Hunting Tigers with Katars: Fact or fiction?

[Atlantia]

Can anyone throw any light on this seemingly suicidal practice?
If it did happen, were the odds 'stacked' some other way?

[David]

Originally Posted by Atlantia

Can anyone throw any light on this seemingly suicidal practice?
If it did happen, were the odds 'stacked' some other way?

Can you cite your reference(s) for this practice?

[fernando]

Hi Gene,
I have long heard that katars (jamdhars) were also used in defence against tiger atacks; not that they were an active tiger hunting weapon.

[Atlantia]

Really? I've always thought that was the 'legend' of Katars....
Off to google it! lol

Edit:
well, there are lots of pages thrown up in a search, good old never wrong wiki says:
As the weapon spread throughout India it became something of a status symbol, much like the Southeast Asian kris. Among the Rajputs and Mughals, princes and nobles were often portrayed wearing a katara at their side. This was not only a precaution for self-defense, but it was also meant to show their wealth and position. Upper-class Mughals would even hunt tigers with katara. For a hunter to kill a tiger with such a short-range weapon was considered the surest sign of bravery and martial skill.

[David]

Well, if Wiki says so....

[Lew]

For a hunter to kill a tiger with such a short-range weapon was considered the surest sign of bravery and martial skill.

There is a fine line between brave and just plain stupid.

[Atlantia]

LOL, yeah I know, but I've heard it elsewhere

[laEspadaAncha]

I've heard/read of this practice as well, though do not know from where these tales originate.

There are plenty of documented stories of men engaging large predators with nothing but a blade... just a couple years back, a Canadian man fought and killed a mother grizzly with a knife. So theoretically, while it may be considered certifiably stupid, I don't see why there could not be some truth to these stories.

A tiger is a big, big cat. Maybe once a nobleman's team of coolies had encountered and engaged one - or even significantly wounded one - he could/would attempt to finish the job, katars in hand.

[fernando]

Originally Posted by laEspadaAncha

... Maybe once a nobleman's team of coolies had encountered and engaged one - or even significantly wounded one - he could/would attempt to finish the job, katars in hand.

Yes, more likely and certainly more frequent, when it comes to true stories.
The important thing is to bring the trophy back and hang its head on the wall, showing it off to the ball guests.

[Atlantia]

Originally Posted by fernando

Yes, more likely and certainly more frequent, when it comes to true stories.
The important thing is to bring the trophy back and hang its head on the wall, showing it off to the ball guests.

That was my original question Nando: IF this did happen, were the odds stacked some other way?

Personally I can't image taking on a Tiger with even a pair of Katars unless my life depended on it! Which of course it would if you did! lol

[Lew]

"Hey you with the little knife come and get me"

[fernando]

I confess Gene, that i wasn't familiar with the 'odd stack' term .
Well, i can't realize a guy go out hunting tigers with only a couple katars, but i can understand that, having nothing more practical at hand, he would 'parry' a tiger jump with one of such things.
One thing we can't deny is that, the way katars are built and hand held, is both ideal for pushing a blow against your standing foe as also for stopping (or trying to stop) the landing of an animal jump ... a tiger in te context.
But back to the odds, is all a question of size; the size of the tiger, the size of the katar, the size of the coolies team and, last but not least, the size of the nobleman's 'jewels' .

[Norman McCormick]

A Katar!! surely not the weapon of choice for engaging any kind of pussy no matter how big?