India, British Protectorate. A Katar, C.1775

This katar has a 370 mm long double-edged triangular steel blade, magnetic, with semi-sharp edges and having a dull tip, the blade featuring a multi-groove fuller that transforms into a slightly raised diamond-shape point at the end on both sides, the blade embedded into a steel handle, which is also magnetic, the handle with supports bearing floral motifs butting it and resting upon the blade on both sides, the supports affixed to the blade via three pins that pass through from the obverse to the reverse, the handle composed of two parallel bars bearing floral motifs on both sides and connected via two crosspieces with a large ball at the mid-point on each crosspiece, the handle finished with a high-rising guard with a prominent ridged edge in the centre and bearing a floral motif on its upper, the guard finished in a pommel-like point, measuring approximately 80 mm wide x 507 mm in length x 95 mm in height, exhibiting surface rust throughout, fine.

Footnote: The katar or katara, is a type of push dagger from the Indian subcontinent. The weapon is characterized by its H-shaped horizontal hand grip which results in the blade sitting above the user's knuckles. Unique to the Indian subcontinent, it is the most famous and characteristic of Indian daggers.