Katar Punch-Dagger
Katars are notable because their horizontal grips allow the user to punch with them, like brass knuckles with a blade jutting forward. The katar blades are wide and taper to a quick point, and cause severe damage when thrust against an unarmored body. Attacks with a punch-dagger are done with Strength + Brawl rolls, eschewing use of the Weaponry Skill. Some characters choose to wield two punch-daggers at one time; in this case, off-hand penalties still apply.
A more modern version of the katar is the “push dagger,” an American-made knife whose blade sticks out from between the knuckles. (Its ratings are equal to that of the katar.) Rare versions of the katar exist (Cost •••), however, that have one blade that actually splits into two butterfly-like blades upon squeezing the grip tightly. Assailants use this in a brutal manner: once the blade is buried in another’s flesh, pulling the grip expands the blades inside the victim. If one of these katars is used in this way, the blade does continuous damage (provided the victim does not pull away first with a Strength + Brawl roll). This damage is done in the form of 2 lethal regardless of Defense or armor. This damage is done once while inside and a second time when the blade is removed from the body (doing considerable harm as the blade exits).
A more modern version of the katar is the “push dagger,” an American-made knife whose blade sticks out from between the knuckles. (Its ratings are equal to that of the katar.) Rare versions of the katar exist (Cost •••), however, that have one blade that actually splits into two butterfly-like blades upon squeezing the grip tightly. Assailants use this in a brutal manner: once the blade is buried in another’s flesh, pulling the grip expands the blades inside the victim. If one of these katars is used in this way, the blade does continuous damage (provided the victim does not pull away first with a Strength + Brawl roll). This damage is done in the form of 2 lethal regardless of Defense or armor. This damage is done once while inside and a second time when the blade is removed from the body (doing considerable harm as the blade exits).
Item type
Weapon, Melee
Size: 1/S
Durability: 3
Cost: ••
Notes: Strength + Brawl