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Extract from Robinson’s Oriental Armour
(p115)
“The madu or maru was a small fist-shield mounted upon a pair of roebuck horns with steel tips. It was primarily for parrying, and in some instances a pair of flamboyant (that is, flame-like) blades replaced the horns. The shields were of steel, chiselled and gilt, with four small bosses. Pairs of horns were also used, without a shield, for the same purpose. Their use was mainly confined to northern and central India.”
Extract from Stone’sGlossary
(p423)
“MADU, MARU, SINGAUTA. An Indian parrying and thrusting weapon consisting of a pair of black buck horns fastened together with their points in opposite directions. Usually the horns overlap, but sometimes they are fastened to the opposite ends of a short handle. In either case the hand is protected by a small circular shield of leather or iron. The horns usually have steel points on the ends. It was used by the Bhils and other wild tribes and was a favorite with Hindu religious beggars. It was also used by swordsmen for guarding, being held in the left hand.”
When weilded as a secondary weapon in the off-hand the madu can be used to parry, giving the weilder a bonus to his defense. When used offensively the madu acts as a short double tipped spear.
Magical Properties:
February 6, 2005, 6:58
February 6, 2005, 10:05
It is an interseting weapon that only shows up in the more complete weapons lists. Palladium books and GURPs being the only two places I have ever seen it.
February 7, 2005, 3:20
March 8, 2012, 19:17
Not going to vote on this as it is incomplete and what is there appears to be nothing more than text pasted from other sources. Despite that, I do like this weapon and am glad to come across a mention of it. I had never heard of it and had to do an image search to even get an idea of what it looked like. Interesting, to say the least.
March 9, 2012, 13:23
While I appreciate that macaroni is making people aware of a little-known weapon, the whole piece is made of two snippets quoted from texts on armor and weapons. This would be better treated as a stub entry.
April 22, 2013, 13:40