Were S. Asian weapons designed to be used together?

[ariel]

It is always possible to mix soup, salad, main course and dessert in one bowl.
Calorie-wise it will be as nutritious, but at the expense of quality of each separate dish.

This is likely why combination weapons ( sword / pistol etc) never became popular and were always made just for show.

[Mercenary]

Originally Posted by ariel

It is always possible to mix soup, salad, main course and dessert in one bowl.
Calorie-wise it will be as nutritious, but at the expense of quality of each separate dish.

This is likely why combination weapons ( sword / pistol etc) never became popular and were always made just for show.

Ariel, I am with you.

There were combination weapons. Also it is possible to keep two or three swords or daggers in each hand and one more in each foot and in mouth. It was usefull? Historically? For this we need to study the history. Or practice very hard in circus juggling.

[mariusgmioc]

The combined use of more bladed weapons is well known and documented throughout history.

Just remember the famous Miyamoto Musashi who was famous for his fighting style using both the Katana in one hand and the Wakizashi in the other.

Also, there are many Chinese styles of fighting with two swords or two daggers.

Last but not least, just remember the European fighting styles with Rapier and Left Hand Dagger.

However, all these employ one single-bladed weapon in each hand.

Had the one-handed use of more bladed weapons (or a weapon with multiple blades) been of practical use, it would certainly have developed and became extensively used at some point in history. The fact that no such fighting style developed and evolved, demonstrates it has no practical use.

[ariel]

Perfectly correct.
Two weapons, - one in each hand, - was widely used all over the world.
Holding two things in one hand ls , quoting Talleyrand, worse than a crime, it is a mistake.

[Roland_M]

Originally Posted by ariel

Holding two things in one hand ls , quoting Talleyrand, worse than a crime, it is a mistake.

I'm sorry but this was a common practise for high skilled archers and here we see seven things in one hand.
The combination of a small shield and a dagger is more than just a guess, but I unfortunately forgot the source. Please search for "Indian Madu", this is very similar, a small shield with sharp elongations.


Roland

[Mercenary]

Originally Posted by Roland_M

The combination of a small shield and a dagger is more than just a guess, but I unfortunately forgot the source. Please search for "Indian Madu", this is very similar, a small shield with sharp elongations.

Madu, maru etc it is not a shield with additional blades. It is two-sided dagger with additional shield or without it. In origin it is weapon of Hindu ascetics made from two horns. And it is one special weapon which itself and its use very good described in historical sources.

[ariel]

Roland,
Madu, Sainti ( Haladie) and Sentali shield are not "two things in one hand": they are shields with deliberately attached blades. The difference is that the single hand is gripping only one "handle". They are multi-purpose units.

Some shields have umbo ( often with a spike), that can be used to smash or stab the opponent: two purposes, but a single unit with a single grip. Does it mean that operating a shield with umbo means holding 2 items in one hand?

Old Circassian Jateh was a saber with bayonet tip. Its use was described as " first stabbing enemies, then slashing them". But the handle was the same.

There is a difference between a multipurpose weapon and two ( even 7!) separate weapons held in one hand, each semi-separately.