[Rich Knack]

I am trying to put together a complete Indo-Persian "kit" of weapons and armor. Thus far, I have a kulah khud (modern repro); chainmail hauberk (modern repro); 14" steel dhal (modern repro); 2 tulwars (19th century antiques); katar, sans scabbard (19th century antique); and an incomplete 1850's bazuband I plan to restore.

I have no baldric to hang a tulwar from, nor do I have a belt or sash to hang the katar from. For that matter I need details on just how a katar was worn. I know how to work with leather and metal, but I need the details on how to correctly construct these items (no silver, gold, or precious/semiprecious stones, though!).

Can anyone help me out here?

[Werner Stiegler]

The Katar is usually shown being worn trusted through a sash like all the other daggers, sometimes bare-bladed. I'll see if I can dig up an illustration

[Hisham Gaballa]

I found this picture in a Royal Armouries book on Indian armour:



And check out these:

[Rich Knack]

Thanks! That gives me a place to start, anyway. I wonder if the baldric on the Sikh armor is fabric, or fabric-covered leather. Interesting that in the other pics, it looks as though only the nobles are carrying katars in their sashes.

[Norman McCormick]

Hi,
This is the suspension setup on an antique Tulwar scabbard from Northern India.
Regards,
Norman.