is the Manipuri chamtun a real historical weapon despite there is little documentation about it, if so how effective would it be?

by sajahet25

there is little documentation online about this Indian two-handed shortsword. when I google it, the results are useless and the only sources I have about this weapons are an antique weapon forum http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=24384 , a youtube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-srjwsP8yd8 and this PDF that mentions it vaguely by name http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/5515/10/10_chapter%207.pdf if anyone knows anything about historical weapons like this one please help,

allaboardthebantrain

That's a utility weapon. You see the same thing -big knife on a stick- all the way across south east Asia.

What you see is what you get. Is it real? Yes. Are people there still using them? Yes. When was it developed, is it correct for any given period of history? Nah brah. Those societies are not sufficiently wealthy to have poured resources into establishing the history of agricultural hand tools.

Is it effective? Sure! But for what? This is a tool for carrying around while you bushwhack your way through the jungle, chopping down small trees and grubbing out roots, and then butchering a chicken once a week, and maybe rarely driving off a wild dog or even settling a feud with a neighbor.