Stange Japanese knife/axe

Aurangzeb · 7th February 2007, 01:45 AM

Hello All!

I recently bought this knife of Therion Arms. It was identified as a early 20th century Japanese forestry knife. Is their a proper name for this type of knife? It is 18" overall with a 11" blade that is razor sharp. It's not really a weapon but if the situation came up any thing is a weapon!

Any comments are welcome!

Mark...

P.S.-can anyone please translate the coins in the pictures, if clearer pictures are needed I can provide them. Thanks!

M ELEY · 8th February 2007, 09:30 AM

Hmmm... It seems to me that this piece is a variation of Japanese nata, or gardening tool. This might explain the strange title of "forestry knife". They are tools, but in a scuffle, I guess it would be better than nothing (think "straight razor" in a street fight). The handle is right-on, but the blades on nata are typically shaped more like a chopper.

tsubame1 · 8th February 2007, 10:19 AM

I concur with M.Eley.
The therm "Nata" has a quiet large meaning as regards shape of blade and is sometimes misused for a type of Tanto (Kubikiri) that was used to severe the heads of the enemy for later display, that has a shape vaguely similar to your blade, that IMHO is still a tool and not a weapon.
The following first is called Nata, the second I'm not so sure...

Aurangzeb · 14th February 2007, 10:33 PM

Hello All!

So this is a Japanese Nata/Kubikiri. How old could it be? Could this knife have been longer once then later cut down into it's odd shape? I forgot to mention that it has a large single fuller on the "flat" side. Could there be a makers mark under the handle?

Mark...

Aurangzeb · 16th February 2007, 08:45 PM

No new comments?

Mark...

7th February 2007, 01:45 AM	#1
Aurangzeb Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 306	Stange Japanese knife/axe Hello All! I recently bought this knife of Therion Arms. It was identified as a early 20th century Japanese forestry knife. Is their a proper name for this type of knife? It is 18" overall with a 11" blade that is razor sharp. It's not really a weapon but if the situation came up any thing is a weapon! Any comments are welcome! Mark... P.S.-can anyone please translate the coins in the pictures, if clearer pictures are needed I can provide them. Thanks! Attached Images Last edited by Aurangzeb; 7th February 2007 at 03:29 AM.

8th February 2007, 10:19 AM	#3
tsubame1 Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Magenta, Northern Italy Posts: 123	I concur with M.Eley. The therm "Nata" has a quiet large meaning as regards shape of blade and is sometimes misused for a type of Tanto (Kubikiri) that was used to severe the heads of the enemy for later display, that has a shape vaguely similar to your blade, that IMHO is still a tool and not a weapon. The following first is called Nata, the second I'm not so sure... Attached Images

14th February 2007, 10:33 PM	#4
Aurangzeb Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 306	Hello All! So this is a Japanese Nata/Kubikiri. How old could it be? Could this knife have been longer once then later cut down into it's odd shape? I forgot to mention that it has a large single fuller on the "flat" side. Could there be a makers mark under the handle? Mark... Last edited by Aurangzeb; 15th February 2007 at 04:21 AM.

8th February 2007, 09:30 AM	#2
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,089	Hmmm... It seems to me that this piece is a variation of Japanese nata, or gardening tool. This might explain the strange title of "forestry knife". They are tools, but in a scuffle, I guess it would be better than nothing (think "straight razor" in a street fight). The handle is right-on, but the blades on nata are typically shaped more like a chopper.

16th February 2007, 08:45 PM	#5
Aurangzeb Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 306	No new comments? Mark...