Strange Persian?

Emanuel · 15th January 2006, 06:45 PM

Hello, this just ended http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...MEWA%3AIT&rd=1 and I'm very curious to know what it is. The bolster and handle type relate it to the khyber/choora/kard family but I've never seen one like it. The sickle form is quite appealing, and it seems well made with delicate work on the tang and bolster. Wouldn't be just a common sickle would it?

Regards,
Manolo

nechesh · 15th January 2006, 06:56 PM

Well Artzi seems to know what it is since he won the auction. Perhaps he will post his thoughts here.

It looks more like an argricultural tool than a weapon to me.

Rick · 15th January 2006, 07:19 PM

It looks Central Asian ; reminds me somewhat of Bokharan work ; possibly some sort of variation on a Bank (the sickle weapon of India) ?

Nechesh , from the decoration I get the impression that this was made to harvest humans .

Oriental-Arms · 15th January 2006, 10:23 PM

We decided to go for it out of curiosity and because we did not know for sure what it is. When we receive it we wil research it and will gladly post here our thoughts .

Emanuel · 16th January 2006, 04:56 AM

Ah, Oriental-Arms had some similar pieces http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/searc...nk&s.x=0&s.y=0 but varying to some degree.
I find such sickle-shaped weapons fascinating, and I've always wondered about their effectiveness. The ebay examble is less curved and some sort of draw cut or even stabbing seem feasible. The Oriental-Arms examples have extreme curvatures and certainly don't seem to be intended for stabbing, so how were they used? If one just hooks onto an opponent's limb or extremity and pull, does the cut produce sufficient damage?

not2sharp · 16th January 2006, 09:27 AM

It looks like a corvo. Perhaps a modern custom rendition of the style.

n2s

RobT · 17th January 2006, 02:28 AM

Hi all,
Given the ferrule's similarity to those found on choora and khyber knives, I would vote for north India/Afghanistan. Stone on pg 93 lists a type of knife called a bank and further references the Wallace Catalogue for other forms of knife with this name . Perhaps this is a bank variant? (I think "bank" means curved.)
Sincerely,
RobT

Rick · 17th January 2006, 02:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobT

Hi all,
Given the ferrule's similarity to those found on choora and khyber knives, I would vote for north India/Afghanistan. Stone on pg 93 lists a type of knife called a bank and further references the Wallace Catalogue for other forms of knife with this name . Perhaps this is a bank variant? (I think "bank" means curved.)
Sincerely,
RobT

That makes two votes for a bank variant .

IMO too much Central Asian influence in the design to be a corvo .
Betting it's a wootz blade .

Oriental-Arms · 4th March 2006, 12:09 PM

Hi all

This dagger was discussed earlier in this thread. We now received it and we are still not sure of what it is.
It is a fine dagger, with rather heavy blade, well made handle with wood grips, steel bolsters and steel pommel cover:

After cleaning and etching, the blade shows a very good laminated steel back and harder steel edge:

And a close ups of the handle:

The blade shape reminds the Indian BANK sickle shaped dagger. The steel bolsters and grip strap reminds those of the Khayber sword family, but the steel forging is a mystery. All in all I still think it is of Indian origin. Age?? My intuition says late 19 to early 20 C.

Battara · 4th March 2006, 08:06 PM

In some ways it reminds me of an Indian bank.

not2sharp · 5th March 2006, 01:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oriental-Arms

Age?? My intuition says late 19 to early 20 C.

Is there any signs of oxidation on the wood? It looks very clean.

Andrew · 5th March 2006, 05:50 AM

What an interesting and beautiful knife!

The blade lamination came up in a similar fashion to many pattern-welded Indian tulwar blades I have seen, and the decorative motifs also seem Indian to my inexpert eye.

Emanuel · 7th March 2006, 06:17 PM

Magnificent dagger!
This lamination pattern is quite beautiful, how are the waves or circles achieved in this example?
Would these daggers have had scabbards or were they worn bear?
Beautiful restoration as well, its owner will be very proud of it.

15th January 2006, 06:45 PM	#1
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Strange Persian? Hello, this just ended http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...MEWA%3AIT&rd=1 and I'm very curious to know what it is. The bolster and handle type relate it to the khyber/choora/kard family but I've never seen one like it. The sickle form is quite appealing, and it seems well made with delicate work on the tang and bolster. Wouldn't be just a common sickle would it? Regards, Manolo

15th January 2006, 07:19 PM	#3
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	Impressions It looks Central Asian ; reminds me somewhat of Bokharan work ; possibly some sort of variation on a Bank (the sickle weapon of India) ? Nechesh , from the decoration I get the impression that this was made to harvest humans .

15th January 2006, 10:23 PM	#4
Oriental-Arms Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Haifa, Israel Posts: 183	What is it? We decided to go for it out of curiosity and because we did not know for sure what it is. When we receive it we wil research it and will gladly post here our thoughts .

17th January 2006, 02:28 AM	#7
RobT Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 493	take it to the bank? Hi all, Given the ferrule's similarity to those found on choora and khyber knives, I would vote for north India/Afghanistan. Stone on pg 93 lists a type of knife called a bank and further references the Wallace Catalogue for other forms of knife with this name . Perhaps this is a bank variant? (I think "bank" means curved.) Sincerely, RobT

4th March 2006, 12:09 PM	#9
Oriental-Arms Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Haifa, Israel Posts: 183	Indain Curved Dagger Hi all This dagger was discussed earlier in this thread. We now received it and we are still not sure of what it is. It is a fine dagger, with rather heavy blade, well made handle with wood grips, steel bolsters and steel pommel cover: After cleaning and etching, the blade shows a very good laminated steel back and harder steel edge: And a close ups of the handle: The blade shape reminds the Indian BANK sickle shaped dagger. The steel bolsters and grip strap reminds those of the Khayber sword family, but the steel forging is a mystery. All in all I still think it is of Indian origin. Age?? My intuition says late 19 to early 20 C.

15th January 2006, 06:56 PM	#2
nechesh Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 940	Well Artzi seems to know what it is since he won the auction. Perhaps he will post his thoughts here. It looks more like an argricultural tool than a weapon to me.

16th January 2006, 04:56 AM	#5
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Ah, Oriental-Arms had some similar pieces http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/searc...nk&s.x=0&s.y=0 but varying to some degree. I find such sickle-shaped weapons fascinating, and I've always wondered about their effectiveness. The ebay examble is less curved and some sort of draw cut or even stabbing seem feasible. The Oriental-Arms examples have extreme curvatures and certainly don't seem to be intended for stabbing, so how were they used? If one just hooks onto an opponent's limb or extremity and pull, does the cut produce sufficient damage?

16th January 2006, 09:27 AM	#6
not2sharp Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 210	It looks like a corvo. Perhaps a modern custom rendition of the style. n2s

4th March 2006, 08:06 PM	#10
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,221	In some ways it reminds me of an Indian bank.

5th March 2006, 05:50 AM	#12
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	What an interesting and beautiful knife! The blade lamination came up in a similar fashion to many pattern-welded Indian tulwar blades I have seen, and the decorative motifs also seem Indian to my inexpert eye.

7th March 2006, 06:17 PM	#13
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Magnificent dagger! This lamination pattern is quite beautiful, how are the waves or circles achieved in this example? Would these daggers have had scabbards or were they worn bear? Beautiful restoration as well, its owner will be very proud of it.

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