JUST BOUGHT A PATA
 

The seller says XVII-XVIII century, but i would be satisfied if somewhere within XVIII. The gauntlet a bit tired, reason why the price, not being cheap, was significantly cheaper than refined examples...those i couldn't afford, anyway :shrug:
The flexible blade is 38" (96cms) long.
Would anybody care for coments ... age, regional provenance, or any other considerations ?
Thanks in advance.
Fernando

Fernando,

I agree with you about the age, 18th to early 19th century is more likely. The length of the pata blades vary a lot, yours is 96 cm and in one of my books one is shown which has a blade of 105 cm, and they can be even longer. Is the blade marked, and does it have one or two edges? The pata was used all over India, but it seems as if it was the favourite weapon of the Marathas and people living in Deccan, and south India. Are there small holes at the edge of the gauntlet, for fastening of an inner cloth protection?
You don't see many patas these days fancy ones or others, congratulation:).


Jens

Hi Fernando,
Bravo!!! A magnificent old warrior!!
I'm with Jens on his assessment and his note suggesting the most likely provenance of Maratha regions into the Deccan well placed. While I agree this mounting is probably 18th century, possibly very early 19th, I am inclined to think that blade is earlier. It seems narrow enough to be a military style rapier blade, which would take it into the 17th c. As you well know, the Portuguese provided blades to Maratha traders, as noted in Daehnhardt. The rounded spatulate point also emphasizes the Maratha use of these weapons in slashing technique.
The 'tired' look only magnifies the historic prestige of this warrior!!
Nicely done again Fernando :)

All the best,
Jim

In echoing Jens' questions...are there any marks, and I'm assuming that is a double edged blade.

Hi Jens and Jim
Thank you for your kind coments.
An old warrior allright. Quite a few wounds, with one being a serious perforation. The others are just scars, as it seems the gauntlet construction is double ply.
No, no marks that i can see. Neither holes for inner lining.
The blade is double edged in all its extension. Quite thin and narrow, 2,5 cms. at forte.There is a central fuller, extending to within 4,5 cms outside the fixation plates (can i call them that?). Its tempering might not be the best, it is a bit bent.
Thanks again Gentlemen.

Nice Pata Fernando :) .....battle scarred, well used....just the way I like my weapons to be :cool:

Regards David

"Ta" David :)
( is this how you spell it?)
Fernando