Heavy Wootz Kattar North 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.

The large kattar offered here is early – mud 19 C. Probably North India. Massive blade forged from crucible steel (Wootz) in the pattern known as crystalline, a pattern that was common in this part of the world. Wide shallow fullers with a central rib and reinforced edges. The blade tip is thickened to allow armor piercing. The handle side bars are  wide and large and the cross guards are pierced and ribbed, both were deeply gilded, now most of the gilding is erased.  The blade is riveted to a semi circular langets,  finely chiseled in a floral pattern. 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 is 12 1/2 inches (32 cm) long, 3 inches (8 1/2 cm) wide. Total length 21 inches (53 cm). Very good condition. Traces of scratches on the blade. Losses to the handle gilding. Fine dagger. Early – mid 19C.