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					Originally Posted by fernando
					
				 
				Gentlemen, i'm afraid i am still far from solving this riddle. Somebody out there sugested it could be a flensing ( whaling) knife but, so far, no evidence shown. 
 
Thanks for the picture and the link, David. I am impressed with those endless poles, looking like they are composed of various sections tied to eachother. However decidedly not the sort of the piece i am questioning on, right ? 
 
Fernando 
			
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  Hi Fernando,
                   Flensing knives also have long handles. Wooden handled whaling implements often had the handles replaced regularly (salt water/moisture  damage) and therefore would only be 'crudely' made. However, yours is a socketted fitting sugesting that this indeed at some time the blade was mounted on a pole or longer handle. The lack of heavy pitting (seen on many whaling impliments) suggests little contact with the sea.
http://www.historyshelf.org/secf/whale/13.php
  The Malaysian Parang Ginah is often described as a sickle/sword perhaps your example is a similar implement (ie agricultural/weapon) or had a shorter handle fitted so it could be used as such
 Regards David
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