Throwing steel balls

Museum: Feldman Family Museum

Two steel balls, varying in diameter and weight, are connected using three straight steel strips. Each outside strip is attached with a loop-shaped hinge to the ball, while the other end is movably articulated with the middle strip with a steel rivet with rosette washers. All strips represent in fact two-edged blades that have longitudinal faces and acutely sharpened along the edges.

COMMENT. This unusual and rare throwing weapon is probably an Indian "bladed" analogue of the South American bolas. It was intended most likely to hit enemy horses’ legs. In addition, it could have been used against unarmored infantrymen in close combat and against large animals during the hunt. The technique of throwing this weapon is different from the bolas and requires special skills. One ball is always a little smaller and lighter than another, and the distance between them varies depending on the number of "blades". During the flight, when the balls rotate one around the other, the "blades" must be in a position strictly perpendicular to the target so that they can damage it by their sharp edges at the impact moment. While this weapon somewhat resembles the European "chain shots”, it could not be used as a cannon projectile due to a too cumbrous and fragile construction. Moreover, the shot from cannon is not able to guarantee the proper position of the "blades" when in contact with the target. It is significant that a similar example with three "blades", which was auctioned at Thomas Del Mar Ltd in London on June 24, 2009, has not perfectly round, but partially faceted balls (see Thomas Del Mar Ltd: In association with Sotheby’s. Antique Arms, Armour & Militaria: London, Wednesday 24th June 2009: [Auction Catalogue]. – London, 2009. – Lot 91). Another one "three-bladed" example was formerly in the Anthony C. Tirri collection (see Tirri, A.C. Islamic Weapons: Maghrib to Moghul. – Miami, 2003. – P.  277, fig. 201A), and a "five-bladed" example is published by Robert Hales (see Hales 2013, p. 314, no. 765).

LITERATURE: Сиваченко Е. Сталь и Золото: Восточное оружие из собрания Feldman Family Museum = Steel and Gold: Eastern Weapons from the Feldman Family Museum Collection. – Киев, 2019. – С. 524-525, №216.