new old Katar

stekemest · 19th March 2009, 05:06 PM

Got this katar today.
Total length is 42 cm, grip width 75 mm. Tip is a bit thickened, so I guess it's an armour piercing blade. Can you say how old it is?

Thank you very much for any help.

Peter

Lew · 19th March 2009, 05:20 PM

19th century. The blade looks to have been ground down many years ago.

Lew

stekemest · 19th March 2009, 06:41 PM

Thank you Lew. Is it possible to date it more precisely, e.g. first or second half, early or late 19th century?

Peter

Lew · 19th March 2009, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stekemest

Thank you Lew. Is it possible to date it more precisely, e.g. first or second half, early or late 19th century?

Peter

1850-70 would be my guess

ariel · 19th March 2009, 07:29 PM

August 16, 1861 :-)
Seriously, how can we say?

stekemest · 19th March 2009, 07:35 PM

Well, there are indeed some weapons which can be dated quite excatly. As I don't know much about Indian weapons, I dont know how exact you can date them... That's why I ask.

Thanks again Lew.

Peter

Atlantia · 19th March 2009, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stekemest

Well, there are indeed some weapons which can be dated quite excatly. As I don't know much about Indian weapons, I dont know how exact you can date them... That's why I ask.

Thanks again Lew.

Peter

Hi Peter,

There seem to be a lot of these coming over at the moment. The handle parts of yours are distinctive and I've recently seen identically detailed shape/style Katars which are definately 'new' and deliberately rusted and others which may well be 19thC or even a bit earlier.

I'd agree with Lew, yours looks like a genuine one. I'd guess late 19thC is most likely, but it could be 100 years older than that, its very difficult to tell.

Great fun things for sure, wonderfully distinctive!
Regards
Gene

stekemest · 19th March 2009, 08:00 PM

Thank you Gene.

asomotif · 19th March 2009, 09:14 PM

Quote:

recently seen identically detailed shape/style Katars which are definately 'new' and deliberately rusted

Hello Gene,

These new (fake) examples, do they also have the tip broadening for armour piercing ? or are they flat over the entire length of the blade ?

Here are my 2 examples.

Best regards,
Willem

Lew · 19th March 2009, 09:19 PM

Willhem

Your two katars are old and are nice examples. Styles differed from region to region.

Lew

Atlantia · 19th March 2009, 09:31 PM

Hi Willem
Those are rather nice.
The one that Peter has with the distinctive 'grip' with the smaller crossbars is the 'style' I've seen quite a few of over the last year or two.
They seem almost like they are cast then ground, they have the thickened diamond section point etc.
They often seem to be in fairly good shape, just with a good recent looking coating of rust.
I can only say that there was a steady trickle of this style coming from maker of modern Indian weapons who if memory serves was describing them as 'old inventory' or just 'old'.

I like your one with the integrated perforated plate between the grip bars! Nice pair in general. Congrats.

Incidentally, I'm not have a 'dig' at the very recent 'glut' of worn well used exmples on ebay.uk. I think someone must have turned out an armoury somewhere and although all 'munitions' grade, they mostly looked like they had some age.

19th March 2009, 05:06 PM	#1
stekemest Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Heidelberg, Germany Posts: 182	new old Katar Got this katar today. Total length is 42 cm, grip width 75 mm. Tip is a bit thickened, so I guess it's an armour piercing blade. Can you say how old it is? Thank you very much for any help. Peter Attached Images

19th March 2009, 05:20 PM	#2
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	19th century. The blade looks to have been ground down many years ago. Lew

19th March 2009, 06:41 PM	#3
stekemest Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Heidelberg, Germany Posts: 182	Thank you Lew. Is it possible to date it more precisely, e.g. first or second half, early or late 19th century? Peter

19th March 2009, 07:29 PM	#5
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	August 16, 1861 :-) Seriously, how can we say?

19th March 2009, 07:35 PM	#6
stekemest Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Heidelberg, Germany Posts: 182	Well, there are indeed some weapons which can be dated quite excatly. As I don't know much about Indian weapons, I dont know how exact you can date them... That's why I ask. Thanks again Lew. Peter

19th March 2009, 08:00 PM	#8
stekemest Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Heidelberg, Germany Posts: 182	Thank you Gene.

19th March 2009, 09:19 PM	#10
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Willhem Your two katars are old and are nice examples. Styles differed from region to region. Lew

19th March 2009, 09:31 PM	#11
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Hi Willem Those are rather nice. The one that Peter has with the distinctive 'grip' with the smaller crossbars is the 'style' I've seen quite a few of over the last year or two. They seem almost like they are cast then ground, they have the thickened diamond section point etc. They often seem to be in fairly good shape, just with a good recent looking coating of rust. I can only say that there was a steady trickle of this style coming from maker of modern Indian weapons who if memory serves was describing them as 'old inventory' or just 'old'. I like your one with the integrated perforated plate between the grip bars! Nice pair in general. Congrats. Incidentally, I'm not have a 'dig' at the very recent 'glut' of worn well used exmples on ebay.uk. I think someone must have turned out an armoury somewhere and although all 'munitions' grade, they mostly looked like they had some age.