajaput guantlet sword he has this anecdote accompanying description of number 402,

"Used by the Sikhs in their sword play and by Mohomedans at the festival of Mohurrum. Also by Maharattas in Southern India. Gauntlet swords are supposed to have been used by the cavalry of the Great Mogul, and probably of Tartar or Turcoman origen.

Cf. long two edged blade in the Taylor collection, "Suhela", so called from a kind of steel that is always flexible and highly prized according to the proverb " Baudde Suhela, ruhu akela." Put on a Suhela, and you may remain alone."

end quote,

rand

[rand]

Hey Bill,

Seems one could make a case for the relationship of a pata to a katar based on the grip shape. The katar has a rigid blade sometimes with an armor piercing tip that is clearly able to deliver a substantial forward impact concentrated into the tip of the blade. The transverse grip would allign the arm and wrist to best absorb impact from a forward thrust. There have also been studies that a straight punch delivers the most force.

The pata has the same transverse grip with the addition of an enclosed guard, there the similarity ends, for it is coupled with a much long sword blade that is normally flexible. The flexible blade would be opposed to thrusting use and indicate a cutting or slashing style of use that could better absorb impact without breaking.

There are also studies on what shapes of blades would better cut through bone. The shamshir and tulwar have references for cutting through armour, limbs and horse, not familiar with any accounts of a pata doing the same.

There are known uses of the pata by a maharaja during battle so it must have been considered a valuable and dominate weapon at times by the people using it. There is an account of two patas being used florentine (one in each hand) by a raja until he had one arm severed in battle.

rand

[Jim McDougall]

Thanks rand!