PATA GAUNTLET SWORD

Cathey · 19th October 2009, 10:29 PM

Hi Gene, Alex and Jim

Firstly what is ferric chloride?

The blade is plain, as they are on most Pata’s I have seen. Generally Pata’s have European blades so and this one looks typically European broad sword to me. I will try and load so close ups of the metal, but I don’t think it will tell you much.

The Information I have found on the Pata to date is:

The Pata is a single-handed Indian gauntlet sword. This sword was predominantly found in the southern regions of India. The Marathas invented the Pata, and it was their most favoured weapon. The Pata consists of a combination of a long double-edged blade and a gauntlet. The blade is usually European, Italian or Spanish. A pair of metal settings attaches the blade to the hilt of a gauntlet. These settings run down the face of the blade on both sides. The gauntlet covers the arm almost up to the elbow. The gauntlet has an iron strap hinged to the upper end that hooks around the arm. The grip is located inside the gauntlet, at a right angle to the blade.

The inside of the gauntlet is often padded to reinforce the grip and to reduce the shock of blows. The outside of the gauntlet is often covered with metal-worked decorations or embossed. A few were even studded with jewels. Some of the decorations depicted battle scenes. Others had prayers, or pictures of gods or large animals on them.

The patta was used by all military classes, particularly by experienced swordsmen. For one who is inexperienced with the patta it can be difficult to use but it is the most effective of all Indian swords. It is wielded by the strong muscles of the fore and upper arm, and not by the wrist. This allows the sword to deliver more powerful blows and thrusts at any angle. This method also greatly reduces the amount of fatigue, due to the use of the upper arm muscles (Rawson 46).

References:
Christie’s 16/7/03 Lot 19.
Pant, G.N. Indian Arms and Armour Volume II. New Delhi, S. Attar Singh Army Educational Stores. 1980. Pgs. 61-68
Rawson, P. S. The Indian Sword. London: Herbert Jenkins 1968. Pgs. 44-47
STONE, George Cameron, A Glossary Of The Construction, Decoration & Use Of Arms & Armour In All Countries And In All Times Pp 484-486
Wallis & Wallis Sale 458, 28/8/02 Lot 1122 Plate 12 Pp36
WELAND, Gerald A Collector's Guide To Swords, Daggers & Cutlasses PP107-108

Cheers Cathey

kronckew · 21st October 2009, 08:26 PM

Ferric Chloride (FeCl3) is a dry chemical compound mixed with water to produce an etchant normally used to etch copper coated fibreglass circuit boards, it can be purchased at electronics supply houses like maplins in the UK, or radio shack. it can also be bought as a pre-mixed liquid. it etches not only brass and copper, but steel as well, and collectors use it to bring out the pattern of laminated or pattern welded steel, differentially hardened steel, damascus and wootz/bulat.

bhushan_lawate · 23rd October 2009, 12:44 PM

Hi all,

I think that this pata is more "North Indian" than "South Indian" especially looking at the floral motifs.

I have seen an entirely different type of designs on the patas of South (also I have not come across many chiseled gauntlets in South)

However we have room enough to debate this attribution owing to the vast variety and cross cultural influences on arms and armors in the Indian Sub continent.

One more aspect I have noted of the many patas that I have seen in the south is the flexibility of the blades.

It will be interesting to know how flexible this particular blade is.

Anything is the outcome of this discussion will only add to the knowledge on this vast topic.

Regards,
Bhushan Lawate

Cathey · 24th October 2009, 06:20 AM

Hi Bhushan

Thank you for your comments on the Pata, and yes the blade is extremely flexible, I will amend my records to include northern India as I was unaware that Pata’s came from that region as well. Any other comments on this Pata’s posted will be most appreciated.

I have two other Pata's which I will post when I get a chance to take decent pictures of them. They also have flexible blades which I suspect are European in origin.

If anyone else has Pata’s could you please post them as the more we see the more we learn?

Cheers Cathey.

19th October 2009, 10:29 PM	#1
Cathey Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: adelaide south australia Posts: 284	Hi Gene, Alex and Jim Firstly what is ferric chloride? The blade is plain, as they are on most Pata’s I have seen. Generally Pata’s have European blades so and this one looks typically European broad sword to me. I will try and load so close ups of the metal, but I don’t think it will tell you much. The Information I have found on the Pata to date is: The Pata is a single-handed Indian gauntlet sword. This sword was predominantly found in the southern regions of India. The Marathas invented the Pata, and it was their most favoured weapon. The Pata consists of a combination of a long double-edged blade and a gauntlet. The blade is usually European, Italian or Spanish. A pair of metal settings attaches the blade to the hilt of a gauntlet. These settings run down the face of the blade on both sides. The gauntlet covers the arm almost up to the elbow. The gauntlet has an iron strap hinged to the upper end that hooks around the arm. The grip is located inside the gauntlet, at a right angle to the blade. The inside of the gauntlet is often padded to reinforce the grip and to reduce the shock of blows. The outside of the gauntlet is often covered with metal-worked decorations or embossed. A few were even studded with jewels. Some of the decorations depicted battle scenes. Others had prayers, or pictures of gods or large animals on them. The patta was used by all military classes, particularly by experienced swordsmen. For one who is inexperienced with the patta it can be difficult to use but it is the most effective of all Indian swords. It is wielded by the strong muscles of the fore and upper arm, and not by the wrist. This allows the sword to deliver more powerful blows and thrusts at any angle. This method also greatly reduces the amount of fatigue, due to the use of the upper arm muscles (Rawson 46). References: Christie’s 16/7/03 Lot 19. Pant, G.N. Indian Arms and Armour Volume II. New Delhi, S. Attar Singh Army Educational Stores. 1980. Pgs. 61-68 Rawson, P. S. The Indian Sword. London: Herbert Jenkins 1968. Pgs. 44-47 STONE, George Cameron, A Glossary Of The Construction, Decoration & Use Of Arms & Armour In All Countries And In All Times Pp 484-486 Wallis & Wallis Sale 458, 28/8/02 Lot 1122 Plate 12 Pp36 WELAND, Gerald A Collector's Guide To Swords, Daggers & Cutlasses PP107-108 Cheers Cathey Attached Images

24th October 2009, 06:20 AM	#4
Cathey Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: adelaide south australia Posts: 284	Pata's Hi Bhushan Thank you for your comments on the Pata, and yes the blade is extremely flexible, I will amend my records to include northern India as I was unaware that Pata’s came from that region as well. Any other comments on this Pata’s posted will be most appreciated. I have two other Pata's which I will post when I get a chance to take decent pictures of them. They also have flexible blades which I suspect are European in origin. If anyone else has Pata’s could you please post them as the more we see the more we learn? Cheers Cathey.

21st October 2009, 08:26 PM	#2
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,224	Ferric Chloride (FeCl3) is a dry chemical compound mixed with water to produce an etchant normally used to etch copper coated fibreglass circuit boards, it can be purchased at electronics supply houses like maplins in the UK, or radio shack. it can also be bought as a pre-mixed liquid. it etches not only brass and copper, but steel as well, and collectors use it to bring out the pattern of laminated or pattern welded steel, differentially hardened steel, damascus and wootz/bulat.

23rd October 2009, 12:44 PM	#3
bhushan_lawate Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: India Posts: 77	Hi all, I think that this pata is more "North Indian" than "South Indian" especially looking at the floral motifs. I have seen an entirely different type of designs on the patas of South (also I have not come across many chiseled gauntlets in South) However we have room enough to debate this attribution owing to the vast variety and cross cultural influences on arms and armors in the Indian Sub continent. One more aspect I have noted of the many patas that I have seen in the south is the flexibility of the blades. It will be interesting to know how flexible this particular blade is. Anything is the outcome of this discussion will only add to the knowledge on this vast topic. Regards, Bhushan Lawate