|
 |
 |
 |
Chakar Throwing Disc
lt is a flat steel ring from five to twelve
inches in diameter and from half an inch to an inch and a half wide, the outer edge is
sharp. lt is usually plain but sometimes elaborately inlaid. Several of different sizes
were often carried on a pointed turban, the dastar ungaa or behind the back. The thrower
stands squarely facing his objective, takes the chakra between the thumb and first finger
of the right hand, holding it low down on his left side. He then turns his body so as to
bring the right shoulder as far forward as possible and throws underhand with the full
swing of his body. Thrown with sufficient force and accuracy it can cut off a green bamboo
three-quarters of an inch in diameter at a distance of thirty yards.
|
 |
Gurj - Mace
Indian maces have a great variations in their shape. From simply curved steel bars to
persian influenced maces with openings in the head wich gave a whistling sound when the
blow was struck to plane massive heads. |
 |
Kirpan - Dagger
The most typical Knife.
lt usualy has a curved blade, and should be carried by every Sikh. The special techniques
used make this weapon very dangerous. |
 |
Khanda - Double edged sword
The oldest and most typical of Indlan swords.
lt has a broad, straight blade, ually widening towards the point, which is generally quite
blunt. Sometimes it is double-edged; but, it generally has a strengthening plate with
ornamental borders on the back for a considerable part of its length.
The hilt has a broad plate guard and wide finger guard which joins the large round, flat
pommel. There is a spike on the pommel which acts as a guard for the arm, and for a grip
for the left hand when making a two-handed stroke.
It is also used as a hand rest when the sword is sheathed. The inside of the guard and
finger guard are padded.
|
 |
Marati - Trainig device
The Marati is a bamboo stick with wooden or cloth balls on its ends. It is mainly used for
training purposes but there are variations with blades or burning cloth on its ends, to
attack and distract elephants and for psychological warfare.
|
 |
Tabar - Battle Axe
At first the ordinary hatchet or axe of civil life was used as a weapon, but special
varieties were soon developed for fighting. War axes were of all sizes from light weapons,
to heavy pole axes requiring the use of both arms.
The Indian axes are generally lighter than the European and often have the handle made of
a flat plate of steel with pieces of wood riveted to each side.
Occasionally they have a dagger concealed in the handle; and, sometimes, a sharp-edged
hook projects from one side.
Combinations of axes and pistols were fairly common in India; in these the barrel of the
pistol is often the handle of the axe.
|
 |
Kaman - Bow
Most of the bows are composite. Some are made of steel with block of wood at the handles.
They are of the shape of composite bows and reverse when strung.
Others are made of up to nine layers of wood or horn |
 |
Gatka Soti - Trainig device
The Soti is made from fire hardened bamboo or ratan, 1m long and usualy has a hand guard.
It is mainly used for practice and "playing Gatka", the training fight.
For combat they were replaced by oak ore ironwood sticks, without hand guards.
|
 |
Katar - Armor piercing Dagger
The oldest and most characteristic of Indian knives. The pectiliarity lies in the handle
which is made up of two parallel bars connected by two, or more, crosspieces, one of which
is at the end of the side bars and is fastened to the blade. The Katar is wraped to the
hand to optimize the grip. The blades are aIways double-edged and generally straight, but
occasionally curved. They are of all lengths from a few inches to about three feet.
European blades of the 16th and 17th centuries were often used, especially by the
Mahrattas. Katars with original blades are often thickened at the point to strengthen them
for use against armor. When European blades are used they are always riveted to
projections from the hilt. The native blades are often forged in one piece with it. The
blades are sometimes forked at the point, and even three blades occur. The Indian armorers
occasionally made Katars that were hollow and served as sheaths for smaller ones; or with
three blades that folded together, appearing to be one, until handle bars were pressed
together, when they opened out.
|
 |
Lathi - Quaterstaff "The harder
the times the longer the Lathis"
This weapon is nearly everywhere available and very
dangerous when used in the right way. Lathis should be as long as the warrior and Ironwood
or Oak are prefered.
|
 |
 |
Shastra
