Chinese Fisherman's Knife

Curved horn in polished yellow tones with a little ring at one end for hanging.

This iron and brass fisherman's knife is from Dongbei or Shan Xi Province, China, and dates to the 19th century. Iron blades with brass fittings are a common combination in traditional tools, since brass resists rust and iron holds a sharp edge when it is properly forged and sharpened. Smoothly tapering, curved horn form in a warm yellow-toned finish with a few small raised dots near the middle. A dark band joins a loose circular ring at the thick end. It is 7.5 inches wide and 1.5 deep.

A tidy curve, with the shine of a thousand polishings.