Indian? Decorated serrated sickle (worth a look)

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, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KuKulzA28

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.

Hi KukulzA28,

Thanks, its an interesting thing for sure. I just hate not knowing all the 'wheres and whens' lol

Atlantia · 8th January 2010, 01:19 AM

Bump to see if anyone has any further thoughts

Billman · 24th February 2011, 06:43 PM

Yes this is an an Indian sickle - modern ones are sometimes found in the UK, presumably exported as samples along with cheap Indian made billhooks etc..

Modern ones are often made with a thin blade with a serrated edge (c.f. a wide hacksaw blade) rivetted to a mild steel spine (c.f. the rivetted English scythe blade, as compared to the original 100% forged ones).

Yours appears very ornate, but still a working tool, rather than ceremonial... Indian women often used ornate tools. The fine serrations indicate it is probably for rice, gather in the handful and sliced off to avoid losing the grains during harvest... European and Moroccon sickles have coarser serrations, but achieve the same effect...

They can be found listed on many Indain tool manufacturers' web pages, e.g. http://www.esuppliersindia.com/products/sickles.html or http://www.indiamart.com/ganpatimeta.../products.html

Similar (same??) tool called a royal sickle on http://defenceforumindia.com/showthr...?t=7479&page=2

VANDOO · 25th February 2011, 01:28 AM

FUNNY THIS CAME UP NOW I HAVE A FEW PICTURES WAITING.

1. PHILIPPINE IFUAGO, LUZON , RICE SICKLE 10IN. LONG, FIGURAL HORN HANDLE
2. RICE SICKLE AND HOLDER, NEPAL
3. RICE HARVESTING SICKLE, VIETNAM, NOTE THE LONG PROTRUSION IT REMINDS ME OF THE PHILIPPINE PIRAS WITH LONG PROTRUSIONS ON THE HANDLE.

Billman · 25th February 2011, 07:06 PM

Ref the Vietnamese rice sickle - these are often sold on eBay.fr as Cambodian - but I guess a similar shape is found throughout the region...

Last time I looked there were about 20 from the same seller - all reasonably priced - search for 'faucille à riz'

The Nepalese sickle also often turns up - probably brought home as a tourist souvenir. What I really want is to find some Nepalese billhooks - larger heavier tools of a similar shape, but for wood, not rice (and no I don't want a khukuri)

Sajen · 25th February 2011, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VANDOO

FUNNY THIS CAME UP NOW I HAVE A FEW PICTURES WAITING.

1. PHILIPPINE IFUAGO, LUZON , RICE SICKLE 10IN. LONG, FIGURAL HORN HANDLE
2. RICE SICKLE AND HOLDER, NEPAL
3. RICE HARVESTING SICKLE, VIETNAM, NOTE THE LONG PROTRUSION IT REMINDS ME OF THE PHILIPPINE PIRAS WITH LONG PROTRUSIONS ON THE HANDLE.

Hello Barry,

the Ifuago one is very very similar with indonesian rice knifes (called ani ani). Here two examples, one from Madura, the other one is Dayak.

Regards,

Detlef

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.

29th December 2009, 05:03 PM	#1
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

24th February 2011, 06:43 PM	#5
Billman Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 129	Indian sickle Yes this is an an Indian sickle - modern ones are sometimes found in the UK, presumably exported as samples along with cheap Indian made billhooks etc.. Modern ones are often made with a thin blade with a serrated edge (c.f. a wide hacksaw blade) rivetted to a mild steel spine (c.f. the rivetted English scythe blade, as compared to the original 100% forged ones). Yours appears very ornate, but still a working tool, rather than ceremonial... Indian women often used ornate tools. The fine serrations indicate it is probably for rice, gather in the handful and sliced off to avoid losing the grains during harvest... European and Moroccon sickles have coarser serrations, but achieve the same effect... They can be found listed on many Indain tool manufacturers' web pages, e.g. http://www.esuppliersindia.com/products/sickles.html or http://www.indiamart.com/ganpatimeta.../products.html Similar (same??) tool called a royal sickle on http://defenceforumindia.com/showthr...?t=7479&page=2 Attached Images Last edited by Billman; 24th February 2011 at 07:08 PM.

25th February 2011, 01:28 AM	#6
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	FUNNY THIS CAME UP NOW I HAVE A FEW PICTURES WAITING. 1. PHILIPPINE IFUAGO, LUZON , RICE SICKLE 10IN. LONG, FIGURAL HORN HANDLE 2. RICE SICKLE AND HOLDER, NEPAL 3. RICE HARVESTING SICKLE, VIETNAM, NOTE THE LONG PROTRUSION IT REMINDS ME OF THE PHILIPPINE PIRAS WITH LONG PROTRUSIONS ON THE HANDLE. Attached Images

29th December 2009, 05:25 PM	#2
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.

8th January 2010, 01:19 AM	#4
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Bump to see if anyone has any further thoughts

25th February 2011, 07:06 PM	#7
Billman Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 129	Ref the Vietnamese rice sickle - these are often sold on eBay.fr as Cambodian - but I guess a similar shape is found throughout the region... Last time I looked there were about 20 from the same seller - all reasonably priced - search for 'faucille à riz' The Nepalese sickle also often turns up - probably brought home as a tourist souvenir. What I really want is to find some Nepalese billhooks - larger heavier tools of a similar shape, but for wood, not rice (and no I don't want a khukuri)