Listen to your Katars!
 

Just a bit of fun with your Death gods teeth!
Anyone ever noticed that if you hold the blade or scabbard and 'ting' the handle bars (I find that ends under thumb and forefinger nails and pluck works well) they ring like a tuning fork!
A lot of surface corrosion seems to cut down the susstain a lot, but the ones I have both have good meditative 'om' notes to them :)
Not sure if this will be 'across the board' but narrower hilt (with mine) equal higher note.
LOL, you can tell how non-musical I am!
Anyway, It was comparing this recently acquired old warrior with a cleaner example that made me notice
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...a/SDC11214.jpg

good vibrations
 

Interesting post Gene.

I have a good number of blades across a wide spectrum that have clear bell and tuning fork tones...a far cry from heavy metal :-P

Gav

Hy all

I am new hear, but would like to respond to this post. My interests are old edged weapons and knifemaking.

Some of the characteristics of wootz are, besides edge holding, heat retention and vibration. If you would make a tuning fork from steel vs wootz, the wootz model would vibrate much longer... Maybe you should clean up your katar, it might be wootz...

cheers

Tim

Hi Mate,

well! I have enjoyed 'tinging' Japanese blades freed from their fittings and supported by a thin crewdriver through the peg hole. But often its the fixed hilts that deaden the sound and prevent the blades from really 'singing'......
I can't believe I've never thought of Katars before!
And you're right, sadly it's not 'heavy metal' LOL!
Might help with some quiet meditation after a hard days hacking and slaying though?
Best
Gene

Hi Tim.

Welcome to the forums and thanks for joining my light hearted little thread :)
One of the best things about 'being here' is that you'll learn things even when you didn't expect to!
For instance, I had no idea that some of the peculiarities of Wootz are increased heat retention and vibration. :)
I will clean this old chap up soon, its a nice 'battle' Katar and would certainly benefit from a clean either way.
Thanks
Gene

This is also a good test for metal flaws and stress. If something that was ringing suddenly goes flat and dull, there's a crack in it somewhere.

F

Hi Guys

I have a couple of wootz katars that ring. I also have a couple of keris and a few knives that ring also.

LOL, imagine us all sat at home.....

Shhhhhhh........ Tinnnnnnnggggggggg..... Hmmmm. :)

'Dink'..... humph!

Tiiiiiiinnnnnnnnggggggggggggggggggggggg.......... Ahhhh :D

So do you Katar bangers also find that narrow hilts equal higher notes?

this features exist and is also used to evaluate the type and value of Keris blades too...

The tone, gradation and length of the vibration is a means used in the past to identify the personality of ones Keris..

FYI.

A very good point Fearn :).
A point which most forget. The sound is not to our pleasure, although you may like it. Originally it was used to show if anything was wrong with the blade. and to this comes the smell to the blade - but you all know about this by now - or if you don't, try a search.
Jens

LOL, yes if nothing is acting to deaden the resonance, then you can hear cracks etc :)
But Katars are a special case with their peculiar architecture making them like a tuning fork. Many weapons do have a specific style of 'voice' but Katars seem uniquely suited to 'singing'.

I have commented on the 'tuning fork' long time ago, so I don't think I will do so again.
Jens

OOooooooh :rolleyes:
Your 'comment' about not commenting does come across as rather prickly Jens :shrug:

Do as you wish matey, the thread was just a bit of fun, not specifically directed at you or anyone else.

Perhaps I should continue your theme with a more fittingly laconic reply borrowed from todays youth and simply say..... "whatever" ;)

Yes, you could try that if you like :).
You see Atlantia, you English is probably far better than mine, as I am not form an English speaking country.

Hi All,

Very interesting ....

I remember reading someplace that one of the characteristics of weapons was "Dwhani" or "sound". The characteristics included:

1. Dhatu -- Metals or alloys used.
2. Dwhani/Shabda -- Sound
3. Dharma -- Purpose of use. (Fighting, ceremonial, sacrificial etc)

There are a couple of others which I'm unable to recall at the moment.

The weapons of Hindu origin were classified as following based on the sound quality and clarity.

1. Brahman
2. Kshatriya
3. Vaishya
4. Shudra.

Don't have material around this now.

However, it will be interesting to note observations and knowledge shared by fellow collectors.


Thanks,
Bhushan

Thats extremely interesting Bhushan, if you recollect more detail I'd love to hear it :)

Thanks for your input
Best
Gene

BTW, thats a nice looking Katar in your avatar pic!