Small sickle. Bukhara, 19th century

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 !

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

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.

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14th February 2023, 11:51 AM	#1
milandro Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Netherlands Posts: 474	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	#2
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	#3
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	#6
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	I get it.

14th February 2023, 10:08 PM	#7
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.