Small sickle. Bukhara, 19th century

mahratt · 12th February 2023, 06:40 PM

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?

fernando · 12th February 2023, 08:20 PM

I don't know what it is for ... but i know it is very, very nice

.

mahratt · 12th February 2023, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fernando

I don't know what it is for ... but i know it is very, very nice

.

Agree, very nice

Ian · 13th February 2023, 03:56 AM

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.

mahratt · 13th February 2023, 06:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian

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.

Hello, Ian.

As far as I know, betel was not chewed in Bukhara...

Ian · 13th February 2023, 07:37 AM

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.

Tim Simmons · 13th February 2023, 07:46 AM

Could be a sugar knife. Tea sugar and bling.

Teisani · 13th February 2023, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

Could be a sugar knife. Tea sugar and bling.

Wouldn't sugar be cut on a flat surface, hence the concave edge be counterproductive?

Sajen · 13th February 2023, 01:57 PM

Beautiful knife Mahratt! Something ceremonial? For cutting the umbilical cord? Or for harvesting something special? Only for thought-provoking impulses!

Regards,
Detlef

mahratt · 13th February 2023, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sajen

Beautiful knife Mahratt! Something ceremonial? For cutting the umbilical cord? Or for harvesting something special? Only for thought-provoking impulses!

Regards,
Detlef

Hello, Detlef

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

JBG163 · 13th February 2023, 07:40 PM

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

Richard G · 13th February 2023, 08:06 PM

Circumcision?
Regards
Richard

Interested Party · 13th February 2023, 08:52 PM

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.

Battara · 14th February 2023, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard G

Circumcision?
Regards
Richard

Ian · 14th February 2023, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard G

Circumcision?
Regards
Richard

Richard, when I was going through Medical School we had this contraption called the "Little Trimmer."

milandro · 14th February 2023, 11:51 AM

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

fernando · 14th February 2023, 01:43 PM

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 ?

fernando · 14th February 2023, 01:57 PM

Has already some of you guys commented on the handle being longer than the blade ? Interesting ... and noteworthy !

mahratt · 14th February 2023, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fernando

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 ?

Fernando, unfortunately I could not buy this knife. Too expensive for me.
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)

fernando · 14th February 2023, 02:45 PM

I get it.

David R · 14th February 2023, 10:08 PM

Opium knife, for scoring the Poppy head to collect the sap? Or to chop up the raw Opium.

milandro · 14th February 2023, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David R

Opium knife, for scoring the Poppy head to collect the sap? Or to chop up the raw Opium.

a very good possibility, having looked around on the internet there are some similar ones (and many different ones too), so it may very well be, the shape definitely looks like it may have been devised to score something is some way which would be coherent with a circular motion.

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!

fernando · 15th February 2023, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milandro

... 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!

I was going to say the same; no common farmer would go scoring poppy heads with such a high end piece.

kai · 15th February 2023, 01:26 PM

Yes, and it's way too long and heavy for such a job!

Regards,
Kai

kai · 15th February 2023, 01:30 PM

Hello Fernando,

Quote:

Has already some of you guys commented on the handle being longer than the blade ? Interesting ... and noteworthy !

IMHO, this makes sense for such a really small knife, especially if used for any heavy cutting.

It certainly looks like a strong grip was intended here!

Regards,
Kai

Richard G · 15th February 2023, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian

Richard, when I was going through Medical School we had this contraption called the "Little Trimmer."

And if not circumsizing it can trim cigars!
Regards
Richard

ariel · 15th February 2023, 05:20 PM

It is something for a rich man doing a job not requiring noticeable physical effort.
Sharpening quill pens?

fernando · 15th February 2023, 05:28 PM

Wouldn't those be smaller tools ?

milandro · 15th February 2023, 05:44 PM

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.

ariel · 15th February 2023, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fernando

Wouldn't those be smaller tools ?

Here are 2 images of quill sharpening. The size of the sharpeners is quite consistent with the example posted here: full size handles and small blades.

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.

12th February 2023, 06:40 PM	#1
mahratt Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Russia Posts: 1,042	Small sickle. Bukhara, 19th century 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? Attached Images

12th February 2023, 08:20 PM	#2
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	I don't know what it is for ... but i know it is very, very nice .

13th February 2023, 03:56 AM	#4
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,207	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.

13th February 2023, 07:37 AM	#6
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,207	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.

13th February 2023, 07:46 AM	#7
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Could be a sugar knife. Tea sugar and bling.

13th February 2023, 01:57 PM	#9
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,791	Beautiful knife Mahratt! Something ceremonial? For cutting the umbilical cord? Or for harvesting something special? Only for thought-provoking impulses! Regards, Detlef

13th February 2023, 07:40 PM	#11
JBG163 Member Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: France Posts: 207	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

13th February 2023, 08:06 PM	#12
Richard G Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 406	Circumcision? Regards Richard

13th February 2023, 08:52 PM	#13
Interested Party Member Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: Eastern Sierra Posts: 478	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.

14th February 2023, 11:51 AM	#16
milandro Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Netherlands Posts: 477	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

14th February 2023, 01:43 PM	#17
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	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 ?

14th February 2023, 01:57 PM	#18
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Has already some of you guys commented on the handle being longer than the blade ? Interesting ... and noteworthy !

14th February 2023, 02:45 PM	#20
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	I get it.

14th February 2023, 10:08 PM	#21
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,079	Opium knife, for scoring the Poppy head to collect the sap? Or to chop up the raw Opium.

15th February 2023, 01:26 PM	#24
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,254	Yes, and it's way too long and heavy for such a job! Regards, Kai

15th February 2023, 05:20 PM	#27
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	It is something for a rich man doing a job not requiring noticeable physical effort. Sharpening quill pens?

15th February 2023, 05:28 PM	#28
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Wouldn't those be smaller tools ?

15th February 2023, 05:44 PM	#29
milandro Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Netherlands Posts: 477	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.