Please show your examples of ethnographic double knives

[Turkoman.khan]

Caucasian dagger. Georgia. 19th century.

[Ian]

Lovely example also TK!

Do the two hilts have a mechanism to lock them together, converting the twin daggers into a single dagger?

[GePi]

Two examples from India

[GePi]

And from Turkestan

[Turkoman.khan]

Originally Posted by Ian

Lovely example also TK!

Do the two hilts have a mechanism to lock them together, converting the twin daggers into a single dagger?

Yes. There is a mechanism that consists of pins and grooves.

[Ian]

GePi,

The Indian blades look well crafted and show a similar locking device to the example of Turkoman.khan. The Turkestan pair are gorgeous knives and perfectly matched. Are any of these blades wootz? Any idea about what they were used for?

Ian

[GePi]

Originally Posted by Ian

GePi,

The Indian blades look well crafted and show a similar locking device to the example of Turkoman.khan. The Turkestan pair are gorgeous knives and perfectly matched. Are any of these blades wootz? Any idea about what they were used for?

Ian

I only own the example with the accompanying whetstone, the blades are not wootz, they are homogenous spring steel, the spring tension locks the two halves together when joined.
The second Turkestan example is Gavin's and pattern welded I believe.

As for usage, I am not sure. It could just be a gimmick. I thought mine could be a razor because they are quite thin and very sharp, but the blades are purposefully slightly bending inwards.

[Sajen]

This little pair is new to the collection. Laotian betel knives? Not very old, mid. 20th century I guess but the fittings are from silver, bone handles.

[Peter B.]

Hello Detlef,
I have the twin of your double knife.
Even the motifs match (three-headed elephant)