This 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?
   • Arm Blades & Spiked Shields: Better T...  

Deadly Bling: Stunning Swords & Daggers in History
   • Deadly Bling: Stunning Swords & Dagge...  

Overlooked Weapon of Ancient History: The DISC MACE
   • Overlooked Weapon of Ancient History:...  

How to Fight with Daggers (Historical Martial Arts)
   • How to Fight with Daggers (Historical...  


** Sources **

https://www.academia.edu/31094926/How...
https://www.mandarinmansion.com/gloss...

18th century Mughal form with curved blade
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
Decorated with gold
https://www.mandarinmansion.com/item/...
Vijayanagara hooded katar
https://www.mandarinmansion.com/item/...
16th century hooded katar
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...

Other examples:
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
https://www.faganarms.com/products/go...

Ancient Scissor Knife (Katar) Weird Weapons of India
   • Ancient Scissor Knife (Katar)  Weird...  

Shastar Vidiya katar & axe demonstration
   • ShastarVidiya India Katar and Axe  

FORGED IN FIREINDIAN KATAR.STRENGTH,SHARPNESS AND KILL TESTHD
   • FORGED IN FIREINDIAN KATAR.STRENGT...  

Forged in Fire: The Hooded Katar Tests (Season 5) | History
   • Forged in Fire: The Hooded Katar Test...  

SnapJelly’s video (“Why katars/push daggers aren't as good as normal daggers”)
   • Why katars/push daggers aren't as goo...  


** Music credits **

"Spirit Waltz" by Horrorpen
https://opengameart.org/content/spiri...
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license (CC BY 3.0)

"Caketown" by Matthew Pablo
https://opengameart.org/comment/26222
CCBYSA 3.0

Outtakes:
"Little People At Work" by Horrorpen
https://opengameart.org/content/littl...
CC BY 3.0

Outro:
"Highland Storm" by The Slanted Room Records
https://theslantedroom.github.io/stev...
Used with artist's permission


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#history #weapons #india