katar forging

Lew · 31st October 2006, 02:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by delor

One more question : what is the average size of a katar ? I suppose it has to be quite large, otherwise the cross bars wouldn't fit strongly enough in the hand. Am I right ?

Regards,
Bernard

Bernard

8-9 inch blades are pretty standard but I have seen small ones with 6 inch blades and larger ones with 10-12 inch blades. Be sure to measure the buyers hand most old katars were made for smaller warriors therefore I often find that I can't fit my four fingers in without getting them squished. I have a large hand though.

Lew

Jens Nordlunde · 31st October 2006, 09:18 AM

Hi Bernhard,

If you want to sell the katar on this forum you should put it on the Swap Forum. If in doubt, read the forum rules. Or ask one of the moderators.

I guess you know already that there is a lot of different katar types, as well as sizes, and I think one of the problems you will have, is to get the proportions right, even if you can make someone measure a katar from his collection with all the measurers you will need. I have seen them from 20 cm and upwards where you are not sure if it s katar or a sword, and then there is the gauntlet sword – but that is another matter, although related to the katar. See Stone, A Glossary… Page 347, figure 434, number 15. The longest blade is close to 100 cm.
I think, to get it right, you will have to buy a cheap katar, to be able to hold it in your hand, to get the right size and feeling.

I am working on the post I promised you, but it will have to wait till later to day.

Jens Nordlunde · 31st October 2006, 03:00 PM

Katar. North Rajasthan. Length 51 cm, blade 26 cm. The katar is forged in one piece with no decoration at all. The blade with a big armour-piercing tip. When the side guard is hit, the sound is high and sounds like a tuning fork – for a long time. I doubt very much that you can get such a sound, had the katar not been forged in one piece, also there is not sign that it has been put together from several pieces, and no decoration to ‘hide’ that it has been put together.

Double katar. North India. Length 42 cm, blade 23 cm, length of inner blade 20 cm. The outer blade is scabbard for the inner blade, and gold decoration conceals any joint. It is however clear, that the inner blade is far older than the outer blade, so at least the inner blade must have been put into the ‘hilt’ after the hilt was made. The outer blade was made in two parts, one side of the blade and the edges, and the other side, the ‘lid’. It is important to notice that the ends of the side guards are marked, so the inner katar always will be put in the ‘scabbard’ in one way only. If anything else will be tried the inner katar will get stuck. Hardly any sound when the side guards are hit, and the sound stops very quickly.

Jens Nordlunde · 31st October 2006, 03:02 PM

Katar. Tanjore, South India. Length 51 cm, blade 33 cm. The hilt and the blade have been made in two parts and riveted together. The side guards are decorated with fish and steel pearls. When the side guard is hit, the sound is deep and it sounds like a tuning fork, but the sound does not last as long as it does from the first katar.

Ian · 31st October 2006, 04:52 PM

Beautiful examples Jens. Thanks for sharing them.

Ian.

frequent · 31st October 2006, 05:37 PM

these are some nice katars they look brand new

Lew · 31st October 2006, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian

Beautiful examples Jens. Thanks for sharing them.

Ian.

Ian

And what am I chopped liver

Lew

Jens Nordlunde · 31st October 2006, 09:41 PM

Hi Lew, I lost you - i don't understand what you mean?

Thank you Ian, the thing is, that you have to look closer at the the detail, hopefully you will see, that the fish have eyes on both sides.

Ian · 1st November 2006, 02:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LOUIEBLADES

Ian

And what am I chopped liver

Lew

More like a fine paté, Lew. Yours are very nice too.

Ian.

31st October 2006, 03:00 PM	#3
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Katar. North Rajasthan. Length 51 cm, blade 26 cm. The katar is forged in one piece with no decoration at all. The blade with a big armour-piercing tip. When the side guard is hit, the sound is high and sounds like a tuning fork – for a long time. I doubt very much that you can get such a sound, had the katar not been forged in one piece, also there is not sign that it has been put together from several pieces, and no decoration to ‘hide’ that it has been put together. Double katar. North India. Length 42 cm, blade 23 cm, length of inner blade 20 cm. The outer blade is scabbard for the inner blade, and gold decoration conceals any joint. It is however clear, that the inner blade is far older than the outer blade, so at least the inner blade must have been put into the ‘hilt’ after the hilt was made. The outer blade was made in two parts, one side of the blade and the edges, and the other side, the ‘lid’. It is important to notice that the ends of the side guards are marked, so the inner katar always will be put in the ‘scabbard’ in one way only. If anything else will be tried the inner katar will get stuck. Hardly any sound when the side guards are hit, and the sound stops very quickly. Attached Images

31st October 2006, 03:02 PM	#4
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Katar. Tanjore, South India. Length 51 cm, blade 33 cm. The hilt and the blade have been made in two parts and riveted together. The side guards are decorated with fish and steel pearls. When the side guard is hit, the sound is deep and it sounds like a tuning fork, but the sound does not last as long as it does from the first katar. Attached Images

31st October 2006, 09:18 AM	#2
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Hi Bernhard, If you want to sell the katar on this forum you should put it on the Swap Forum. If in doubt, read the forum rules. Or ask one of the moderators. I guess you know already that there is a lot of different katar types, as well as sizes, and I think one of the problems you will have, is to get the proportions right, even if you can make someone measure a katar from his collection with all the measurers you will need. I have seen them from 20 cm and upwards where you are not sure if it s katar or a sword, and then there is the gauntlet sword – but that is another matter, although related to the katar. See Stone, A Glossary… Page 347, figure 434, number 15. The longest blade is close to 100 cm. I think, to get it right, you will have to buy a cheap katar, to be able to hold it in your hand, to get the right size and feeling. I am working on the post I promised you, but it will have to wait till later to day.

31st October 2006, 04:52 PM	#5
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,430	Beautiful examples Jens. Thanks for sharing them. Ian.

31st October 2006, 05:37 PM	#6
frequent Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 7	these are some nice katars they look brand new

31st October 2006, 09:41 PM	#8
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Hi Lew, I lost you - i don't understand what you mean? Thank you Ian, the thing is, that you have to look closer at the the detail, hopefully you will see, that the fish have eyes on both sides.