I don't know the purpose of the tang done this way. It is 4" long and 1/2" thick. The end is squared off, like it could be inserted into a hollow handle but this is atypical of normal tang construction and mounting. I had thought perhaps it was a polearm blade of some sorts but again a different type of tang than you typically find on those. Perhaps some of the utilitarian type knives utilized a thick tang like this for real heavy use and it was inserted into a long handle with hollow end and then somehow wrapped or secured but it is hard to say whether or not this piece has ever been mounted. A real curio.
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