An arm blade.

[Steven Blakely]

In the summer of last year i went to a knife show here in eugene Oregon. While browsing the table i came across a rather strange weapon. The only place i can recall seing it was on the movie willow. i think the gentlemen called it a spatha. Although im probably remembering incorectly. It was basically a gautnlet with a sword blade coming out of the knuckles were the fingers would have been. it strapped to your arm and you gripped it much like a katar. is this just some fantasy weapon or is there a historicle source. it was said to be a antique by the gentlemen selling it. any help would be apriciated

[Stacy Clifford]

I've seen something like that in movies and TV (Witchblade comes to mind) before, but I have never heard of an actual historical precedent for it. Maybe others here have. Such a weapon removes wrist action from your technique, however, which reduces your mobility, speed and power in all sorts of ways.

[Maxime Chouinard]

It's called a patha, it's Indo-persian in origin. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pata_(weapon)

[Eddie Smith]

I think I even read somewhere that some of the Pata had European blades they were made from, I don't know if I am remembering correctly, but I'll try to find the source.

[Steven Blakely]

thats it! thanks, that is the weapon i saw. a pata. I think it was designed as a parying weapon and is meant to be used in conjunction with another weapon.

[Sal Bertucci]

I think the article also said it was particularly good at piercing armor.

[Shane Smith]

I think the article also said it was particularly good at piercing armor.

I doubt the one in the pic would be too good on armour piercing. A blade with a thin, spikish risered diamond shape could well be another matter though.