Nibness is endless, apparently!

I haven't read ALL the responses on this subject - there is only so much 
time available even to one retired and recovering from hip replacement 
surgery; however, I'm going to pose my question and risk being 
castigated for being less than diligent following threads.

Has anyone posited the possibility that the nib had something to do with 
measurement?

I find functionality for marking the nearing end of a stroke to be, 
well, not credible.  I can't imagine even a first-day apprentice using 
it for such.  Likewise, pure ornamentation seems very unlikely given the 
additional labor - ergo costs - associated with its manufacture.  Some 
function must have been involved in either its use or manufacture, and 
perhaps that function was vestigial and copied per custom; but I can't 
imagine any use having to do with the cutting operations that the 
handsaw performs.  If it were handy for making some arcane measurement, 
perhaps the conundrum would be resolved and a functional use found more 
reasonable.  Could the distance from the outer nib to the handle perhaps 
be a cubit?

I have no basis in fact to support this notion.  It is pure fantasy on 
my part. 

Bob Hutchins, who couldn't resist joining a porch conversation as long 
and persistent as this
Temple, TX, USA

------------------------------------------------------------------------