Gatka Shastar Weapons

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.

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 faceing 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.

It 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 shild.
It is held by two handles fastened to ring bolds that pass through the shild and are riveted to bosses on the outside, sometimes formed to spikes. Between the handles there is a square cushion for the knuckles to rest against. The handles are so placed that, when tightly grasped, they force the backs of the fingers against the cushion giving a very firm and comfortable hold.
These shields are nearly always of steel or leather.

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.
They often have guardet hilts like the Khanda

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.

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.

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.

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.

“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.

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.

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.

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.

The Indian sabre, class name. 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. The Talwar is the commonest sword in India and the blades vary enormously in Size, curvuature and quality. The hilts generally have short, heavy quilIons and disk pommels. They may or may not have finger guards; some have as many as three. Several other forms of hilts are also used. The Nihangs are as careful of their swords and take as much pains to keep them in order as the japanese samurai. It is a common saying thatan really objectionable act is “as disgraceful as haveing a blunt sword.” “These are Sikh cavalry-who know not steel scabbards-but wear leather sheaths, wherein the swords do not become blunt and dull-keen bright and ready, as many a deep and ghastly cut on Sepoy corpses can testify.”(Majendie)

The 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 , noks.