Copper Hilted Katar For Comment

[Lew]

Hi All

I just acquired this nice katar once it arrives I will etch the blade to see if it is wootz.


Lew

[katana]

Nice one Lew,
is it unusual to have one cross bar (although it widens at either end) ? How does it feel 'in the hand' ?

[Jens Nordlunde]

Hi Lew,
Congratulations with your new katar:). To see a katar with a copper hilt is not common at all – are you sure it is copper?
Please let us see some better pictures when you get it – also from the side.

Hi Katana,
One cross bar is not common, but you see it now and again. Have a look at this.

Jens

[Lew]

Jens

I have already handled this katar at Timonium and I am pretty sure it's copper or copper flashed I will take better pics once it arrives next week.

Lew

[katana]

Jens, that's a beauty

[Flavio]

Lew, a very nice piece!! Congratulations!!! I hope to find one of this quality soon or later .... :p

[Lew]

Here is another shot of the katar.

[Battara]

I like it plenty! :D

[Jens Nordlunde]

Lew

I had a look in some of my books, and found the attached picture in Contribution a L’etude des Armes Orientales. Vol. I-II, Paris 1931. It is in vol. II plate 15.

Although my French is close to non-existent, it was easy to see that the three katars to the right are said to be Deccani katars. I am not surprised as I had a feeling they were from Deccan. The katars, like your and mine, with only one cross bar, are likely to come from the same area, although I don’t know from where, and Deccan is a very big place to go looking, so you will have to be patient until we find some more hints:).

Jens

[Lew]

Jens

Deccan that's great to hear I can hit a few of my books for more info.


Thanks

Lew

[Lew]

Jens

There is a similar katar in Egerton's book after page 114 plate X number 512 it has an identical langet but has a double hand grip. Egerton says it's from Haidarabad Deccan?

[Jens Nordlunde]

Lew,

The Deccan katar side guards can be short and sometimes broad, but they can also be like the north Indian side guards, and they can have one or more cross guards. The blade is often, but not always, more triangle, and often, but not always, riveted into the hilt. Katars with only one cross bar, can also be seen on garsoe katars from Sind, but the form is different.

Jens

[Lew]

Jens

The katar arrived today and it's a real nice example. The hilt is definately copper and there are tiny traces of koftkari present.

[Jens Nordlunde]

Hi Lew,

Nice buy – congratulations:).

The traces of koftgari – are they in silver or in gold, and what does the pattern look like?

Jens

[Lew]

Jens

Just a tiny trace here and there but they are gold they seem like feathery or leafy but very finely done.

Lew