The Haladie Knife: The Indian Rajput Double-Wielder
3 minute read
The halide knife was born in ancient India and Syria, and bears a double curved blade on a single hilt. Talk about an ingeniously built piece for up-close attacks!
Make and Size: Small But Mighty
Haladie knives tend to be roughly 22cm (8.5 inches) in total length, including the two blades and the handle (hilt). This allows the wielder to stab and slice with both ends -- and if skilled enough, move from one attack to another in a fast, fluid motion.
In contrast to many similar weapons in the knife and sword world, both blades on the knife were sharp, meaning it has 4 sharp edges to play with.
Background: 18th and 19th Century Usage
Some haladie knives have been excavated and discovered, dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries. While most maladies wielded two blades (as above), some also had a spike on one side of the handle, and others still had a third blade (making this the first triple-edge blade to be have been discovered).
It's believed to have been primarily used by the ancient Indian warrior class, the Rajput.
Indian haladie, 18th to 19th century
Use: Up-Close and Personal
The Haladie knife would have been primarily used in close combat (as it's a relatively small knife, in relative terms) and would have required very careful carrying by the owner. It would not have been an easy weapon to conceal or carry, but would have been very useful in slicing, stabbing and even throwing in urgent battle situations.
Popular Culture: "Forged in Fire" and Beyond
The Haladie knife has been featured in some popular culture, such as the Sword Making TV Show "Forged In Fire":
Image credit: One, Two, Three.
