An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c24.s1.3

v1.c24.s1.3

*19.1.3 Knives.* It is sometimes difficult to distinguish between a knife and a dagger, but the basic function of a knife is to sever and that of a dagger to thrust. Those that can be regarded as cutting weapons and therefore as knives can be divided into: (1) broad leaf-shaped blade (Mackay, 1938, pls. CXV, 11, CXVII, 9, CXIX, 5, CXX, 4, 5, 10, 11, etc.), the commonest type, in some cases a copper strip wrapped round the short tang in order to thicken it; (2) leaf-shaped blade with a curved tip, the only example being from Harappa (*ASI-AR 1926-7*, pl. XXII, 4, 5); (3) narrow and straight, comparatively small in size, the edges narrow and parallel and the blades shwoing signs of repeated sharpening; (4) triangular with upturned points, one from Harappa (*ASI-AR 1926-7*, pl. XXII, 12) and two from Mohenjodaro (Mackay, 1938, pls. CXX, 22, 23, CXXII, 4, 5), perhaps used for cutting leather; (5) broad curved-edged, three specimens coming from Mohenjo-daro, the tang riveted to the blade, one (Mackay, 1938, pl. CXXX, 23) still having a handle of wood, *Dalbergia sissu* Roxb., sticking to it; (6) narrow curved-edged, five specimens from Mohenjo-daro (Mackay, 1938, pls. CXIX, 3, CXX, 24, CXXII, 2, 3, CXXX, 22, 27), their backs straight and edges slightly curved; (7) hollow-backed, one specimen from Mohenjo-daro (Mackay, 1938, pl. CXX, 13), with a thick concave back from which it gradually fines down towards the convex edge; and (8) double-curved, again a single specimen from Mohenjo-daro (Mackay, 1938, pl. CXX, 14).