Chhatrapati | Prop Assets : Bichawa and Waghnakh

CHHATRAPATI: Weapon Props

The Bichawa (curved-blade dagger) and Wagh Nakh (tiger-claw knuckles) are types of traditional concealed weapons that originated in the Indian subcontinent during the 17th century. The name Bichawa comes from the Hindi word Bicchu (scorpion), referring to its tail-like curved blade, while Wagh Nakh literally translates to “tiger claw.”

These weapons have significant cultural and historical importance, closely linked to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. They are most famously associated with his encounter with Afzal Khan, during which Shivaji Maharaj survived an assassination attempt by Afzal Khan during truce negotiations, thanks to his inner chain mail armour. Shivaji Maharaj retaliated using the Wagh Nakh and Bichawa, an event that solidified these weapons as his signature weapons.

I created these props as part of my Final Major Project, “Chhatrapati.” The workflow included:
1. High-poly and low-poly modelling, along with UV unwrapping in Blender,
2. Texturing in Substance 3D Painter,
3. Rendering across multiple engines, including Blender Cycles, Unreal Engine 5 (Lumen), and Marmoset Toolbag.

My goal was to ensure these props remain consistent in detail and style with the other assets developed for the project. I will be adding more pieces to the arsenal.