Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Andrew
What about the katar being used by the rank and file? Was this truly a weapon of status? I've seen miniatures and artwork depicting what certainly looks like rank and file infantry with katars.
|
As it appears, there certainly were luxurious katars for novelty, as well as humble katars for rank and file, and also for civilians. Being largely divulged in the west as a combat weapon, i have read that the katar was also meant for defence against tigre atack.
The example pictured is work of a Portuguese silversmith, mid XVIII century. Both scabbard and grip are chiseled silver, mounted on an European blade ( Rainer Dahehnardt collection ).
The marvelous oil paint depicts three Malabar warriors, holding a musket, a tulwar, a katar, a pata and a shield ( Georg Scheder-Bieschin collection ). I would say these guys look rank and file, right ?
fernando