Sickle knife

Sickle knife

　　The sickle knife resembles an oversized sickle. The root of the blade is about 10 centimeters wide, straight and gradually forming a gently inward-curving arc from the middle, narrowing toward the tip. It is over one meter long, thin and sharp-edged, with a slight arc-shaped ridge on the back of the blade. The part where the handle is attached consists of two iron hoops with screws. The handle is placed inside the hoops and secured tightly with screws. The middle to upper part of the handle is fixed with a “V”-shaped grip made of willow wood. The grip is not riveted or carved onto the handle but is instead bent and fitted onto the handle using freshly cut willow wood that has been boiled and shaped by hand. It is then securely bound at the top of the “V”-shaped grip with rope.

　　The sickle knife is mainly used for cutting grass and harvesting crops. Sharpening the sickle knife involves a unique method—rather than using a whetstone, it is honed by hammering. To sharpen the knife, its blade is placed on a small iron anvil, and a hammer is used to carefully tap along the edge. This method produces an exceptionally sharp blade with a slightly rounded, serrated edge, making it highly efficient for cutting grass and plants.