Why is a bassoon classified as an oboe in the Sachs-Hornbostel system?

In the Sachs-Hornbostel system, instruments are classified based on their acoustical principles rather than their cultural or stylistic context. Within this system, wind instruments are categorized as aerophones, and those that use a reed to activate an air column are further divided into reedpipes.1

The system uses a broad, functional classification for these reed instruments: all instruments utilizing multiple reeds (double reeds) are generically classified as oboes, while those using a single reed are classified as clarinets. Because the bassoon employs a double reed to produce sound, it is categorized as an oboe under these specific technical criteria. This classification is an arbitrary, systematic approach designed for organizing museum collections and does not reflect the common orchestral terminology used by musicians.12