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#1 |
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Small sickle (function unknown). Bukhara, 19th century
Short, curved, single-edged blade made of wootz steel, the back straight and then poly-lobed and inlaid with gold. Guard nielloed with a floral decoration continued on the silk of the handle flanked by two riveted walrus bone plates. Under the guard, metallic ring inlaid with blue glass paste. Length : 17,7 cm Hello guys. Perhaps someone knows what this sickle could be used for? |
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#2 |
Lead Moderator European Armoury
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I don't know what it is for ... but i know it is very, very nice
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#3 |
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Location: Russia
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#4 |
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Nice little knife and probably meant for a specific use. In SE Asia, nicely decorated knives of this size were often used for chopping betel nuts. Did folks in Buchara chew betel? Probably not, I'm guessing.
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#5 | |
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As far as I know, betel was not chewed in Bukhara... |
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#6 |
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Thanks Mahratt. I would have been surprised if they did.
![]() It was used to cut something small and of consistent size judging from the semi-circular stain in the mid-section of the blade's edge. |
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#7 |
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Could be a sugar knife. Tea sugar and bling.
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#8 |
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#9 |
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Beautiful knife Mahratt! Something ceremonial? For cutting the umbilical cord? Or for harvesting something special? Only for thought-provoking impulses!
Regards, Detlef |
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#10 | |
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Russia
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Great versions. I don't know what the function of this knife is. I myself am very interested. That's why I turned to the collective mind of the forum ![]() |
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#11 |
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I dont know why, but i am thinking of cutting flowers. The forward curved blade, the size of it...
But only a intuition here... no proof or anything |
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#12 |
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Join Date: Jan 2012
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Circumcision?
Regards Richard |
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#13 |
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Seems like a rich man's tool. It is maybe analogous to a gentleman's silver budding knife, if not for the same purpose. Maybe for some sort of pruning? Was there a type of genteel plant husbandry there or vineyards? To me it does not appear designed for rigorous use.
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#14 |
EAAF Staff
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Location: Louisville, KY
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#15 |
Vikingsword Staff
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Richard, when I was going through Medical School we had this contraption called the "Little Trimmer."
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#16 |
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I thought about circumcision tool but they tend to be (at least the Jewish ones) a little more resembling a razor and in other tradition they are just sharp knives . I am intrigued, in any case, by the function of the rounded tip with a point wouldn't be, strictly speaking , associated to that purpose. It seems to be more akin to indeed something like a betel nut knife, but they don't have betel nut there.
The tip has , I believe, the function to be inserted in some hard spot or to pull on something has as to remove back or something like that. Like a small billhook |
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#17 |
Lead Moderator European Armoury
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May i ask you a question Dmitry. You are visibly sure that this knife is from Bukhara; did it come to you with no further info ?
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#18 |
Lead Moderator European Armoury
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Has already some of you guys commented on the handle being longer than the blade ? Interesting ... and noteworthy !
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#19 | |
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But since now I am seriously and deeply studying the armss and armor of the khanates of Central Asia, I am 200% sure that this small sickle is from Central Asia and, to be completely precise, it is undoubtedly from Bukhara (the decor of the sickle just "screams" about it) |
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#20 |
Lead Moderator European Armoury
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I get it.
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#21 |
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Opium knife, for scoring the Poppy head to collect the sap? Or to chop up the raw Opium.
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#22 | |
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The British museum has one (very much cruder though) which shows similarities One thought though....this below is a very crude and utilitarian blade the OP is a very much fancier blade, now the average opium farmer doesn't strike me as though they could afford (or want, it is a messy business) a blade that fancy! ![]() |
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#23 |
Lead Moderator European Armoury
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#24 |
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Yes, and it's way too long and heavy for such a job!
Regards, Kai |
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#25 | |
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Hello Fernando,
Quote:
It certainly looks like a strong grip was intended here! Regards, Kai |
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#26 | |
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Regards Richard |
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#27 |
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It is something for a rich man doing a job not requiring noticeable physical effort.
Sharpening quill pens? |
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#28 |
Lead Moderator European Armoury
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Wouldn't those be smaller tools ?
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#29 |
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the thing is that this hawkbill knife may not have had a special function at all.
Most probably its quality of execution far out-performs function. I don't think this had any ceremonial purpose and although grand, this was a simple utilitarian knife and , as suggested from its hawkbill shape, supposedly used in agricultural ( it is obviously meant to pry and or pull while cutting) context. |
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#30 | |
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I could not find images of Oriental quill sharpening. But I kind of agree with Milandro: while generally knives were created with a specific function in mind but in real life could have been used for many functions. |
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