|
Tir |
|
|
The Tir or Indian arrows have steel heads of a great variety of
shapes, with tangs fitting into the shafts, which are generally of
reed. The shafts are often painted and gilded elaborately. These arrows
have three feathers and bone, or ivory.
|
|
|
Talwar |
|
The Talwar or the Indian Sabre is a general name for a group of
Indian swords. lt includes practically all of the curved swords used in
India, but those of very marked curvature are frequently called by
their Persian name, shamshir.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Tabar |
|
Tabar or Tapar is the term that refers to the Indian battle axe.
It ranges from 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.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Soti |
|
|
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.
|
|
|
Marati |
|
|
Marati is the training device of Gatka made from 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.
|
|
|
Lathi |
|
|
Lathi which literally means "bamboo stick" is a weapon is nearly
everywhere available and very dangerous when used in the right way.
Lathis should be as long as the warrior and Bamboo, Ironwood or Oak are
prefered.
|
|
|
Kirpan |
|
|
Kirpan is the ceremonial dagger always carried by a Sikh. It is
a typical knife that usualy has a curved blade. The kirpan has both a
physical function, as a defensive weapon, as well as a symbolic
function because it should only be used to prevent violence to be done
to a defenseless person when all other means to do so have failed.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Khanda |
|
Khanda is 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.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Katar |
|
|
Katar is the oldest and most characteristic of Indian knives.
The peculiarity 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.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Kaman |
|
|
Kaman is the term that refers to the Gatka bow. Generally, it is made of steel with a block of wood at the handles. Others are made of up to nine layers of wood or horn.
|
|
|
Gurj |
|
|
Gurj is the Indian mace that has 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.
|
|
|
Dahl |
|
Dahl is the Gatka shield that is nearly always round and varies
in diameter from about eight inches to about twenty-four. Some are very
nearly flat while others are strongly convex. The edges may be flat or
rolled back in the reverse curvature of the shield.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Chakram |
|
Chakram 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. It
resembles the modern frisbee, and the ancient Greek sport item Discus.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Barcha |
|
|
A long shafted weapon for thrusting and cuting. The spearheads could
also be used for grabling attempts or to hook behind the enemy shield.
There is also a small spike an reverse end.
|
|