Indian? Decorated serrated sickle (worth a look)

Atlantia · 26th December 2009, 02:54 PM

Hi Gentlemen, thank you all for the continued input.
TIM,
When you say 'one of these', do you mean exactly the same?
What culture did they atttribute it too, and did 'skull scraping come at a premium LOL>?

Best Gene

Tim Simmons · 26th December 2009, 06:29 PM

Not this one. This is a nice example. It was offered with great relish in a swap. To me it looks like the work seen on items from the Nepal and other mountian, foothill areas. I have seem nepalese sickles held suspendid in a wooden block on a fabric baldric. You could probably find examples on the net.

Atlantia · 28th December 2009, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

Not this one. This is a nice example. It was offered with great relish in a swap. To me it looks like the work seen on items from the Nepal and other mountian, foothill areas. I have seem nepalese sickles held suspendid in a wooden block on a fabric baldric. You could probably find examples on the net.

Hmmm, well the plot has certainly 'thickened' but I cant seem to locate any that are quite the same.
I've pretty much exhausted google images I think LOL

Tim Simmons · 29th December 2009, 03:51 PM

First page on googling "Nepalese antique sickle"-

http://www.bluelotusgallery.com/antiques

I have see much better examples for sale on other sites.

Emanuel · 29th December 2009, 04:54 PM

Hello,

On first impression I would say Nepal as well, a hansiya ("hanshee" - what lambendh khukri used to be mistakenly called).
The handle brings to mind Afghan work on choora and lohar. Perhaps a border piece

The construction on this piece is very odd. The blade's orientation seems to be 90 degrees off and its connection to the hilt is even stranger. The hilt has a strip running along its length as if to emphasize it is made of two scales, and yet there is a nut on the but as if the tang is screwed all the way through. Would be nice to see this taken apart.
Given that only the top part of the hilt is decorated with brass, and the blade is so oddly attached on the underside, it seems to me that it was carried or showed off in this manner, not actually held and used...speculation.

Here's a pic of a hansiya, note the finely serrated edge.

All the best,
Emanuel

Emanuel · 29th December 2009, 05:03 PM

Here's another hansiya, this time it looks very similar to the one discussed, although the handle is hidden.

KuKulzA28 · 29th December 2009, 05:25 PM

I don't know too much about sickles, but in my limited experience on farms and in the fields... harvesting sickles tend to have serrations for tearing through vegetation, and tend to have a blade offset from the handle and horizontal, making it easy to cut low to the ground with a flick of the wrist.

This has both of those features, but like you all said - it's very high quality looking...

Please don't be disappointed that it's a glorified working tool. Remember it meant something real important to someone, and it is definitely an important part of these people's history. Agriculture must have been important and support this society. No food support-base to the society, and what weapons would you be collecting? They'd all be starving and dying - not much weapons manufacture if you're dying.

In my opinion, it's a nice thing to have if you have the space.

Atlantia · 29th December 2009, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emanuel

Here's another hansiya, this time it looks very similar to the one discussed, although the handle is hidden.

Hi Emanuel,

Thats interesting, it does look like it might have the 'bird neck' that mine has.........

Here are some more pictures of the handle on mine.
You are right, the handle is pinned at 90degrees to the blade, as indicated by the added arrows in the picture.

Atlantia · 29th December 2009, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

First page on googling "Nepalese antique sickle"-

http://www.bluelotusgallery.com/antiques

I have see much better examples for sale on other sites.

LOL, I didn't mean I couldn't find any sickles, just not one like this one. ITs the weird handle thats throwing me...

Right, back now. Sorry mate.

Yeah, I could find nepalese Sickles, but they 'tend' to look like rice sickles, and be fairly conventional, have you seen any with the same weird handle mine's got?

29th December 2009, 03:51 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	First page on googling "Nepalese antique sickle"- http://www.bluelotusgallery.com/antiques I have see much better examples for sale on other sites. Attached Images

29th December 2009, 04:54 PM	#5
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Hello, On first impression I would say Nepal as well, a hansiya ("hanshee" - what lambendh khukri used to be mistakenly called). The handle brings to mind Afghan work on choora and lohar. Perhaps a border piece The construction on this piece is very odd. The blade's orientation seems to be 90 degrees off and its connection to the hilt is even stranger. The hilt has a strip running along its length as if to emphasize it is made of two scales, and yet there is a nut on the but as if the tang is screwed all the way through. Would be nice to see this taken apart. Given that only the top part of the hilt is decorated with brass, and the blade is so oddly attached on the underside, it seems to me that it was carried or showed off in this manner, not actually held and used...speculation. Here's a pic of a hansiya, note the finely serrated edge. All the best, Emanuel Attached Images

29th December 2009, 05:03 PM	#6
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Here's another hansiya, this time it looks very similar to the one discussed, although the handle is hidden. Attached Images

26th December 2009, 02:54 PM	#1
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Hi Gentlemen, thank you all for the continued input. TIM, When you say 'one of these', do you mean exactly the same? What culture did they atttribute it too, and did 'skull scraping come at a premium LOL>? Best Gene

26th December 2009, 06:29 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	Not this one. This is a nice example. It was offered with great relish in a swap. To me it looks like the work seen on items from the Nepal and other mountian, foothill areas. I have seem nepalese sickles held suspendid in a wooden block on a fabric baldric. You could probably find examples on the net.

29th December 2009, 05:25 PM	#7
KuKulzA28 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: between work and sleep Posts: 731	I don't know too much about sickles, but in my limited experience on farms and in the fields... harvesting sickles tend to have serrations for tearing through vegetation, and tend to have a blade offset from the handle and horizontal, making it easy to cut low to the ground with a flick of the wrist. This has both of those features, but like you all said - it's very high quality looking... Please don't be disappointed that it's a glorified working tool. Remember it meant something real important to someone, and it is definitely an important part of these people's history. Agriculture must have been important and support this society. No food support-base to the society, and what weapons would you be collecting? They'd all be starving and dying - not much weapons manufacture if you're dying. In my opinion, it's a nice thing to have if you have the space.