Small Katar

Jim McDougall · 20th May 2019, 06:54 PM

This is interesting as we are discussing a rather diminutive breast plate on Euro right now, which is clearly too small for a normal male chest, and there are concerns whether it might have even been for a child (lack of slits or means for wear attachment notwithstanding). There is the possibility of this example being a model or display piece, but of course uncertain. With some weaponry in India, it seems that sometimes the innovation in arms making extended even to novelty with armorers producing unusual pieces, perhaps even miniatures, for patrons.

It has been a topic discussed for many years here, whether smaller grips in Indian sword hilts would suggest smaller stature of men there, or perhaps even the manner in which the sword was held. It does seem that certain instances of sword hilt character did result in smaller size of grip with regulation British pattern (1908) made for native troops. This does not seem to have become widely practiced prior to this, as far as regularly noted pattern records I have seen.

The size of this katar does seem remarkably small, and I would note that some katars made by innovative armorers consisted of several which were carried together in either same scabbard or even enclosed in the larger dagger. This could be one of the smaller 'case' members but now put into its own scabbard.

Returning to the childs accouterment idea, in India, as in many cultures, children reached majority in station often at early age. There were many extremely young princes and court members who would have been given weapons of the regularly worn types in accord with those of adults nominally in their charge or station.

Obviously, they were not expected to be used, but a matter of tradition and protocol .

This may be a plausible explanation for consideration.

20th May 2019, 06:54 PM	#3
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,189	This is interesting as we are discussing a rather diminutive breast plate on Euro right now, which is clearly too small for a normal male chest, and there are concerns whether it might have even been for a child (lack of slits or means for wear attachment notwithstanding). There is the possibility of this example being a model or display piece, but of course uncertain. With some weaponry in India, it seems that sometimes the innovation in arms making extended even to novelty with armorers producing unusual pieces, perhaps even miniatures, for patrons. It has been a topic discussed for many years here, whether smaller grips in Indian sword hilts would suggest smaller stature of men there, or perhaps even the manner in which the sword was held. It does seem that certain instances of sword hilt character did result in smaller size of grip with regulation British pattern (1908) made for native troops. This does not seem to have become widely practiced prior to this, as far as regularly noted pattern records I have seen. The size of this katar does seem remarkably small, and I would note that some katars made by innovative armorers consisted of several which were carried together in either same scabbard or even enclosed in the larger dagger. This could be one of the smaller 'case' members but now put into its own scabbard. Returning to the childs accouterment idea, in India, as in many cultures, children reached majority in station often at early age. There were many extremely young princes and court members who would have been given weapons of the regularly worn types in accord with those of adults nominally in their charge or station. Obviously, they were not expected to be used, but a matter of tradition and protocol . This may be a plausible explanation for consideration.