Some other miniature stuff

knife7knut · 22nd April 2005, 12:36 AM

This knife I had submitted pictures of to Rich Stein.I had purchsed it quite a few years ago for a few dollars and thought at first it was a letter opener(which I was collecting at the time).
Upon closer examination,I realized that if it was a letteropener,it was a very well-made example.The handle is pinned to the blade with a tiny ivory pin(which is removeable but the blade won't release from the handle and I don't want to force it),the blade shows evidence of layering and is signed.
I was told it was a Kwaiken and a pretty nice example.I am enclosing a few pictures of it for your viewing.
Cheers
Ray

tom hyle · 1st May 2005, 12:53 PM

A miniature pikebreaking sword; dagger size, or maybe shortsword (yes, I do forget which

) looks like cast iron; closed ebay auction #7316213487.

tom hyle · 1st May 2005, 01:07 PM

Knife7knut. Not only grain, but I think I see either a hardening line or an inlaid edge (both are possible on Japanese work). This swelltipped sheath is AFAIK derived of naginata sheaths. The handle mirrors it to some degree. What of the inlays? MOP for the round ones? The stripes? Aluminum? I've had a nice old Japanese letter opener shaped like a dagger, and it was traditionally shaped, and seemed to show some grain on the tang, but was not hardened steel. From Japan, as from many countries, of course, BTW, letter openers would be largely for native use, and though not true weapons, also are not neccessarily tourist pieces though that's a common lumping. Traditionally literate nations......

Naga Sasra · 1st May 2005, 06:31 PM

Quite an interesting thread, I wanted to just add a small representation from Malaysia and Indonesia, together with a few other areas that I have picked up over the years, most of them were made as pins while others was letter openers.

knife7knut · 1st May 2005, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom hyle

Knife7knut. Not only grain, but I think I see either a hardening line or an inlaid edge (both are possible on Japanese work). This swelltipped sheath is AFAIK derived of naginata sheaths. The handle mirrors it to some degree. What of the inlays? MOP for the round ones? The stripes? Aluminum? I've had a nice old Japanese letter opener shaped like a dagger, and it was traditionally shaped, and seemed to show some grain on the tang, but was not hardened steel. From Japan, as from many countries, of course, BTW, letter openers would be largely for native use, and though not true weapons, also are not neccessarily tourist pieces though that's a common lumping. Traditionally literate nations......

The dot inlays appear to be made of lead or some other relatively soft metal.You can score it with your fingernail.The light colored rings appear to be ivory(under a glass a definite,"layering"is observed)and between them are what appears to be a black polished horn.I at first thought it was synthetic,but upon rubbing it briskly,it gave off no tell-tale odor.
At first I could not discern a grain,but when using a more powerful glass detected a vertical grain(when looking at the ends that abut each other)and a grain parallel to the horizontal axis of the knife.Unusual in that although the grain is present there is virtually no color differentiation that I can see.
The tiny pin and the bushing where preumably a tie went through is made of ivory also. Thanks for your input.
Ray

archer · 30th May 2005, 12:22 AM

I too seem to lean toward smaller knives and Ebay has helped my
addiction. All of these items are probably smaller than their normal counterparts.

Archer

22nd April 2005, 12:36 AM	#1
knife7knut Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 31	Another Miniature(?) This knife I had submitted pictures of to Rich Stein.I had purchsed it quite a few years ago for a few dollars and thought at first it was a letter opener(which I was collecting at the time). Upon closer examination,I realized that if it was a letteropener,it was a very well-made example.The handle is pinned to the blade with a tiny ivory pin(which is removeable but the blade won't release from the handle and I don't want to force it),the blade shows evidence of layering and is signed. I was told it was a Kwaiken and a pretty nice example.I am enclosing a few pictures of it for your viewing. Cheers Ray Attached Images

1st May 2005, 12:53 PM	#2
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	zwiehander A miniature pikebreaking sword; dagger size, or maybe shortsword (yes, I do forget which ) looks like cast iron; closed ebay auction #7316213487.

1st May 2005, 06:31 PM	#4
Naga Sasra Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Boca Raton, Florida, USA Posts: 108	Quite an interesting thread, I wanted to just add a small representation from Malaysia and Indonesia, together with a few other areas that I have picked up over the years, most of them were made as pins while others was letter openers. Attached Images

30th May 2005, 12:22 AM	#6
archer Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 373	some other miniture stuff I too seem to lean toward smaller knives and Ebay has helped my addiction. All of these items are probably smaller than their normal counterparts. Archer Attached Images

1st May 2005, 01:07 PM	#3
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	Knife7knut. Not only grain, but I think I see either a hardening line or an inlaid edge (both are possible on Japanese work). This swelltipped sheath is AFAIK derived of naginata sheaths. The handle mirrors it to some degree. What of the inlays? MOP for the round ones? The stripes? Aluminum? I've had a nice old Japanese letter opener shaped like a dagger, and it was traditionally shaped, and seemed to show some grain on the tang, but was not hardened steel. From Japan, as from many countries, of course, BTW, letter openers would be largely for native use, and though not true weapons, also are not neccessarily tourist pieces though that's a common lumping. Traditionally literate nations......