Katar and Kukri for comments

[bhushan_lawate]

An armour piercing Indian Katar and a Kukri for Comments.

http://picasaweb.google.com/bhushanlawate/KatarAndKukri


Thanks in advance for all comments.

Please excuse the poor quality or angle of the snaps. I'll try to get more photos uploaded soon for comments.

Regards,
Bhushan

[Berkley]

Based on the shape of the handle with its large single ring and riveted full tang, and the kaudi shape, the kukri is a military pattern of Indian manufacture and dates from WWII or later.

[Lew]

Hi Bhushan

Your katar is probably Deccan from the southern region of India 1800-50 I would think.


Lew

[bhushan_lawate]

Thank you all.

could i know more about the 'Kaudi' shape?

I've heard that this type of kukri was called the 'M-43' and was a preferred kukri for mass production during WWII. Is that correct?

I also noticed traces of silver??? on the sides of the Katar. is that of any significance. The traces are very less though..!!! :(

Thanks all for all the valuable information provided.

Regards,
Bhushan

[fearn]

Hi bhushan,
To get an understanding of the different types of kukris (or khukuris), I'd recommend looking at Himalayan Imports (http://www.himalayan-imports.com), particularly http://www.himalayan-imports.com/faq/physics/Khukuri_Dynamics.html. Note in that these are all modern production knives, not antiques. However, this is one of the few places where the different shapes of kukris are presented for comparison.

To my knowledge, the M-43 has a pronounced curve (http://store7.yimg.com/I/yhst-7333098713883_1801_1896667) that yours lacks. As Berkley stated above, your kukri looks like an Indian army piece. The confirmation would be an arrow maker's mark<- near the hilt. They're still made and sold on websites like Atlanta Cutlery (http://www.atlantacutlery.com/atlantacutlery/detail.aspx?ID=378).

F

Note: links to stores are for information purposes only, although I do own several HI khukuris.

[bhushan_lawate]

Hi,

Thanks so much...The Kukri Dynamics is really informative.

i'll also like to know more on the Katar.

Is there a difference in the Deccan and North Indian make of Katars??

I've seen pieces made out of a single block and also one's which are made with blades revitted to hilts.

are there any identification techniques?

Thanks all,
Bhushan

[olikara]

Bhushan,

Congratulations on your katar.

Lew, your ID is positive and as you rightly pointed out, it is from South India.

It is an excellent example of South Indian workmanship on Arms and Armour.

The katar belongs to what is commonly called the 'Tanjore' type. The reason why it is called a Tanjore katar is because katars found in the Tanjore armoury when it was disbanded and a description made by Walhouse exhibit the following set of features:

1. They are of chiselled steel.
2. The hilts can take wider blades but the blades are smaller and probably firangi.
3. The cross bars are all chiselled or pierced too.
4. The katar base where the blade sits is dome shaped and chiselled again.
5. The langets are usually of the same design.
6. Many katars have a string of beads along the outer periphery of the cross guard.

Your katar has all the above features save for the blade which looks like an Indian blade and not a firangi. This is why there is a good fit.

The Tanjore group of katars are usually dated to the 17th century.

Nidhin

P.S. The 'silver' traces you saw on the katar may not be silver but areas of the katar which have not rusted yet! The katar should be made of steel.

[Berkley]

Bhushan,
Your kukri is sometimes mistakenly referred to as a K45, actually a Mk3. The M43 variant of the Mk2 is a larger kukri. Here's a link (http://www.ikrhs.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=360) to an excellent reference article on military kukris.
Berkley

[Jens Nordlunde]

Bhushan,

It is like Lew and Nidhin writes, a South Indian katar, it is of the ’Tanjore’ type, and the blade is Indian, so I can’t add anything to this, other than warn you against the active rust. You have to stop it and carefully clean up the katar, but don’t remove the patina – and don’t use acid.

Attached are pictures of another of these katars, notice the Indian made blade, with a lot of fullers. Blades like this are very often seen on these katars.