Small sickle. Bukhara, 19th century

[Ian]

Originally Posted by Richard G

Circumcision?
Regards
Richard

Richard, when I was going through Medical School we had this contraption called the "Little Trimmer."

[milandro]

I thought about circumcision tool but they tend to be (at least the Jewish ones) a little more resembling a razor and in other tradition they are just sharp knives . I am intrigued, in any case, by the function of the rounded tip with a point wouldn't be, strictly speaking , associated to that purpose. It seems to be more akin to indeed something like a betel nut knife, but they don't have betel nut there.

The tip has , I believe, the function to be inserted in some hard spot or to pull on something has as to remove back or something like that. Like a small billhook

[fernando]

May i ask you a question Dmitry. You are visibly sure that this knife is from Bukhara; did it come to you with no further info ?

[fernando]

Has already some of you guys commented on the handle being longer than the blade ? Interesting ... and noteworthy !

[kai]

Hello Fernando,

Has already some of you guys commented on the handle being longer than the blade ? Interesting ... and noteworthy !

IMHO, this makes sense for such a really small knife, especially if used for any heavy cutting.

It certainly looks like a strong grip was intended here!

Regards,
Kai

[mahratt]

Originally Posted by fernando

May i ask you a question Dmitry. You are visibly sure that this knife is from Bukhara; did it come to you with no further info ?

Fernando, unfortunately I could not buy this knife. Too expensive for me.
But since now I am seriously and deeply studying the armss and armor of the khanates of Central Asia, I am 200% sure that this small sickle is from Central Asia and, to be completely precise, it is undoubtedly from Bukhara (the decor of the sickle just "screams" about it)

[fernando]

I get it.

[David R]

Opium knife, for scoring the Poppy head to collect the sap? Or to chop up the raw Opium.

[milandro]

Originally Posted by David R

Opium knife, for scoring the Poppy head to collect the sap? Or to chop up the raw Opium.

a very good possibility, having looked around on the internet there are some similar ones (and many different ones too), so it may very well be, the shape definitely looks like it may have been devised to score something is some way which would be coherent with a circular motion.


The British museum has one (very much cruder though) which shows similarities


One thought though....this below is a very crude and utilitarian blade the OP is a very much fancier blade, now the average opium farmer doesn't strike me as though they could afford (or want, it is a messy business) a blade that fancy!

[Richard G]

Originally Posted by Ian

Richard, when I was going through Medical School we had this contraption called the "Little Trimmer."

And if not circumsizing it can trim cigars!
Regards
Richard

[ariel]

It is something for a rich man doing a job not requiring noticeable physical effort.
Sharpening quill pens?

[fernando]

Wouldn't those be smaller tools ?

[milandro]

the thing is that this hawkbill knife may not have had a special function at all.

Most probably its quality of execution far out-performs function.

I don't think this had any ceremonial purpose and although grand, this was a simple utilitarian knife and , as suggested from its hawkbill shape, supposedly used in agricultural ( it is obviously meant to pry and or pull while cutting) context.

[ariel]

Originally Posted by milandro

Most probably its quality of execution far out-performs function.

This is absolutely true. But knives/daggers varied in their sophistication and quality of execution depending on the status of their owner.
A garden variety Misericorde dagger was just kind of narrow stabbing blade with a minimalistic handle. But a rich man could have ordered a " work of art".

[ariel]

Originally Posted by fernando

Wouldn't those be smaller tools ?

Here are 2 images of quill sharpening. The size of the sharpeners is quite consistent with the example posted here: full size handles and small blades.

I could not find images of Oriental quill sharpening. But I kind of agree with Milandro: while generally knives were created with a specific function in mind but in real life could have been used for many functions.

[fernando]

Originally Posted by ariel

Here are 2 images of quill sharpening. The size of the sharpeners is quite consistent with the example posted here: full size handles and small blades.

I could not find images of Oriental quill sharpening. But I kind of agree with Milandro: while generally knives were created with a specific function in mind but in real life could have been used for many functions.

Agree ... and disagree. Maybe instead of referring to the size i should have mentioned shape. To say that the blade curvature of Dmitry's example excludes the possibility of being a multiuse device and basically points to a specific purpose; pruning or the like.
... And sorry Dmitry for polluting your thread .


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[mahratt]

Originally Posted by fernando

... And sorry Dmitry for polluting your thread .
.

Hello, fernando

No apologies. I am very interested in reading various interesting versions. Thank you and the rest of the contributors to this thread.

[kai]

Hello Ariel,

Here are 2 images of quill sharpening. The size of the sharpeners is quite consistent with the example posted here: full size handles and small blades.

For sharpening quills one would like an as thin blade as possible. The blade shown by Dmitry looks quite substantial.

For ease of sharpening the blade, a sheepsfoot blade would be perfect or at least a straight edge. This concave edge would need way more effort to keep the blade razor sharp!

The heavy hilt will also not help fine cutting tasks.

As already mentioned, it's certainly correct though that in such status pieces form does not always strictly follow function (if any).

Regards,
Kai

[milandro]

cheers,

[Oliver Pinchot]

Not for quils but for kamish, the reed or bamboo used for calligraphy.

[fernando]

Watch how it is regularly done, and the knife blade profile... by an Islamic expert.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdE8ihW5qbs


As already approached, admiting that Dmitry's example serves the same purpose, implies that the maker was clearly giving wings to his imagination; even assuming he is Asian ... and ergonomics apart.


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