Introduction

The name Garsoee katar comes from Lord Egerton's landmark book Indian and Oriental Arms and Armour of 1896, describing a katar with the distinct hilt also seen in our example here.¹

It is probably written घरसूई in Hindi, pronounced gharasūī. Gaṛhī (गढ़ी ) means fortress, sūī (सूई) means needle. Together it could mean something like "fortress piercer"

The katar described by Egerton was made in Bhuj, Kutch state in Gujarat. However, many weapons with different origins were made in Kutch, among which Persian shamshirs, Deccan chilanum and even Arab jambiya, all madein the distinct Kutch style with gilt copper mounts with flower decoration. So the fact that Kutch workers made this style of katar is not indicative of the style actually being from there.

For more, see my glossary article: Garsoee katar.

Notes to introduction
1. Lord Egerton of Tatton: A Description of Indian and Oriental Armour, with an Introductory Sketch of the Military History of India. London, W.H.Allen & Co. 1896. Page 138, number 727.
 

This example

A large example. The substantial blade has an elongated triangular profile, with pronounced thickening in the point. A sunken panel in the center is divided by a narrow ridge.

At the base of the ridge is a chiseled palmate motif that hints towards a south Indian aesthetic. However, is forged as one piece from blade to hilt which is a trait of North India.

The hilt of textbook form for these with recurved side bars. The grip consists of a hollow, pierced polyhedral. 

There are hints of a laminated steel construction in both hilt and blade.

It comes with its old scabbard, with remains of blue velvet textile covering.