Small aikuchi for comments

rumpel9 · 26th March 2021, 06:08 PM

Total length is 29 cm, blade length 13.5 cm.
Comments are welcome. It is also possible that someone will translate the signature on the tang.

kronckew · 26th March 2021, 07:11 PM

Is it still an aikuchi if it has an integral guard like this one? Is the grip loose when pegged? That tang redrilling/hole overlap looks like it'd be loose. Hopefully the habaki takes up the slack. Is the blade new, or has someone cleaned the tang?

mariusgmioc · 26th March 2021, 09:54 PM

This appears yo be a ken. But I cannot distinguish clearly the hamon so I wonder if it really is nihonto. The signature also looks strange, at least on one side.

The oxidation of the tang looks like fairly recent production. My guess would be Showa wartime.

I am not familiar with this type of koshirae but it definitely is not aikuchi. And most likely it is not Japanese.

PS: Maybe you should address this to a forum specialised in nihonto, like Nihonto Message Board.

Rich · 26th March 2021, 11:10 PM

Agreed, post it to Nihonto Message Board. Nice looking, possibly recent (Showa) ken blade. Previously mounted - two mekugi-ana,
One through part of mei. What is the koshirae made of? Never seen mounts like that.
Rich

pbleed · 26th March 2021, 11:35 PM

This is a KEN, it is dated 1874, and it appears to be signed Hozan but with the extra hole and the odd orientation I am a bit challenged. The mounts are terrific
Peter

David R · 27th March 2021, 01:45 AM

Nice to see a Japanese blade here. I look forward to seeing more about this one.

colin henshaw · 27th March 2021, 09:37 AM

A most interesting and unusual dagger. Japanese double-edged blades being less common than single-edged. Looking forward to hearing more about it.

26th March 2021, 06:08 PM	#1
rumpel9 Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 68	Small aikuchi for comments Total length is 29 cm, blade length 13.5 cm. Comments are welcome. It is also possible that someone will translate the signature on the tang. Attached Images

26th March 2021, 07:11 PM	#2
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,184	Is it still an aikuchi if it has an integral guard like this one? Is the grip loose when pegged? That tang redrilling/hole overlap looks like it'd be loose. Hopefully the habaki takes up the slack. Is the blade new, or has someone cleaned the tang?

26th March 2021, 09:54 PM	#3
mariusgmioc Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Austria Posts: 1,903	This appears yo be a ken. But I cannot distinguish clearly the hamon so I wonder if it really is nihonto. The signature also looks strange, at least on one side. The oxidation of the tang looks like fairly recent production. My guess would be Showa wartime. I am not familiar with this type of koshirae but it definitely is not aikuchi. And most likely it is not Japanese. PS: Maybe you should address this to a forum specialised in nihonto, like Nihonto Message Board.

26th March 2021, 11:10 PM	#4
Rich Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: comfortably at home, USA Posts: 432	Agreed, post it to Nihonto Message Board. Nice looking, possibly recent (Showa) ken blade. Previously mounted - two mekugi-ana, One through part of mei. What is the koshirae made of? Never seen mounts like that. Rich

26th March 2021, 11:35 PM	#5
pbleed Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Little Rock, Arkansas Posts: 88	This is a KEN, it is dated 1874, and it appears to be signed Hozan but with the extra hole and the odd orientation I am a bit challenged. The mounts are terrific Peter

27th March 2021, 01:45 AM	#6
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,079	Nice to see a Japanese blade here. I look forward to seeing more about this one.

27th March 2021, 09:37 AM	#7
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,430	A most interesting and unusual dagger. Japanese double-edged blades being less common than single-edged. Looking forward to hearing more about it.