Language: Hindi
Source: Lord Egerton of Tatton

Description

Patá probably comes from the word patta (पत्ता) meaning "leaf". It is the name given to an Indian type of gauntlet sword.

PataPataPata

A patá with iron gauntlet, overlaid in silver with parcel gilding in a style reminiscent of Kutch work.
Sold by Mandarin Mansion in 2019.

 

Attribution

The patá is strongly associated with the Maratha who call it dandpatta.1 The Maratha empire (1674-1818) rose to prominence in the 17th century and defeated the long-established Mughal empire in the North. Its use was however not confined to the Marathas, and is described in use by many people of India:

"The huge gauntlet swords -Patta- used by the Nagas or military monks of Jeypore,
and by Mahrattas, have large steel gauntlets."
 2

-Thomas Holbein Hendley, 1892

 

"Used by the Sikhs in their sword play, and by the Mohamedans at the festival of the Mohurrum. Also by Mahrattas of Southern India. Gauntlet swords are supposed to have been used by the armies of the great Mogul, and are probably of Tatar or Turcoman origin." 3

-Lord Egerton of Tatton, 1880

 

Writing in 2020, I think it's wise to take Lord Egerton's remarks of origin with a pinch of salt. There is no evidence of the use of the patá among the Tatar (a broad term used to describe those of nomadic origins, among which the Mongols) and Turcomans, and it is far less associated with the Mughals than it is with the Mahrattas.

 

Blades

Patá are typically quite large, often with long, springy blades that are usually double-edged, but partially single-edged examples are known. In the 17th century, the most esteemed blades were said to come from Europe, and indeed today many of them are fitted with blades with European markings, some from Solingen. Later in 1873, an observer noted that the most esteemed blades came from Lahore.4

 

Solingen pataSolingen pata

A patá with Solingen blade.
Sold by Mandarin Mansion in 2021.

 

Use

They were used both on foot with a shield and from horseback. Cavalry use was probably confined to slashing, as a thrust would make it difficult for the wielder to remove the weapon without injuring one's arm. This is perhaps also why they are relatively flexible, as to reduce the burden on the shoulder.

A highly specialized weapon, in the 19th century, professional Marathi swordsmen would still use patá for impressive demonstrations wielding a patá in each hand.

 

History

The patá seems to be a further development from the 16th century Vijayanagara hooded katar. One branch of this evolution lost the hood, got shorter, and became the dagger known as katar, which was to become one of the most popular edged weapons of India. The patá seems to be another evolutionary branch in this same tree, becoming longer, and its hood started to enclose the whole wrist.

 

Development into katar

The above image shows on top a Vijayanagara sword with a hood -like the Vijayanagara katar below it- but a long, rapier-like blade. This is possibly an evolutionary link from the Vijayanagara katar to the patá.

Under the Vijayanagara katar is a South Indian katar now without the hood, a later development. Below a fine North Indian katar from Bundi, Rajasthan.

 

Stars of the sciences An early closed hilt patá as depicted in Nujum al-'ulum of 1570 A.D. 5


 

Shivaji

Portrait of Shivaji Bhonsle I, founder of the Maratha Empire. (1627/30 - 1680)
Notice the zoomorphic gauntlet sword in his right hand.
British Museum collection.

 

Notes
1. P. S. Rawson; The Indian Sword, Herbert Jenkins LTD, London, 1968. Page 46.
2. Thomas Holbein Hendley; Damascening on Steel or Iron as Practised in India, W. Griggs & Son Ltd, Elm House, Hanover Street, London. 1892. Page 10.
3. Lord Egerton of Tatton; Indian and Oriental Arms and Armour. Dover Publications; Revised edition, 2002. Page 110.
4. Robert Elgood; Hindu arms and Ritual, Eburon Academic Publishers, Delft, 2004. Page 257.
5. Nujum al-'ulum or "Stars of the Sciences", Bijapur, circa 1570. Chester Beatty Library, accession number: In 02

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