ANTI-ARMOUR DAGGERS: Different solutions in EUROPE vs INDIA

[@acethesupervillain348]

Would be great to see a video tour of the Easton collection once in a while. Seems like you've got a lot of cool stuff that can't all be the stars of their own videos.

[@bernhardb4711]

He also _sells_ the stuff, google for Easton Antique Arms. (I don't know if YT allows direct links.)

[@earthknight60]

@@bernhardb4711 Every time I've checked his site there is nothing for sale. He has a list of the stuff he's supposedly sold, but there is never anything there actually for sale. Just checked again a few minutes ago to double check if this is stil lthe case, and it is. It's been that way for years.

@@earthknight60 Sometimes there are items in the Newest Stock section, but they disappear fairly quickly. I believe that due to Matt's popularity his stock solds out the moment he puts it online.

[@maduyn]

A video about off hand katar with a sword would be a nice one: Techniques and advantages vs a dagger as an offhand etc

[@b.h.abbott-motley2427]

Was the katar used this way historically? Regardless, hooded katars looked like they could be very effective as companion weapons. This goes double for the ones with side blades as well, like Met Museum 36.25.1027. I don't know how you'd conveniently wear it, but it seems excellent when in hand.

[@Kamamura2]

IMO Katar is unsuitable as an armor-piercing weapon, because the blade is too wide. Every anti-armor thrusting weapon features slender, tapered blade - swords, polearms, daggers, it's a common feature. Moreover, heavy armor comparable to European plate were not used in countries where katars were prominent.

[@jefekeefsosa4998]

@@Kamamura2pretty sure youre wrong on both counts, ive seen plenty of extant katars with thin enough blades for piercing mail. speaking of mail, they used really heavy armor in terms of overall protection in india as well, almost as protective as a full brigandine with further plate reinforcements on the arms and legs.

[@TheWhiteDragon3]

11:10

[@anantasheshanaga3666]

​@@Kamamura2You are wrong.

[@tomhirons7475]

in the Lincoln cathedral archives, there are some old manuscripts showing archers using wooden mallets, hammering daggers through plate armour.

[@FireCat14]

I can picture that! 😂😂😂

[@justharrison6862]

15:40 so glad 2 hear him say he will continue to be Matt Easton what a relief😅

[@andreweden9405]

Let's see some bollocks! Also, it would be great if you could talk about the Japanese equivalent of rondel and bollock daggers: the yoroi doshi tantos.

[@bentrieschmann]

I would enjoy seeing Todd making both styles of Katar and then you guys testing them.

[@JustGrowingUp84]

Hmm, maybe Tod will one day make a replica of the first katar, the wider and shorter one, so you can test it as you did the rondel dagger. P.S. the second katar, the one narrow and slim, is gorgeous to my eyes! I like the first one too, but the second one is my favorite.

[@arc0006]

Speaking of katars, here are a few things I would like to see a video on. 1. Durability, it looks like the ultimate no tang design. 2. Hooded Katars. 3. The tri bladed katars. Were the all just for show? And great vid!

[@anotherboredperson]

the tri bladed katar strikes me as very similar to a Sai- if held in the off hand it becomes a parrying device that can bind a blade.

[@arc0006]

@@anotherboredperson Cool idea.

[@danielmorris6584]

"ma(il)le penetrating point"

[@Sceptis]

Wonderful comparison. I have a question about the Katar: most examples I have seen have a two bar construction at the grip - could you speak to why that was the common choice as opposed to say, some sort of pistol grip or something akin to a wood saw? My assumption is to add lateral stability and rigidity to the langets that run the length of the forearm, but I'd like to hear your insights.

[@Riceball01]

I think that Matt needs to loan those 2 katars(sp?) to Todd for him to replicate then run a series of test with them alongside the rondel dagger. I think that it would be interesting to see how well they penetrate things compared to the rondel.

[@Kindrin]

Any additional context on the length of the blade of the second katar? Seems maybe a bit long for a punching weapon (at least to my untrained eye)?

[@sethmcbride8490]

I've been really fascinated by the katar since I learned about it in high school. I'd love a deeper dive into the katar and it's development and use.

[@bobrobinson1576]

What are katars like to punch hard with? Almost every one I've seen has thin grip bars that look like they'd be rather painful with a hard strike. Also they look as if they'd be unstable laterally because the bars are close together.

[@-RONNIE]

Thanks for the video & information ⚔️

[@misolgit69]

I was gonna ask for information on 3 bladed Katars too... some kind of sword trapper?

[@allhailqueenhelga]

That southern indian piece reminds me so much of a bronze age "rapier"! Down to the riveted construction!! Besides of course that bronze age blades likely didnt have a punch-grip.

[@wingardwearables]

Nice video. I see the same need with modern body armor. The famous fighting knives of the World Wars can’t pierce thru IOTVs with ceramic plates and neck protection, UHMWPE helmets, and even a lot of common soldier equipment. Targeting the gaps makes sense, but the vitals are really far away. A long spike-like dagger makes sense.

[@barriolimbas]

Didn't think the Rondel daggers were that long. Practically short swords.

[@Watari_toppa]

Was there a case where katars were used against knights in full plate armor during the Portuguese conquest of Goa in 1510?

[@sb7984]

Thank you for talking about katars, I have replica one.

[@raymondsosnowski9717]

In an interesting parallel, there were ways to exploit the vulnerabilities to Japan's samurai armor (yoroi)!

[@jamescaan870]

I'd love to see you or you and Todd do the pokey test with the first katar especially vs sheet metal

[@piotrp5668]

Punching dagger may ne better from biotechnicall point of view - you can hit with more force then with standard dagger.

[@randysavage1]

Exactly what i was thinking

[@myleft9397]

matt has a new dagger, show me, show me, show me

[@Leftyotism]

Very interesting!

[@garychurch9237]

I love Katars! I wish Katars and sword and buckler were in some movies. Have not seen either one.

[@neilmorrison7356]

There are often different technological solutions to the same problem. An example older viewers will remember is video tape systems where there were two main video systems Betamax and VHS competing along with the Phillips Video 2000 system.

[@brett-lothian]

You need crazy testing done, JOE X here on youtube is your man.

[@nathanielworks]

Hey Matt it would be cool if you could make a video on the halberd and the huge number of variations in design across time and geography. You see some with very simple square heads and some very ornate ones with crescent blades, etc. I don't think you've done much content on the halberd.

[@smilodnfatalis55]

12:13 To be fair, I don't know anyone who could say "bulbous knobs" without chuckling a little

[@markfielder8254]

Fascinating stuff! I wonder why the Katar has a triangular blade instead of a spike though. I'm wondering if it was also intended to be used to sever straps and fastenings? Maybe slash sideways while grappling to sever the strap holding some armour in place, then stab into the revealed gap?

[@btrenninger1]

Need to do the Todd tests with the Indian weapons.

[@JC-Denton]

The side-profile of the 1st Indian dagger is quite impressive, indeed! ⚔

[@brianross5417]

I just watched both your videos on animal defense knives and the anti-armour blades. It would seem the leaf shaped katar would meet the criteria of stout and controlled depth penetration mentioned for boars, tigers etc. Perhaps a hybrid design would be optimum: cross a colichemarde with a large bowie or medium length katar

[@rtbinc2273]

I'd wonder how many Katars were custom made for a particular user? They seem to have very snug fits, was that a general quality of a mass produced item, or because there were only really designed to fit one person?

[@RS-wg5ky]

Can you punch deeper with a punch dagger vs a dagger meant to be used in a downward arc? Which method of movement is more effective at penetrating armor?

[@goetzliedtke]

The patar I purchased in an antique shop for my father-in-law had a fixed gauntlet to protect the hand of the wielder. The shop told me it was genuine Indian of the 16th Century, but I had no way to check that claim. The grip itself was absent, but there was a curved metal counterpiece to the gauntlet that had a small range of motion/adjustment. I'm big (6'5", 250lbs at that time and I could barely get my fist into the gauntlet.

[@QuentinStephens]

Did my ears deceive me or did you not mention 'context' even once? :grinning_face: Anyway, that was a most interesting video. ISTM the southern Indian dagger would be more difficult to use given its length. Especially at close quarters. Have you done any practice sparring to test?

[@Jim58223]

Would be nice to see a video testing a katar (thicker one) against maille over padding.

[@skilletborne]

Your armor had to pass tests against weapons??? IT'S HEALTH AND SAFETY GONE MAD

[@cal2127]

i always wonder if that whole wrestle them to the ground and knife the gaps technique doesnt date back to ancient or even mycenaen greece. i cant see it as a coincidence that the same place that bronze plate was invented also invented wrestling

[@tinyj4520]

So how common were war pick/hammers? (One handed sidearm version).

[@Aetun]

imho, the katar is less secure grip-wise, than a rondel dagger, since it's subjected to lateral (relative to the straight punch position) deflection. The langets don't help there unless the katar is tied to the forearm (which historically did happen a lot).

[@hurnn1543]

I'm to lazy to look up the exact quote, but Fiore say something along the lines of " I will turn you an test the strength of the back of your coat"

[@raphlvlogs271]

armour is less likely to have been used in southern India than in the north

[@aaronhackney9652]

heat exhaustion?

[@anantasheshanaga3666]

​@@aaronhackney9652 Humidity.

[@GaryNac]

Armor could have still very well existed but heat still would have likely been a consideration and posed a problem.

[@seriousmaran9414]

Plate armor wouldn't have been used much in Southern India but armour was used. Scale and mailed were common but in battle they did use the ksvacha which is described as plate armour

[@themaidenlesswretch7819]

Everyone knows that the best way to defeat armor is to use fire. Also best way to defeat unarmored opponents. I forgot who it was who said this, but “War without fire is like sausage without mustard.” You probably know.

[@Theduckwebcomics]

No no no! You fight fire with fire... So you should fight armour with armour 🤣

[@ClockworkPastryLobster]

I have always been fascinated by katars, but have never been able to find a good book about them. any recommendations?

[@YagyuAdventures]

But would it cut through FEMALE armor 🤔

[@gadlicht4627]

A test I would like to see is weapons vs moving armor or objects that have some flexibility.

[@muhit_0019]

Please show us the comparison Between a talwar and a shamshir. Which one was better in war? I wanted to know about it but there are almost no videos about it.

[@GaryNac]

I've always figured that the reason why katar became prevalent in India is that unlike late medeval and renaissance European armor Indian armor largely consisted of chain mail some padding and a limited amount of plate covering the body assuming if plate was there at all and that you didn't really need so much precision or dexterity to aim the point of the katar into an area which wasn't covered in plate when fighting against Indian soldiers wearing Indian style armor.(Not saying that a good quality Rondel or even a good quality Katar couldn't get through a full suit of European plate armor which was made of crappy or mediocre plate though.)

[@surgeonsergio6839]

Oof, the offhand disrespect to india.💀

[@rasmusn.e.m1064]

I would assume that the point being in line with your arm would actually make it easier to aim precisely. I think it has more to do with the angles provided by having the blade perpendicular to the line of the arm which would make it easier for the point to find oblique targets such as armpits, backs of knees, etc.

[@GaryNac]

@rasmusn.e.m1064 perhaps I kind of worded what I said not in the best way however I do think that using a katar with the way that it locks in your wrist would still cause certain problems while dealing with something like full suits of full plate armor (which was not present in India)when it comes to trying to aim the blade into certain specific gaps and areas of the armor and the body.

[@nidheeshkumar6760]

Maybe because plate armour isn't used in subcontinent because of terrain and climate can be exhausting in this environment most of the invaders who attacked subcontinent are turkic mongols mainly cavalry with horses and camel's

[@kushgohil15000]

To my knowledge, the reason for less armor was the more acrobatic combat styles found in India and temperature/environment of the country itself

[@samsibbens8164]

I'd like you to test it against a CURVED piece of plate. 70% of plate armor's efficiency is from its shape, causing deflections

[@chrisfields8077]

In terms of how narrow the grip is on that second one, how unconfortable is it to hold from the middle finger to the pinky? Im curious. Do we think their hands were that small?

[@frankharr9466]

That makes sense.

[@ThaRealChuckD]

Ah yes. The "can opener". Matt Damon's character kills his opponent with one in the movie "The Last Duel".

[@franciscusvdlouw5436]

Hey Matt, i keep seeing that pointy thing in the corner of the room, what is it?

[@petfrogg]

Why were they so long? Wouldn’t it be harder to wield and hard to put power behind?

[@prototypeprototype8878]

Where is pesh kabz?

[@TheTickyTickyTicky]

My years of traveling in the virtual world has taught me that an ice pick is the best anti-armour dagger.

[@lathanchurch8352]

You need a ballistic gel torso

[@HypocriticYT]

Did these Indian daggers have fabric wrapped around the grip?

[@petrapetrakoliou8979]

Not exactly the same problem according to the images shown: plate in Europe, mail in India.

[@andyleighton6969]

Matt, like to see you doing some penetration tests with a katar. Specifically I'd like to see what happens when a strike is slightly "off" or the target resists and deflects the blade. Any deflection away from the line of thrust will produce torque around a line intermediate and parallel to the two closely situated grips. Clearly, as you're trying to punch through armour, there is a considerable amount of force in the thrust. The only thing holding the dagger straight is the grip of your soft, sweaty, hand on a pair of metal bars an inch or two apart. Physics tells me that in use the kata should rotate in your hand whenever the line of the blade deviates from the line of thrust, common sense tells me that things that don't work don't last. Does it spin? If not, why not?

[@Leftyotism]

Poor medieval knight's eye holes.

[@iivin4233]

Well, they did own their entire communities by law, custom, and the right of God (in their own opinions). So, there were some perks to go along with disadvantages.

[@daemonharper3928]

Very interesting - I've said it before and I'll say it again, Rondel daggers are plain nasty things!

[@tigdogsbody]

The Katar has one use: what do you do with this awkward thing when you are not stabbing people?

[@BladeFitAcademy]

Am I the only one seeing the Halo sword? If someone had an offhanded Katar it would be extremely intimidating to close with that fellow.

[@dallintaggart482]

Pokemon?

[@matthewmillar3804]

I wish katar weren't illegal in Canada. 😢

[@311Bob]

what does Indian armor look like? don't believe I ever saw some.

[@jungoder1085]

There’s quite a few styles but the ones I’ve seen are usually 16-17th century plated mail In function seems similar to 16th century ottoman armour but looks quite different Lots of iron/ steel plates interwoven with chainmail and sometimes with solid plate cuirasses The best Indian armour has more exposed plate than mail though and is quite good armour And from some stuff I’ve seen seems like there was a decent bit of padding under certain styles too

[@SchwarzeBananen]

I would recommend a light coloured shirt without pattern. That make easier to see the object shown. Like always, very interesting.

[@311Bob]

also clear close ups on the blades, you'd think he sees that as a state secret sometimes. but seeing the blades up close is more interesting than the equivocating"its exactly this...but sometimes not" drives me nuts. just take a stand dammit !

[@elshebactm6769]

🗿👍

[@graham6774]

Ok so we need comparison tests of what are most accurate and most powerful. Get cracking!

[@harrykouwen1426]

what about rotaion of the katar dagger in the fist? I would guess that the 2 prtruding pieces of steel towards the arm would fit in 2 sort of small sleeves in a wristband or jacket to prevent rotation, making it truly effective.

[@feudist]

Bulbous knobs...

[@KonradSeverinHilstad]

And the 9a91?

[@harrykouwen1426]

A bec de corbin would be far more effective than a rondel dagger against armour plate, being closely related, much more momentum for the same swing really, plate armour doesn't stand a chance really. Have you tested that on video already?

[@Jlezy]

That thumbnail art piece is horrifyingly disgusting.

[@johnnywoods5549]

Why are the British so obsessed with India?

[@paradoxworkshop4659]

One has many uses, one is strong at exactly one angle.

[@AlFonso-p6p]

I used to own an Indian Katar and I gotta tell ya the gripping is horrible. You're better off using a traditional tanto or dagger. Whoever came up with that design needs to be fired! 😤 Such a design would work better as part of a gauntlet/back wrist attachment. The way it is now tends to bend backwards. I was never confident holding one. It looks neat and intimidating but it's almost guaranteed to fail. I wouldn't recommend it. Stick with the traditional stuff that works! 👍

[@DimasFajar-ns4vb]

classic car

[@samarchist74]

Mail penetrating tip 😂😂😂😂😂

[@50043211]

Either Matt has very large hands or Indians of that time period very small ones. 🤔

[@JosephAllen-d2e]

Either KZbin hates my comments, or Matt Easton fancies a New British Caliphate under the leadership of Caliph Starmer. I wonder which it is.