LARGE TIGER HUNTS HELD BY THE MAHARAJAHS IN INDIA DID USE LARGE NUMBERS OF BEATERS TO DRIVE THE GAME TO THE ROYAL HUNTERS AND THEIR GUESTS. SOME OF THOSE PUT IN CHARGE OF THE BEATERS MAY HAVE BEEN ISSUED A UNIFORM AND SWORD BUT MOST BEATERS WOULD HAVE USED WHAT EVER THEY HAD ON HAND FOR DEFENSE BUT MOSTLY RELIED ON THEIR NOISE YELLING AND BEATING ON SOMETHING TO DRIVE ANY DANGEROUS GAME AHEAD OF THEM. I HAVE SEEN VARIOUS FORMS OF SWORDS SAID TO HAVE BEEN USED DURING THESE HUNTS OVER THE YEARS BUT DO NOT KNOW IF THEY WERE USED BY BEATERS. THEY COULD HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TO GUESTS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE HUNT. OR AS A REWARD TO A BEATER WHO DID SOMETHING BRAVE THAT MADE THE HUNT SUCCESSFUL. WEAPONS WERE ISSUED FROM THE ARSENALS FOR WAR BUT PROBABLY NOT FOR HUNTS AND MOST ARMORY GENERAL ISSUES WERE NOT FANCY. YOUR EXAMPLE LOOKS MORE LIKE A ARABIC OR RUSSIAN FORM THAN A INDIAN FORM TO ME BUT ITS NOT MY SPECIALTY. THERE IS NO SHAME IN HANGING A NICE LOOKING AFFORDABLE WALL HANGER I HAVE MANY.
