The KATAR: An Iconic AND Underrated Historical Weapon
18,694This push dagger from ancient India is often seen in the hands of fantasy rogues and other agile, hard hitting characters (like the assassin from Diablo 2). Iconic as it is, some people seem to dismiss it as less useful than conventional knives and daggers.
So let's take a look at the history of this unique weapon and dive into the functionality of its design. Anything from its origin (as shown in temple sculptures) to hooded katars to a strange 19th century evolution, the scissor katar.
Other relevant videos you may find interesting:
Arm Blades & Spiked Shields: Better Than You Think?
https://youtu.be/WW-006LogY0
Deadly Bling: Stunning Swords & Daggers in History
https://youtu.be/4Sv7UXvC7GM
Overlooked Weapon of Ancient History: The DISC MACE
https://youtu.be/mgB_20NCfiM
How to Fight with Daggers (Historical Martial Arts)
https://youtu.be/7vBdDUQQ2-4
*** Sources ***
https://www.academia.edu/31094926/How_Old_is_the_Katar
https://www.mandarinmansion.com/glossary/katar
18th century Mughal form with curved blade
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/24301
Decorated with gold
https://www.mandarinmansion.com/item/gilt-katar-spiraled-hilt
Vijayanagara hooded katar
https://www.mandarinmansion.com/item/vijayanagara-hooded-katar
16th century hooded katar
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/31497
Other examples:
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/31498
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/31424
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/31735
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/31407
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/31426
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/31717
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/31465
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/31470
https://www.faganarms.com/products/good-indian-scissors-katar?_pos=6&_sid=ef45aeb14&_ss=r
Ancient Scissor Knife (Katar) - Weird Weapons of India
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVnYiAYuBV8
Shastar Vidiya katar & axe demonstration
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoO4mg7k1UM
FORGED IN FIRE---INDIAN KATAR.STRENGTH,SHARPNESS AND KILL TEST---HD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtUddNqa9ZA
Forged in Fire: The Hooded Katar Tests (Season 5) | History
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAheigrhdbU
SnapJelly’s video (“Why katars/push daggers aren't as good as normal daggers”)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIJREo8BcY4
*** Music credits ***
"Spirit Waltz" by Horrorpen
https://opengameart.org/content/spirit-waltz
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license (CC BY 3.0)
"Caketown" by Matthew Pablo
https://opengameart.org/comment/26222
CC-BY-SA 3.0
Outtakes:
"Little People At Work" by Horrorpen
https://opengameart.org/content/little-people-at-work-loop
CC BY 3.0
Outro:
"Highland Storm" by The Slanted Room Records
https://theslantedroom.github.io/steve.yee/
Used with artist's permission
*** Merch ***
https://www.bonfire.com/store/skallswag/
If you want to join Bonfire to start selling your own merch: https://www.bonfire.com/welcome/07bb14169c804/
*** Support the channel ***
Help fund future videos, get bonus content and access to an exclusive Discord server:
http://www.patreon.com/skallagrim
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3WIohkLkH4GFoMrrWVZZFA/join
https://www.subscribestar.com/skallagrim
Other ways to support the channel by shopping through affiliate links:
Kult of Athena, my favorite online store for reproductions of historical arms and armor, fantasy swords, etc:
https://www.kultofathena.com/?koa=259
Where to get HEMA gear and practice swords:
http://www.woodenswords.com/?Click=1799
Want to treat your face fluff? I highly recommend the balms and oils from Beard Sorcery:
https://beardsorcery.com/?ref=0UEFtHWvZEmtD
*** Social media ***
How to contact me (can't always reply, as I get too many messages):
https://www.youtube.com/c/Skallagrim/about
See a list of my video uploads:
https://twitter.com/_Skallagrim_
https://www.facebook.com/SkallagrimYT
#history #weapons #india