Jamdhar Katar

[gp]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

As with many ethnographic edged weapons, especially more modern examples following traditional style, are not for combat, but more accoutrements for wear and certain cultural aspects such as ceremony or ritual. As Christopher Spring ("African Arms and Armor") once noted as writing on African 'throwing knives', there is often a 'western' need to explain how weapons were actually used, where many of these with unusual designs were indeed not for use in combat, but symbolic in their tribal culture.

Pragmatically though, these observations are indeed well placed.

thank you very much for your explanation: highly appreciated !

[Jim McDougall]

My pleasure GP, thank you for posting it and the opportunity to revisit these as researched and discussed some years back.
Its always great that these kinds of discussions bring up important new considerations with this example and use of aluminum in earlier period. That is truly an angle not thought of, that it was almost a precious metal, and as such a show of wealth and power among tribal peoples. Thanks again Rick and Udo for those insights!