Unusual Double Handled Folding Knife

[Al Shamal]

Salam,

This is quite ornate! With brass dragon heads that either conseal or reveal a triangular edged blade, along with brass birds and small silver bells.

It is also vaguely similar to a balisong knife

Could be from Moghul or even further a feild...
Comments on origin, symbols and age welcome

[Sajen]

A betel knife which can be used as weapon as well?

[Al Shamal]

Shokran, interesting, I did a search on betel knife and found a link to an older post...
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=2608

Perhaps it's more than just a basic betel knife however

[kronckew]

butterfly knives are illegal here in the UK

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Al Shamal

Shokran, interesting, I did a search on betel knife and found a link to an older post...
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=2608

Perhaps it's more than just a basic betel knife however

Nothing to thank! I think the answer is given in the thread you have found byself.

Regards,

Detlef

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by Al Shamal

Salam,

This is quite ornate! With brass dragon heads that either conseal or reveal a triangular edged blade, along with brass birds and small silver bells.

It is also vaguely similar to a balisong knife

Could be from Moghul or even further a feild...
Comments on origin, symbols and age welcome

Salaams Al Shamal ~ Something tells me this belonged to a lady. It is very ornate, strangely complicated and well...like most women I know; totally impossible !!
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Al Shamal]

Ya, its a concealed self defence weapon for women/ladies based on a combination of the katar knife and betel nut cracker.

[ariel]

Never knew Lorena Bobbitt's ancestors came from Tanjore.....

[kahnjar1]

Originally Posted by ariel

Never knew Lorena Bobbitt's ancestors came from Tanjore.....

...........that would hurt more than a razor

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by Al Shamal

Salam,

This is quite ornate! With brass dragon heads that either conseal or reveal a triangular edged blade, along with brass birds and small silver bells.

It is also vaguely similar to a balisong knife

Could be from Moghul or even further a feild...
Comments on origin, symbols and age welcome

Salaams Al Shimal~ I don't think this is for cutting nuts or some sort of butterfly knife defensive weapon.~ because it is not built like a nut cutter nor does it have a practical application as a weapon compared to the simple dagger. This is unwieldy, difficult and complicated to use. It is, however, constructed with deities, therefor, could be for ritual/healing purposes. (shamanic healing)

The blade appears as 3 triangles which is reminiscent of blade construction on the "Kila". See Wikipedia extract below . The handles are in Naga form (serpent). Danglers and traditional bird ornament suggest ritualistic use. The xxxxx marks on the item perhaps indicate a talismanic equation.

Salaams,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Note; From Wikipedia; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C4%ABla_(Buddhism)

Quote "The kīla is used as a ritual implement to signify stability on a prayer ground during ceremonies, and only those initiated in its use, or otherwise empowered, may wield it. The energy of the kīla is fierce, wrathful, piercing, affixing, transfixing. The kīla affixes the elemental process of 'Space' (Sanskrit: Ākāśa) to the Earth, thereby establishing an energetic continuum. The kīla, particularly those that are wooden are for shamanic healing, harmonizing and energy work and often have two nāgas[10] (Sanskrit for snake, serpent and/or dragon, also refers to a class of supernatural entities or deities) entwined on the blade, reminiscent of the Staff of Asclepius and the Caduceus of Hermes. Kīla often also bear the ashtamangala, swastika, sauwastika and/or other Himalayan, Tantric or Hindu iconography or motifs". Unquote.

[Al Shamal]

Salam,

Ya, I agree with the ritual uses, and plus also found some more information to throw into the melting pot…

I think the 3 birds are peacocks, the national bird of India.
Symbolically the peacock features on many betel nut related items and cutters.

Although, the betel vine doesn’t grow any nuts! Usually the preparation consists of the nut from the areca palm (along with varied other herbs/spices to taste) and is wrapped in the leaf of the betel vine.
Chewing the mixture as a custom or ritual dates back thousands of years in many Asian countries. Sometimes betel nut street sellers would jingle the bells on their cutters to entice customers to their stands to sample their goods.

Some marriage rituals appear to bring these items together also. The groom often goes to the house of the bride carrying an ornate betel nut cutter or knife. During the ‘nischay tamulam’, the bride’s father is offered betel nuts and leaves and during the garlanding ceremony a fan of peacock feathers is used to cover the brides face, whilst the priest chants hymns.

The other 2 creatures do look like serpents. I have also seen them described as dragons, tigers, lions and crocodiles!

Out of interest I found some other related unusual knife/cutters.
The first images below perhaps take on the appearance of a crocodile shape, once the knife is opened... i.e. the blade forms the head/mouth with the sharp edge its teeth, the 2 brass pivoting points the eyes, and remaining parts of the handles the stream-line body… The next images are of another folding knife and the shaping of the brass handles look to take on the appearance of peacocks…


I would like to know more on the talismanic “X” and “(“ equation marks, and found nothing to date…