Sharper than an Indian sword

[Jens Nordlunde]

It is said the pen is sharper than a sword, and maybe it is. Here is a scribers knife – an Ezhuthaani in Tamil. It is late 18th to early 19th century, with the grip scales in ivory.

The blade is to cut the palm leaves in the correct size, and the pointed part is used for writing on the leaves. A real beauty, and the size folded is only 8.2 cm.