Intersting tool/weapon for discussion.
 

Any ideas as to what this thing is?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...524379892&rd=1

Dressed like a sword in (rose?)wood, rattan, and antler, and with a missing kozuka (?) perhaps it is on a forestry theme, and it resembles forestry tools, but then, does it not resemble the head taking sword? Does it look chisel bevelled to anyone else?

It is a KUBIKIRI or BOKUWARI or HANAKIRI (all different
names for same thing). See my
unusual tanto page for another example. This one is
unusually long; I suspect a bonsai or gardening
knife.

http://www.geocities.com/alchemyst/unji.htm

Rich S

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Richard Stein, PhD alchemyst@yahoo.com

The Japanese Sword Index
http://www.geocities.com/alchemyst/nihonto.htm
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I suspected as much, and was hoping you'd comment. Thanks, Rich.

I think this is called a nata. A japanese gardening or hunting knife. See Stone.

Agreed, some kind of a Nata, a Japanese knife used either for hunting or gardening. George Cameron Stone's glossary of Arms and Armor, fig. 591. In my edition it is on p467.

Sheath is quite long for one of these. Looks like a wakizashi.

Not that I know much about Japanese knives, just know who to ask. :cool: