Persian Dagger

[RAMBA]

Originally Posted by Ian

This is a beautiful small knife. I think it may well be older than 19th C as the blade seems to be wootz. Such a small knife could be a dagger, but its appearance looks more ceremonial to me. The blade does not follow traditional Persian weapons. What comes to mind is a circumcision knife. Circumcision was introduced into Persia at the same time as Islam. Other surgical purposes, such as cutting for urinary stones, might also fit. The shape of the hilt resembles some 18/19th C. European surgical scalpels.

Persian arms are not my area of specific interest, so just a guess.

I question the 19th C attribution and believe also it is earlier. Or parts of it. I was thinking a sacrificial knife to cut the throat of an animal from behind.