The development of the Indian katar

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Salaams All, I have certainly often wondered how this weapon began and observing the number of obviously recycled sword blades ...possibly spoils of war... how these fragments were transformed into useful daggers.

The whats in a word scenario is rather clear...Wikepedia notes at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katar_(dagger); Quote'' The katar or katara (Sanskrit: कट्टार kaţāra or kaţārī, Malayalam: കട്ടാരം katāram, Hindi: कटार kaṭāra or kaṭāri, Kannada: ಕಠಾರಿ kaṭhāri Marathi: कट्यार kaṭyāra, Tamil: கட்டாரி kaţţāri or குத்துவாள் kuttuvāḷ meaning "fist blade") is a type of push dagger from India. The weapon is characterized by its H-shaped horizontal hand grip which results in the blade sitting above the user's knuckles. Unique to South Asia, it is the most famous and characteristic of Indian daggers. Ceremonial katar were also used in worship.


History
The katar originated in southern India where its original name was kattari before being altered to katara (romanized as "katar" by the British) in the north. The earliest forms occur in the medieval Vijayanagara Empire. Katar dating back to this period often had a leaf- or shell-like knuckle-guard to protect the back of the hand, but this was discarded by the later half of the 17th century.

The gauntlet-sword or pata was developed from the katar, according to Middle Ages researcher Tobias Capewell. As the weapon spread throughout the region it became something of a status symbol, much like the Southeast Asian kris or the Japanese katana.

Princes and nobles were often portrayed wearing a katar 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 Rajputs and Mughals would even hunt tigers with a pair of katar. For a hunter to kill a tiger with such a short-range weapon was considered the surest sign of bravery and martial skill.

From the 16th century onwards, katar were often made from broken sword-blades. Even old imported European blades were used, especially by the Maratha Empire, and were riveted to projections from the hilt.

After India was colonised by the British, numerous katar were made for the European collectors' market which placed little value on functionality. Among these were the scissors katar with two or three blades that folded together, appearing to be one, until the handle bars were pressed together, when they opened out. These novelty weapons were popular among foreigners but were impractical in actual combat. For example, the blades couldn't be opened after they are thrust into an opponent's body. More importantly, if they were wielded with the blades opened, all the force of the blow would have to be absorbed by the hinge-pins at the root of the blades.

In another modern katar design, single-shot pistols are built into either side of the weapon. In the 18th century, some traditional katar were refurbished with this innovation. The pistols are meant to deal the killing blow after the weapon has been thrust into the enemy. Like most combination weapons, the effectiveness of the pistol-katar is doubtful.

The katar ceased to be in common use by the 19th century, though they were still forged for decorative purposes. During the 18th and 19th century, a distinctive group of katar were produced at Bundi in Rajasthan. They were ornately crafted and their hilts were covered in gold foil. These katar were shown at the Great Exhibition of 1851 in Crystal Palace, London. Since then, the weapon has sometimes been mistakenly referred to in English as a "Bundi dagger".Unquote.

I looked at http://mys.yoursearch.me/images/?cat...rd+blade+katar and extracted some interesting exhibits below some which I have noted above.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.