Strange piece back, for coments

[Lew]

Fernando

Your example has a pretty thick cross section so to me it is more a weapon than farm tool. I had one of these years ago but the blade was whimpy compared to yours.

Lew

[fearn]

Hi Fernando,

I'm happy calling it a "sickle" (arit), but I'm not sure that being heavier means it's primarily a weapon. There are major variations in the weights of farm tools, with heavier ones being used for heavier work (for instance grass cutting vs. vine cutting vs. brush cutting vs. wood cutting). An example of this is seen in The Wikipedia article on billhooks, not that I think you have a billhook exactly.

Just to give you a comparison, all of my kukris weigh more than your arit, and they're all designed for wood cutting.

F

[fernando]

Thank you Lew. That's the sort of reasoning i have been inclined to subscribe, untill reasonable evidence shows otherwise.

Thank you Fearn. I see your point/s.
But let me divagate a little.
We know that the sickle (BTW in portuguese "foice" from latin falx), although primarily an agricultural implement, has allways been associated to weaponry. During middle ages it was one of the main resources of the infantry "pawns" that were gathered among agricultural people, who used to adapt long hafts to these implements, to achieve an economic weapon. I can realize that evolution of such situation took people to strenghten the sickles that were meant for combat, making them become exclusive weapons, instead of dual use devices.
... lately i read somewhere that arits also suffered such modifications.
At same time it appears that sickles were in the origin of European halberds.
I find that, at least in the Portuguese universe, hooks and billhooks belong to the sickle family, with variations more dedicated to tough cutting and pruning ( podão and podoa, from podar=to prune).
What stops me to conclude that my specimen is simply an agricultural tool, is that i didn't yet find another example to prove (me) so, with the agravation that i don't have enough "luggage" to associate all that i have seen (or been shown) so far, with my piece.
The blades i see out there, all have a different blade aproach, often with a more acute (closed) angle, together with other details ... socketing system, etc.
I see it that, being this an agricultural tool, or whatever, must be very specific of a determined region, as it doesn't fit into any generical situation ... at least to my unexperienced eyes.
I hope some of what i just said makes any sense.
Fernando

[Rick]

Fernando, is the back edge of this article partially sharpened ?
Does a sickle need a back edge ?

Can it cut both ways ?
If it can; my money's on it being a weapon in the arit clurit class ..

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Rick

Fernando, is the back edge of this article partially sharpened ?
Does a sickle need a back edge ?
Can it cut both ways ?
If it can; my money's on it being a weapon in the arit clurit class ..

Thank you for coming in, Rick
1 - No, on the contrary, its back is rather thick and squary all the way to its tip ... with the due tapering.
2 - I think i see what you mean .
3 - You mean back and forth, with the same edge ? i don't see why not ... actually i think it could even do some thrust, BTW; its angle is rather slight.
4 - That being your bet, I will add some of my money to it. Wish us luck
Fernando

[kronckew]

just saw this in a friend's collection: (2nd one down)



i immediately thought of fernando's piece.

owner refers to it as an arit...

[fernando]

Outstanding Wayne!
... after over two years !
How could you remember this ?
An arit, no doubt; this time also the socket speaks for itself.
Thank you very much indeed