Fine Wootz Kattar with Sculptured Blade. 18C. Rajasthan, India

The Kattar push dagger is one of the most common and known blades of the Indian arsenal. It comes in endless number of sizes, shapes , styles, decoration and quality. It is probably coming from the Deccan 15 C.  and spread all over the subcontinent, produced well into the 20C.

Kattars with deeply chiseled blades, almost a sculptured appears in North India, Rajasthan and Delhi in the 18 C. similar to the Kattar offered here. Massive blade finely forged from watered steel (Wootz) of good quality. The shallow center of the blade is deeply chiseled showing a warrior riding an elephant fighting a tiger on one face of the blade and another elephant rider together with a horse rider and a running dog on the other face. The blade tip is thickened to allow armor piercing. The handles are large and heavy with long hollow ground side bars. As common in these kattars, only the central part of the blade is etched to reveal the steel pattern whereas the edges and the tip are highly polished.

Blade 10 1/2 inches (27 cm). Total length 19 inches (48 cm). Very good condition. Fine dagger. late 18 C. Rajasthan, India

Several similar Kattars in the jaipur court collection are discussed in Robert Elgood “Arms and Armor at the Jaipur Court” p. 90-97

See also: P. Holstein “Armes Orientales” Book II Plate XIV Item 27

Robert Hales “Islamic Arms and Armor” p. 72