Strange piece back, for coments

[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

[katana]

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

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

.

[fearn]

Hi Fernando,

I may be prejudiced, but I know one or two things about cutting up whales. One of the big points is that, if it was used as a flensing knife, you could probably smell the dead whale on the blade. It's quite hard to get that smell off. Also, flensers are basically glaives, and they are sharpened on the outer curver (think oversized butcher knife).

Does this artifact qualify by smell? I'd gotten the impression that it was sharp on the inner curve.

Maybe it's a royal banana thwacker from some smaller kingdom somewhere.

F

[Billman]

Originally Posted by katana

Hi Fernando,
However, yours is a socketted fitting sugesting that this indeed at some time the blade was mounted on a pole or longer handle. Regards David.

Not all socketed tools had long handles, e.g. English billhooks with sockets from Kent, Hertfordshire and Rutland

Not all socketed tools had any handle fitted at all - the socket was the handle, e.g. French and Italian billhooks from the Alpine regions (Piemonte)...
also those from China and Medieval England: http://outils-anciens.xooit.fr/t1977...me-curieux.htm

Tools similar to this can be found in the collection of the Dutch Ethnographic Museum (Rijksmuseum) at Leiden: http://www.rijksmuseum.nl/collectie/