Small sickle. Bukhara, 19th century

[JBG163]

I dont know why, but i am thinking of cutting flowers. The forward curved blade, the size of it...
But only a intuition here... no proof or anything

[Richard G]

Circumcision?
Regards
Richard

[Interested Party]

Seems like a rich man's tool. It is maybe analogous to a gentleman's silver budding knife, if not for the same purpose. Maybe for some sort of pruning? Was there a type of genteel plant husbandry there or vineyards? To me it does not appear designed for rigorous use.

[Battara]

Originally Posted by Richard G

Circumcision?
Regards
Richard

[Ian]

Originally Posted by Richard G

Circumcision?
Regards
Richard

Richard, when I was going through Medical School we had this contraption called the "Little Trimmer."

[milandro]

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]

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]

Has already some of you guys commented on the handle being longer than the blade ? Interesting ... and noteworthy !

[kai]

Hello Fernando,

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]

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]

I get it.

[Richard G]

Originally Posted by Ian

Richard, when I was going through Medical School we had this contraption called the "Little Trimmer."

And if not circumsizing it can trim cigars!
Regards
Richard

[ariel]

It is something for a rich man doing a job not requiring noticeable physical effort.
Sharpening quill pens?

[fernando]

Wouldn't those be smaller tools ?

[milandro]

the thing is that this hawkbill knife may not have had a special function at all.

Most probably its quality of execution far out-performs function.

I don't think this had any ceremonial purpose and although grand, this was a simple utilitarian knife and , as suggested from its hawkbill shape, supposedly used in agricultural ( it is obviously meant to pry and or pull while cutting) context.

[ariel]

Originally Posted by fernando

Wouldn't those be smaller tools ?

Here are 2 images of quill sharpening. The size of the sharpeners is quite consistent with the example posted here: full size handles and small blades.

I could not find images of Oriental quill sharpening. But I kind of agree with Milandro: while generally knives were created with a specific function in mind but in real life could have been used for many functions.