Hunting Tigers with Katars: Fact or fiction?

fernando · 20th September 2010, 10:32 PM

I confess Gene, that i wasn't familiar with the 'odd stack' term

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Well, i can't realize a guy go out hunting tigers with only a couple katars, but i can understand that, having nothing more practical at hand, he would 'parry' a tiger jump with one of such things.
One thing we can't deny is that, the way katars are built and hand held, is both ideal for pushing a blow against your standing foe as also for stopping (or trying to stop) the landing of an animal jump ... a tiger in te context.
But back to the odds, is all a question of size; the size of the tiger, the size of the katar, the size of the coolies team and, last but not least, the size of the nobleman's 'jewels'

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Lew · 20th September 2010, 10:52 PM

i can't realize a guy go out hunting tigers with only a couple katars, but i can understand that, having nothing more practical at hand, he would 'parry' a tiger jump with one of such things.

Fernando

I don't know if you can parry a 500-700 pound tiger hitting you at 35mph with a couple of katars. Even if you were on the ground face up with the katars pointing up and the tiger jumped right onto them the force would probably break both your arms. Most hunting swords and daggers were often used to dispatch an already seriosly wounded animal. In the USA wild hog hunters kill the hog with a large dagger but only after the dogs have pinned him down.

Sorry but you would need a awfully long katar to reach this tiger in the picture.

fernando · 20th September 2010, 11:07 PM

The drawing hasn't been finished, yet

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The author still has to include the nobleman, who will be close to the tiger

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spiral · 20th September 2010, 11:44 PM

Legend has it to test bravery some Gurkha warriers would hunt a tiger with a kukri to proove thier bravery.

I understand many Mahrarajas of martial races {As the Brits called them.}put a lot of store in physical bravery as well?

Excerpt from Hunting Weapons from the Middle Ages to the Twentieth Century: By Howard L. Blackmore But originaly copied from Reverend Woods 19th century classic, "Travels in India and Nepal” by the Reverend Wood in 1896.

He also described the Gurkhas as "Brave as lions, active as monkeys, and fierce as tigers" Something not very many people aspire to today perhaps?

Spiral

fearn · 21st September 2010, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spiral

Legend has it to test bravery some Gurkha warriers would hunt a tiger with a kukri to proove thier bravery.

I understand many Mahrarajas of martial races {As the Brits called them.}put a lot of store in physical bravery as well?

Excerpt from Hunting Weapons from the Middle Ages to the Twentieth Century: By Howard L. Blackmore But originaly copied from Reverend Woods 19th century classic, "Travels in India and Nepal” by the Reverend Wood in 1896.

He also described the Gurkhas as "Brave as lions, active as monkeys, and fierce as tigers" Something not very many people aspire to today perhaps?

Spiral

Gotta love that picture, slashing with the back of the kukri...

Believable...? Not so much. It's that part about getting out of the way that strikes me as hard to do. See for example this YouTube Video, starting at 2:05.

I'm sure that if you were perfectly prepared, you could get one chop in, but not the easiest thing in the world. Note that I'm NOT questioning Gurkha bravery. Just their success rate, especially if they're going for the paw and not the head.

Then again, with tigers on the endangered species list, I think that it will be a few generations before anyone legally hunts a tiger with a kukri or with a katar. The world needs more tigers, anyway. Keeps men heroic.

Best,

F

David · 21st September 2010, 03:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fearn

Gotta love that picture, slashing with the back of the kukri...

I don't think so Fearn. The kukri hooks inward on the bladed side. I believe the slashing direction is in a roundhouse motion towards the tiger. He is indeed giving the tiger the edge side in this illustration.

fearn · 21st September 2010, 04:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

I don't think so Fearn. The kukri hooks inward on the bladed side. I believe the slashing direction is in a roundhouse motion towards the tiger. He is indeed giving the tiger the edge side in this illustration.

If he's chopping, he's got his hand behind his shoulder and he's swinging forward. As the blade connects, he could dislocate his shoulder. Moreover, his elbow is facing backward and straight, so if he's swinging, it's from the shoulder and waist alone. This is one where it's a good idea to try this with a stick against a wall. Do be careful, because if you put force into it, it's going to hurt.

F

F

20th September 2010, 10:52 PM	#2
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	i can't realize a guy go out hunting tigers with only a couple katars, but i can understand that, having nothing more practical at hand, he would 'parry' a tiger jump with one of such things. Fernando I don't know if you can parry a 500-700 pound tiger hitting you at 35mph with a couple of katars. Even if you were on the ground face up with the katars pointing up and the tiger jumped right onto them the force would probably break both your arms. Most hunting swords and daggers were often used to dispatch an already seriosly wounded animal. In the USA wild hog hunters kill the hog with a large dagger but only after the dogs have pinned him down. Sorry but you would need a awfully long katar to reach this tiger in the picture. Attached Images Last edited by Lew; 20th September 2010 at 11:05 PM.

20th September 2010, 11:44 PM	#4
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Legend has it to test bravery some Gurkha warriers would hunt a tiger with a kukri to proove thier bravery. I understand many Mahrarajas of martial races {As the Brits called them.}put a lot of store in physical bravery as well? Excerpt from Hunting Weapons from the Middle Ages to the Twentieth Century: By Howard L. Blackmore But originaly copied from Reverend Woods 19th century classic, "Travels in India and Nepal” by the Reverend Wood in 1896. He also described the Gurkhas as "Brave as lions, active as monkeys, and fierce as tigers" Something not very many people aspire to today perhaps? Spiral Attached Images

20th September 2010, 10:32 PM	#1
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	I confess Gene, that i wasn't familiar with the 'odd stack' term . Well, i can't realize a guy go out hunting tigers with only a couple katars, but i can understand that, having nothing more practical at hand, he would 'parry' a tiger jump with one of such things. One thing we can't deny is that, the way katars are built and hand held, is both ideal for pushing a blow against your standing foe as also for stopping (or trying to stop) the landing of an animal jump ... a tiger in te context. But back to the odds, is all a question of size; the size of the tiger, the size of the katar, the size of the coolies team and, last but not least, the size of the nobleman's 'jewels' .

20th September 2010, 11:07 PM	#3
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	The drawing hasn't been finished, yet . The author still has to include the nobleman, who will be close to the tiger .