Is it a katar dagger ?

Jens Nordlunde · 18th January 2020, 03:55 PM

The katar shown in the article (no 205) is a drawing I found in Holstein's Contribution a L'etude des Armes Orientales, vol. I, and his reference to Mitra's book made me buy the book, and start to research the katar.

Mitra wrote the book in 1875, so he had to make a drawing. I knew where the temple in Orissa was, and tried to make a photographer take a picture of the statue, but unfortunately he could not find it. Later I found a picture of the statue in a book on Hindu Temples of Orissa, vol III.
In Art and Culture 1300-1900 Stuart Cary Welsh wrote, that the katar originally came from South India, but unfortunately he did not write why he thought so.

There were katars made with only on cross bar, and not only from the 10th and 11th century, but also later. Some had side bars and some a plate in front of the hand, but they are not often seen.

francantolin · 24th January 2020, 05:46 PM

Hello everybody,

I finally received it !!
don't really know what to think about it,
seems old iron-steel ( really old !?!)

the top looks like a real old heavy spear ( total weight 850gr )
but don't sure it's an old katar:
The handle is really large 11cm
I'm not that big but not small !! (1,85 meter tall ), usually katar handle are pretty small for me, this one is really large !
( maybe for mammoth hunting ...)

francantolin · 24th January 2020, 05:53 PM

here some pics of the handle,

Before receiving it, I thought the side bars had been shortened but I don't think so

If it was an old on handle katar dagger , it could have a wood or bone grip like this one I found on internet,
said to be from the 17th century.

What do you think ? -Kind Regards

Frankie

francantolin · 24th January 2020, 05:55 PM

And if it's not a dagger/spear,
what could it be used for ??

Thank you !!!

Rich · 24th January 2020, 06:56 PM

Perhaps a parring dagger, like a Main Gauche ?
Rich

mariusgmioc · 24th January 2020, 08:27 PM

I suspect this is a very recent fake...

Kmaddock · 24th January 2020, 08:47 PM

Very interesting.
I wonder might it be for cutting whale blubber or the like?
I like it for the obvious age it displays
Regards
Ken

24th January 2020, 05:46 PM	#2
francantolin Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 905	Hello everybody, I finally received it !! don't really know what to think about it, seems old iron-steel ( really old !?!) the top looks like a real old heavy spear ( total weight 850gr ) but don't sure it's an old katar: The handle is really large 11cm I'm not that big but not small !! (1,85 meter tall ), usually katar handle are pretty small for me, this one is really large ! ( maybe for mammoth hunting ...) Attached Images

24th January 2020, 05:53 PM	#3
francantolin Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 905	here some pics of the handle, Before receiving it, I thought the side bars had been shortened but I don't think so If it was an old on handle katar dagger , it could have a wood or bone grip like this one I found on internet, said to be from the 17th century. What do you think ? -Kind Regards Frankie Attached Images

24th January 2020, 08:27 PM	#6
mariusgmioc Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Austria Posts: 1,911	I suspect this is a very recent fake... Attached Images

18th January 2020, 03:55 PM	#1
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	The katar shown in the article (no 205) is a drawing I found in Holstein's Contribution a L'etude des Armes Orientales, vol. I, and his reference to Mitra's book made me buy the book, and start to research the katar. Mitra wrote the book in 1875, so he had to make a drawing. I knew where the temple in Orissa was, and tried to make a photographer take a picture of the statue, but unfortunately he could not find it. Later I found a picture of the statue in a book on Hindu Temples of Orissa, vol III. In Art and Culture 1300-1900 Stuart Cary Welsh wrote, that the katar originally came from South India, but unfortunately he did not write why he thought so. There were katars made with only on cross bar, and not only from the 10th and 11th century, but also later. Some had side bars and some a plate in front of the hand, but they are not often seen.

24th January 2020, 05:55 PM	#4
francantolin Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 905	And if it's not a dagger/spear, what could it be used for ?? Thank you !!!

24th January 2020, 06:56 PM	#5
Rich Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: comfortably at home, USA Posts: 432	Perhaps a parring dagger, like a Main Gauche ? Rich

24th January 2020, 08:47 PM	#7
Kmaddock Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Ireland Posts: 543	Very interesting. I wonder might it be for cutting whale blubber or the like? I like it for the obvious age it displays Regards Ken