New African (?) sickle knife

colin henshaw · 27th November 2010, 01:44 PM

Unusual piece - I have never seen one like it. The iron round the handle near the blade appears on some small Chokwe knives, and holes in the blade are not uncommon on Congo weapons, as are the brass studs...

Regards.

Luc LEFEBVRE · 27th November 2010, 05:31 PM

No idea, sorry.
Maybe more a tool than a weapon ?

Lew · 28th November 2010, 04:35 AM

Freddy

That blade seems quite thick for an African blade even kukri like in appearance? Do you think this was converted from some other knife or tool? Still I like it,very cool

ronpakis · 28th November 2010, 04:32 PM

hi freddy,

it reminds me of a javanese tool for cutting crops, kudi type. should be found in different books on this matter. zonneveld?

greets ron

fearn · 28th November 2010, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lew

Freddy

That blade seems quite thick for an African blade even kukri like in appearance? Do you think this was converted from some other knife or tool? Still I like it,very cool

Hi Lew,

Wasn't there a thread back in the mists that talked about old African weapons being thick and fully functional?

To me, that handle looks African, but who knows? We're in a global world, and maybe an African artist got inspired by something he saw in a Korean factory...

Anyway, I'm not bothered by a thick blade.

Best,

F

Lew · 28th November 2010, 05:52 PM

Fearn

The hilt seems to be from an old 19th century tool so maybe this was converted into the knife we see here today. Luc also can not place it and he has probably seen them all

Freddy · 28th November 2010, 07:59 PM

Thanks for the input, guys.

The blade is 8 mm thick near the handle.

I've examined this piece this weekend and although the handle looks African, the blade doesn't. It just doesn't feel 'African'.

And yeah, the blade is a bit shaped like a kukri....and very sharp.

The ferule between the handle and the blade is not new. Judging from the patina, it has been there quite some time.

Could be a tool, but could also be a weapon. Why would anyone bother to embellish the handle of his tool with nails ?

Weight of this piece is just over 700 grams.

Henk · 28th November 2010, 09:15 PM

My first feeling was a sickle shaped indonesian weapon. A clurit. I googled on clurit and found clurit with holes in the blade. The piece gives me an oriental feeling.

David · 29th November 2010, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddy

Could be a tool, but could also be a weapon. Why would anyone bother to embellish the handle of his tool with nails ?

I would think that the nails increase the grip on the handle. I also wouldn't bank on the "cross" at the end having anything to do with Christianity. Sometimes a cross pattern is just a cross pattern. Even if it were meant to be symbolic the design is one of the oldest in existence and could pertain to many things.
The blade does look S.E. Asian to me.

28th November 2010, 04:32 PM	#4
ronpakis Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: netherlands Posts: 75	cickle knife hi freddy, it reminds me of a javanese tool for cutting crops, kudi type. should be found in different books on this matter. zonneveld? greets ron

27th November 2010, 01:44 PM	#1
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,429	Unusual piece - I have never seen one like it. The iron round the handle near the blade appears on some small Chokwe knives, and holes in the blade are not uncommon on Congo weapons, as are the brass studs... Regards.

27th November 2010, 05:31 PM	#2
Luc LEFEBVRE Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: France Posts: 473	No idea, sorry. Maybe more a tool than a weapon ?

28th November 2010, 04:35 AM	#3
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Freddy That blade seems quite thick for an African blade even kukri like in appearance? Do you think this was converted from some other knife or tool? Still I like it,very cool

28th November 2010, 05:52 PM	#6
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Fearn The hilt seems to be from an old 19th century tool so maybe this was converted into the knife we see here today. Luc also can not place it and he has probably seen them all

28th November 2010, 07:59 PM	#7
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Thanks for the input, guys. The blade is 8 mm thick near the handle. I've examined this piece this weekend and although the handle looks African, the blade doesn't. It just doesn't feel 'African'. And yeah, the blade is a bit shaped like a kukri....and very sharp. The ferule between the handle and the blade is not new. Judging from the patina, it has been there quite some time. Could be a tool, but could also be a weapon. Why would anyone bother to embellish the handle of his tool with nails ? Weight of this piece is just over 700 grams.

28th November 2010, 09:15 PM	#8
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	My first feeling was a sickle shaped indonesian weapon. A clurit. I googled on clurit and found clurit with holes in the blade. The piece gives me an oriental feeling.