Hunting Tigers with Katars: Fact or fiction?

fernando · 20th September 2010, 08:26 PM

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 · 20th September 2010, 09:14 PM

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 · 20th September 2010, 09:22 PM

Well, if Wiki says so....

Lew · 20th September 2010, 09:22 PM

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 · 20th September 2010, 09:25 PM

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

laEspadaAncha · 20th September 2010, 09:25 PM

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 · 20th September 2010, 09:48 PM

Quote:

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 · 20th September 2010, 10:02 PM

Quote:

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 · 20th September 2010, 10:20 PM

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

fernando · 20th September 2010, 11:32 PM

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'

.

Lew · 20th September 2010, 11:52 PM

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.

Fernando

I don't know if you can parry a 500-700 pound tiger hitting you at 35mph with a couple of katars. Even if you were on the ground face up with the katars pointing up and the tiger jumped right onto them the force would probably break both your arms. Most hunting swords and daggers were often used to dispatch an already seriosly wounded animal. In the USA wild hog hunters kill the hog with a large dagger but only after the dogs have pinned him down.

Sorry but you would need a awfully long katar to reach this tiger in the picture.

fernando · 21st September 2010, 12:07 AM

The drawing hasn't been finished, yet

.
The author still has to include the nobleman, who will be close to the tiger

.

20th September 2010, 10:20 PM	#9
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	"Hey you with the little knife come and get me" Attached Images

20th September 2010, 11:52 PM	#11
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	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. Fernando I don't know if you can parry a 500-700 pound tiger hitting you at 35mph with a couple of katars. Even if you were on the ground face up with the katars pointing up and the tiger jumped right onto them the force would probably break both your arms. Most hunting swords and daggers were often used to dispatch an already seriosly wounded animal. In the USA wild hog hunters kill the hog with a large dagger but only after the dogs have pinned him down. Sorry but you would need a awfully long katar to reach this tiger in the picture. Attached Images Last edited by Lew; 21st September 2010 at 12:05 AM.

20th September 2010, 08:26 PM	#1
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	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.

20th September 2010, 09:14 PM	#2
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	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.

20th September 2010, 09:22 PM	#3
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,261	Well, if Wiki says so....

20th September 2010, 09:25 PM	#5
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	LOL, yeah I know, but I've heard it elsewhere

20th September 2010, 09:25 PM	#6
laEspadaAncha Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 608	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.

20th September 2010, 11:32 PM	#10
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	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' .

21st September 2010, 12:07 AM	#12
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	The drawing hasn't been finished, yet . The author still has to include the nobleman, who will be close to the tiger .