Tiger claw: O.152-1879

Maker(s)

Maker: Unknown

Entities

• Tiger claw
• Indian weapons
• bagh nakh

Categories

• Weapons

Description

Of iron, comprising a straight, triangular blade with a medial rib attached by a rounded reinforce to an iron loop shaped to the hand, with a medial ridge on the outside and a brazed seam, now split open, on the inside. Polished, but heavily pitted from earlier corrosion

Notes

History note: From Ganjam. Probably from Tanjore arsenal

Legal notes

Given by Robert Taylor, MA

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (1879) by Taylor, Robert, MA

Dating

16th Century
Circa 1500 CE - 1600 CE

Note

From Ganjam in south east India, this devilish weapon was worn over the fingers and was invisible until the fingers were extended – James Bond style.

The Nujum al-‘Ulum of 1570 in the Chester Beatty Library illustrates a similar example with two finger loops and a single spike (Elgood 2004: 216, 235). Conventional examples have four short curved blades and two finger loops. Cambridge 1879 no. 103, ‘These are held hidden in the palm and used like baghnuk.'