The (Dand) Pata or Pattā (Marathi:दांडपट्टा) is an Indian sword with a gauntlet integrated as a handguard

 


The (Dand) Pata or Pattā (Marathi:दांडपट्टा) is an Indian sword with a gauntlet integrated as a handguard. Often referred to in its native Marathi as a Dandpattā, it is commonly called a gauntlet-sword in English.

Traditionally, Maratha warriors were trained to fight with a dual Pata by bearing one in each hand. Alternatively, a single pata was used in addition to a belt, javelin, or axe in the other hand. The sword was also used occasionally by Cavalry soldiers for its destructive hacking ability and it was found that this weapon was more effective when two Soldiers fought together as pairs.
Ranging in length from 10-44 inches, it was considered to be a highly effective weapon for infantrymen against heavily armoured cavalry. The armour around the hand serves as additional protection and also locks the warrior's wrist, thereby relying much on sheer brute strength of arm muscles to utilize swift hacking motions for chopping enemies into pieces.
Folklore has it that a Maratha soldier would use the dandpatta when encircled, so as to maximize the casualties on the opposition, before he fell. Baji Prabhu Deshpande at Battle of Pavan Khind was a legendary wielder of these weapons in the dual style.
Jiva Malhalle, the bodyguard of Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaja was another famous expert of this weapon who swiftly hacked off the arm of Sayyid Banda after the Afzal Khan vadh and killed him.
Sardar Yashwantrao Pawar was a master-wielder of Dandpatta and at the Third Battle of Panipat, he jumped atop the War-Elephant of the Golden Temple desecrator Atai Khan and chopped him into three pieces.
The founder of the Maratha Empire, Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaja, was highly skilled in the art of fighting with Pata, and some of his oldest paintings showcase him wielding these.

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