Japanese WWII Side Knives?

laEspadaAncha · 13th December 2010, 11:21 PM

I recently acquired these from the estate of a deceased WWII vet. His widow said he brought these back from Japan, where he had served as part of the occupation force.

Does anybody here have any exposure to these single-bevel Japanese "theater" knives?

My understanding is these were purely utilitarian in purpose, though the spear point example does seem as if it would be rather functional as a fighting knife as well. The non-beveled reverse has a slight hollow grind (concave surface), and it measures over 3mm in thickness (the tanto-tipped knife measures approx. 3 1/2 mm) - on par with other contemporary side knives carried by both Axis and Allied soldiers as well as many of the hunting knives I have. Some cursory research returned several forms of Japanese single-bevel knives used in food preparation, though these don't seem to "neatly" fit into any described types (at least based on blade profile). Could the larger of the two be considered a katakiri-ha tanto?

I'm growing fond of these quickly. I'm so used to seeing katanas, waki's, tantos, and military pattern knives that it's refreshing to come across what appear to be "everyman" knives of Japanese origin.

laEspadaAncha · 14th December 2010, 02:49 AM

Here's pictures of the smaller knife's blade. Looks like a file knife, as if it was made from ground tool steel?

VANDOO · 14th December 2010, 04:19 AM

NOT MY FIELD BUT YOU MIGHT TAKE A LOOK AT JAPANESE KNIVES USED FOR WORKING ON BONSAI TREES SOME OF THEM RESEMBLE THESE ESPECIALY THE SMALLER ONE. GOOD LUCK

Battara · 14th December 2010, 04:37 AM

I think the smaller one is for marking wood when carving.

laEspadaAncha · 14th December 2010, 06:34 AM

Thanks Barry... seems the small one is a bonsai grafting knife. Jose, what did you mean by "marking wood" when carving? One down, one to go...

Rich · 14th December 2010, 12:52 PM

Neither are military knives. The top one is a gardening/bonsai knife; the lower one is a carpenter's knife used to mark and/or make precise cuts for wood working (I have two of them).

Rich S
-------------------------------------------------------
Richard Stein, PhD

Japanese Sword Guide
http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/nihonto.htm

"Never go anywhere without a knife"
- Leroy Jethro Gibbs
-------------------------------------------------------

13th December 2010, 11:21 PM	#1
laEspadaAncha Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 608	Japanese WWII Side Knives? I recently acquired these from the estate of a deceased WWII vet. His widow said he brought these back from Japan, where he had served as part of the occupation force. Does anybody here have any exposure to these single-bevel Japanese "theater" knives? My understanding is these were purely utilitarian in purpose, though the spear point example does seem as if it would be rather functional as a fighting knife as well. The non-beveled reverse has a slight hollow grind (concave surface), and it measures over 3mm in thickness (the tanto-tipped knife measures approx. 3 1/2 mm) - on par with other contemporary side knives carried by both Axis and Allied soldiers as well as many of the hunting knives I have. Some cursory research returned several forms of Japanese single-bevel knives used in food preparation, though these don't seem to "neatly" fit into any described types (at least based on blade profile). Could the larger of the two be considered a katakiri-ha tanto? I'm growing fond of these quickly. I'm so used to seeing katanas, waki's, tantos, and military pattern knives that it's refreshing to come across what appear to be "everyman" knives of Japanese origin.

14th December 2010, 02:49 AM	#2
laEspadaAncha Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 608	Here's pictures of the smaller knife's blade. Looks like a file knife, as if it was made from ground tool steel?

14th December 2010, 04:19 AM	#3
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	NOT MY FIELD BUT YOU MIGHT TAKE A LOOK AT JAPANESE KNIVES USED FOR WORKING ON BONSAI TREES SOME OF THEM RESEMBLE THESE ESPECIALY THE SMALLER ONE. GOOD LUCK

14th December 2010, 04:37 AM	#4
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,220	I think the smaller one is for marking wood when carving.

14th December 2010, 06:34 AM	#5
laEspadaAncha Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 608	Thanks Barry... seems the small one is a bonsai grafting knife. Jose, what did you mean by "marking wood" when carving? One down, one to go...

14th December 2010, 12:52 PM	#6
Rich Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: comfortably at home, USA Posts: 432	Neither are military knives. The top one is a gardening/bonsai knife; the lower one is a carpenter's knife used to mark and/or make precise cuts for wood working (I have two of them). Rich S ------------------------------------------------------- Richard Stein, PhD Japanese Sword Guide http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/nihonto.htm "Never go anywhere without a knife" - Leroy Jethro Gibbs -------------------------------------------------------