Japanese WWII Side Knives?

[laEspadaAncha]

Hi Rich,

Thank you for the clarification - I was hoping you might spot this thread. I now better understand Jose's reply as well. Any idea what the kanji represent on either knife?

As mentioned in my OP, I'm still happy to have acquired a Japanese knife that is neither a tanto nor a military pattern dagger/dirk... While lacking the historical affiliation or importance one associates with a tanto, these are more closely related to the utility knives I myself often carry on my belt or clipped to my pocket.

Are older examples of these considered scarce by Japanese blade collectors? As many knives as I've encountered at flea markets, estate sales, shows, and auctions, these are the first examples I have encountered...

[Rich]

I'm not aware of anyone who actually collects these. Several sword collectors have picked them up as curios; I actually use mine down in the workshop.
Don't know how far back they were made, but suspect since the Japanese were/are excellent woodworkers, that they've been around a long time. I think the older ones were likely used up and discarded, but that's just speculation. I know the carpenter's knives are still being made and avialable thru several online dealers. Might check Google for Japanese wood working tools. Still a nice find and neat items to have.

Rich S

[laEspadaAncha]

I've done some checking myself since picking these up last weekend, and can't find any vintage or antique examples out there. As a blade collector, I find the single-bevel grind interesting... purely functional, it allows for a more acute cutting angle - something I imagine would be of considerable value to someone working wood or grafting a bonsai.

I remember watching a master chopstick maker working at a Japanese garden here in Balboa Park a couple years ago. He was working alongside an apprentice. While well aware of it, I was still impressed by the degree of specialization one encounters in Japanese society. This man was a master at his craft; he had devoted his entire professional life to it. And his craft was to make chopsticks. While I cannot recall the exact appearance of the knife he used to whittle the wood, I do recall wanting one.

It would be nice to be able to attribute these to a maker. As these are in no way related to nihonto, do you have any idea who might be able to translate the kanji for me?

[Rich]

I can't get your pic of the kanji to load completely. Imageshack stops and says "done" when only the top Kanji and part of the second are visible. They appear to be stamped rather than carved which would be a more current production. Not unusual, both of mine have stamped signatures. I suspect that given the relatively current vintage of mine and yours that the signatures are pretty meaningless. That is, while they may be a specific name, more than likely the items were factory production and just given a "factory man's" name. Just a guess on that, no solid proof.

Rich

[laEspadaAncha]

Hi Rich,

Thanks... Maybe I can email you the pics of the kanji? I agree, they are stamped, not carved, though the larger of the two was definitely hot-stamped, i.e., stamped while the metal was still soft.

Regards,

Chris