This is an exceptional example of a jamadhar ('death tooth') dagger, better though perhaps incorrectly known as a katar; a style of dagger limited to the Indian Subcontinent. This example is typical in its overall form, having a straight double edged blade abruptly arising from a curved cross piece to which are attached hand and wrist guards parallel to the blade on either side and a grip formed by a pair of cross bars. The 8¼ inch (21.2 cm) blade of this example proximally has a very sharply defined high central mid rib on each face flanked on each side by two deep fullers having an opposing direction of taper; immediately beyond the fullers the blade reaches a maximum thickness of 0.36 inch (0.91 cm) and takes on a flattened diamond cross section. Most noticeable within the flats of the widest fullers is a bold high contrast wootz grain indicative of very restrained forging and creation of the stark fuller topography by chiseling (stock removal). Wootz grain may also be faintly seen elsewhere on the blade and also upon hilt components. A very few patches of minor superficial discoloration and pitting are present. One of the wrist guards has been stamped with 'M11', likely an old arsenal or collection inventory number. Overall length is 16¼ inches (41 cm) with a weight of 17.7 ounces (504 grams). An old tattered sheath is mostly covered by green velvet with gold colored thread decoration, but this has bare patches and significant total loss especially on one side where a wooden core may be seen that also has losses and damage to one side. Within the sheath, overall length is just under 17 inches (43 cm) with a total weight of about 19 ounces (543 grams).