Katar (dagger): Difference between revisions

Kattari
Kattari
	Ornamented Kattari
Type	Dagger
Place of origin	India
Specifications
Blade type	Double-edged, ; Straight blade
Hilt type	Horizontal

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A Kattari, Katara or Katar (Devanāgarī: कटार, kaţţāri, kaţāra), also known as a suwaiya or Bundi dagger, is a type of short punching sword that originated in South India as "Kattari" and spread throughout India. It is used to make swift and quick attacks. It is notable for its horizontal hand grip, which results in the blade of the sword sitting above the user's knuckles. Three other examples of bladed weapons native and unique to India are the Khanda, Urumi and Pata.

Typically, kattaris were used in close range hand-to-hand combat, which is effective in armour piercing. The blade was often corrugated for additional strength. "Hooded kattaris" have a shield extending over the back of the user's hand. The handle sides were also used to block attacks, since all kattaris had an "H"-shaped handle. Because of the nature of the weapon, attacks were mainly direct thrusts that would easily pierce the enemies' armor with a single but strong blow, possible because of the light weight and amazing attack speeds that could be achieved. The use of poisons was another deadly way of increasing the katara's effectivity in battle. Kattaris ceased to be in common use in the 19th century.

Uniquely in South India, kattaris are used as close-combat weapons, as well as throwing weapons. In smaller sizes, these are thrown from the hand or attached to another South Indian throwing weapon called "Valari" for added punch. It is also an important weapon in Kalari Payattu, a South Indian martial art.

Kattaris are also ceremonial daggers and are worshipped^[1].

The Kattari is one of the oldest and most characteristic of the Indian knife weapons. Its peculiarity lies in the handle which is made up of two parallel bars connected by two, or more, cross pieces, one of which is at the end of the side bars and is fastened to the blade. The remainder forms the handle which is at right angle to the blade. The blades are always double-edged and are generally straight and with lengths from a few inches to about 3 feet. The blades of southern India are often made broad at the hilt and taper in straight lines to the point, and elaborately ribbed by grooves parallel to the edges. European blades of the 16th and 17th centuries were often used, especially by the Maratha Empire and were always riveted to projections from the hilt.

Kattaris with native blades are often thickened at the point to strengthen them for use against mail and are often forged in one piece with the hilt. The blades are sometimes forked at the point, and kataras with two, and even three blades occur. The Indian armorers occasionally made kattaris that were hollow and served as a sheath for smaller ones: or with three blades that folded together, appearing to be one, until the handle bars were pressed together, when they opened out. There is even a kattari displayed at the City Palace Museum in Jaipur, with two single-shot pistols built into either side of the weapon. Many kattaris have guards for the back of the hand made with solid plates but many are elaborately pierced. Among the Marathas the gauntlet sword, called pata, was evolved from the kattari.

Notes

^ "Nityasumaṅgalī: devadasi tradition in South India".

[1] "Nityasumaṅgalī: devadasi tradition in South India".

[1]

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 Typically, kattaris were used in close range hand-to-hand combat, which is effective in [[armour]] piercing. The blade was often corrugated for additional strength. "Hooded kattaris" have a shield extending over the back of the user's hand. The handle sides were also used to block attacks, since all kattaris had an "H"-shaped handle. Because of the nature of the weapon, attacks were mainly direct thrusts that would easily pierce the enemies' armor with a single but strong blow, possible because of the light weight and amazing attack speeds that could be achieved. The use of poisons was another deadly way of increasing the katara's effectivity in battle. Kattaris ceased to be in common use in the 19th century.
-Uniquely in South India, kattaris are used as close-combat weapons, as well as throwing weapons. In smaller sizes, these are thrown from the hand or attached to another South Indian throwing weapon called "Valari" for added punch. It is also an important weapon in [[Kalari Payattu]], a South Indian martial art.
+Uniquely in South India, kattaris are used as close-combat weapons, as well as throwing weapons. In smaller sizes, these are thrown from the hand or attached to another South Indian throwing weapon called "[[Valari]]" for added punch. It is also an important weapon in [[Kalari Payattu]], a South Indian martial art.
 Kattaris are also ceremonial daggers and are worshipped<ref>{{cite web|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=lFR06tVELyIC&pg=PA181&lpg=PA181&dq=kattari+sword&source=bl&ots=zEMMC6XhVN&sig=ObjPcew1q7gZ6gLMWJ6ynYhP_r4&hl=en&ei=j4FaS8HLOYO6swOIzpWVAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CAkQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=kattari%20sword&f=false |title=Nityasumaṅgalī: devadasi tradition in South India |publisher= |date= |accessdate=}}</ref>.

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