The Indian PATA and the mysterious MANOPLE

[Jim McDougall]

Great links GP!!
It is often thought that the pata was a thrusting weapon, in the manner of the transverse grip katar as used in more northern regions of India by Rajputs and Mughals. However in the south, it was slashing cuts primarily, with the thrust basically disfavored.

Important input, thank you so much!
All the best
Jim

[Jim McDougall]

Recently I posted a thread pertaining to the weapons possibly used on the vessels of the Mahratta naval forces as well as those of the pirates along the Malabar coast. It seems that while clearly the stout bladed versions of tegha, whether Hindu basket hilt (khanda) form or tulwar style obviously were likely, the various versions of pata may also have been used.

Just wanted some further input on this, as well as the dialogue on this example I posted and cases of use in the warrior culture of S. India ceremonially.

Is it possible this blade which is clearly Solingen and with cosmological symbols, and central tri-fuller DE blade, might have been from a Scottish basket hilt, perhaps from a Scot in the forces of EIC in 18th c.?

[Ian]

Hi Jim:

Just to show that your example is not unique, here is one that finished at auction yesterday. It looks similar and the face appears to me to be a mixture of cat (note the "ears") and human.

Regards,

Ian.
.

[werecow]

Could it be a Hanuman face maybe?

[David R]

I was thinking Tiger head, and google lens suggested Tiger or Lion!

[Jim McDougall]

Thank you guys for responses!
Ian this is excellent and as you indicate, mine is certainly not unique. This is encouraging as it supports the idea that these distinctively decorated hilts may be to a Garuda oriented warrior cult.

As suggested earlier, perhaps these hilts are paired with venerated blades, typically older, and possibly these blades were significant as having belonged to noted warriors (much as the monuments made for them).

Often the hilts can also be older, as this one which is 17-18th c. and much later blade.

In the case of this example, the figure depicted in the hilt is a makara, which was also associated as a vishnu of Garuda.

[werecow]

To elaborate, the reason I was thinking it might be Hanuman are the "cheeks", the third eye, the human nose, and the fact that he is a deity. Although the ears admittedly seem a bit cat like.