Strange piece back, for coments

[kahnjar1]

Originally Posted by LOUIEBLADES

That seems to be a banana knife I think? Saw something very similar in an old catalog some years back. Definately a farming tool.

Lew

I have had a look at Banana knives on Google and they all appear to be much lighter than this item. Also the ones shown are attached to a pole to reach the fruit. I am plugging for a weapon of some sort. The handle appears to have a groove to facilitate a retaining cord of some sort. A nice and very interesting item I hope that someone can identify it positively!
Regards Stuart

[fernando]

Thank you Stuart.
Besides the grooves, it also has a hole through the grip to pass a lanyard of some sort.
I wish i could spot somewhere one of these things, well identified, with either a short handle or a long haft, before i go bananas myself .
Fernando

[katana]

Hi Fernando,
here is a modern traditional banana knife

http://www.fao.org/inpho/content/doc.../ae615e031.htm

Kind Regards David

[fearn]

Hi David,

I think that modern "banana knife" is a kama.

Perhaps we're getting to the point where Fernando needs to go bananas? Actually, I didn't phrase that quite right--perhaps Fernando should find a banana to harvest with it? Banana plants are soft enough that it shouldn't harm the piece. Then, if we can't say that it was designed to cut bananas, at least we can say that it can harvest bananas.

F

[kahnjar1]

Originally Posted by fearn

Hi David,

I think that modern "banana knife" is a kama.

Perhaps we're getting to the point where Fernando needs to go bananas? Actually, I didn't phrase that quite right--perhaps Fernando should find a banana to harvest with it? Banana plants are soft enough that it shouldn't harm the piece. Then, if we can't say that it was designed to cut bananas, at least we can say that it can harvest bananas.

F

Excellent suggestion Fearn! If Fernando is afraid of going bananas , the strange item could possibly find a new home with me. I could call it DHA-BANANA-KNIFE!!
Stuart

[potapych]

Here are two pictures of modern banana knives; although the first pair seem another modified form of kama, the second is a dedicated banana knife. Fernando's specimen seems of a quite similar design to the latter, given that it is of decidedly superior craftsmanship and beautifully executed - almost to the point of overkill for an agricultural implement (Although, as you can also see, all things are possible ;-)

[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 ?

Now you have done it, Fearn; with such proposition, i am close from getting banana split .

I think you called it wrong, Stuart; you should better call it DHA-NANA knife .

Thank you Ray for the support pictures; i too have a tool like the one being used by the lady; only i never thaught of spliting coconuts with it.
... this reminds me that joke of the fabulous Theodor ... never mind

I hope that further sugestions pop up; they will certainly be welcome.

Fernando