Japanese Knife Blade

sabertasche · 10th September 2010, 06:38 PM

Hi all, I won this small blade on ebay thinking that it was a kozuka blade. It was labled as a "ninja knife". Despite the lable and poor photos, I put in a low bid and won the auction. What arrived in the mail is a bit of a mystery. The construction is quite facinating despite its' small size. I believe it is too thick to fit a kozuka handle and the blade too wide to fit in a saya. It appears to have a hamon or at least a hardened edge.

It looks Japanese but as to its purpose, I have no idea. I am Intrigued by the "rat tail" tang, it must fit on to some form of handle. Has anyone else seen a similar blade? I'm hoping a more learned collector can shed some light on my newest "ninja knife."

Regards,

Greg

Rich · 10th September 2010, 07:25 PM

I've played with all sorts of Japanese edged weapons, tools, etc for about 30 years - never seen anything like this. Not sure it is Japanese; not sure it isn't :-)

Rich S
-------------------------------------------------------
Richard Stein, PhD
Old Puukkophile
NKCA Life Member

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

sabertasche · 10th September 2010, 07:32 PM

Thanks Rich, the blade is flat on one side and beveled on the other. What is the technical term for this in a Japanese context?

Greg

Lew · 10th September 2010, 07:57 PM

What you have here is a puukko blade from Finland.

http://www.hankala.com/suomi/kayttop/lastu.htm

Rich · 10th September 2010, 08:37 PM

No, sorry, not a Finnish Puukko. I have lots of them, about 300 vintage and a few modern ones, and they never have one flat side. Hankala's Lastu puukko is diamond cross section. The proper Japanese term for blades flat on one side - katakiri-ha if I recall correctly.

Rich S

-------------------------------------------------------
Richard Stein, PhD
Old Puukkophile
NKCA Life Member

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

fearn · 11th September 2010, 02:39 AM

I've got several American production blades that are single-beveled. It's cheaper to produce them that way.

That twisty, pointed handle makes me start thinking that it's either a special-use tool, or alternatively, it was an art project by a blacksmith.

Best,

F

10th September 2010, 06:38 PM	#1
sabertasche Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 149	Japanese Knife Blade Hi all, I won this small blade on ebay thinking that it was a kozuka blade. It was labled as a "ninja knife". Despite the lable and poor photos, I put in a low bid and won the auction. What arrived in the mail is a bit of a mystery. The construction is quite facinating despite its' small size. I believe it is too thick to fit a kozuka handle and the blade too wide to fit in a saya. It appears to have a hamon or at least a hardened edge. It looks Japanese but as to its purpose, I have no idea. I am Intrigued by the "rat tail" tang, it must fit on to some form of handle. Has anyone else seen a similar blade? I'm hoping a more learned collector can shed some light on my newest "ninja knife." Regards, Greg Attached Images Last edited by sabertasche; 10th September 2010 at 06:50 PM. Reason: addining smaller pics

10th September 2010, 08:37 PM	#5
Rich Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: comfortably at home, USA Posts: 432	No, sorry, not a Finnish Puukko. I have lots of them, about 300 vintage and a few modern ones, and they never have one flat side. Hankala's Lastu puukko is diamond cross section. The proper Japanese term for blades flat on one side - katakiri-ha if I recall correctly. Rich S ------------------------------------------------------- Richard Stein, PhD Old Puukkophile NKCA Life Member Japanese Sword Guide http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/nihonto.htm Last edited by Rich; 10th September 2010 at 08:46 PM. Reason: i can't spell

10th September 2010, 07:25 PM	#2
Rich Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: comfortably at home, USA Posts: 432	I've played with all sorts of Japanese edged weapons, tools, etc for about 30 years - never seen anything like this. Not sure it is Japanese; not sure it isn't :-) Rich S ------------------------------------------------------- Richard Stein, PhD Old Puukkophile NKCA Life Member Japanese Sword Guide http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/nihonto.htm -------------------------------------------------------

10th September 2010, 07:32 PM	#3
sabertasche Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 149	Thanks Rich, the blade is flat on one side and beveled on the other. What is the technical term for this in a Japanese context? Greg

10th September 2010, 07:57 PM	#4
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	What you have here is a puukko blade from Finland. http://www.hankala.com/suomi/kayttop/lastu.htm

11th September 2010, 02:39 AM	#6
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	I've got several American production blades that are single-beveled. It's cheaper to produce them that way. That twisty, pointed handle makes me start thinking that it's either a special-use tool, or alternatively, it was an art project by a blacksmith. Best, F