An interesting old Chamorro knife

not2sharp · 19th February 2006, 07:33 PM

The stamping on the blade reads "Tokyo Japan/ano bei" (italian for beautiful year)

Has anyone come across a similar knife or stamp.

n2s

Justin · 19th February 2006, 09:36 PM

It vaguely reminds me of these:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...=keeling+knife

There are also some knives from Guam that might be a closer match but working only from memory I think they are a little different,shorter and wider mainly.

not2sharp · 19th February 2006, 10:49 PM

Here are a few more examples. It is a fading art but there are still a few knifemakers producing these today. These are all from around or before WWII. The one with the star shaped rivets dates from the 1920s.

n2s

not2sharp · 9th April 2006, 08:58 AM

BTTT,

The markings on the original knife may read Tokyo Japan/5nd BEI; could that be read as Tokyo Japan 1905?

I am reading this as a Guam made knife produced for a sailor in 1905 ("5nd BEI" may provide a hint as to which flag this guy sailed under?)

n2s

Rich · 9th April 2006, 11:53 AM

Interestingly, I've seen a number of these on ebay being sold (without sheaths)
as Civil War bowie knives :-)

Rich S

Ian · 9th April 2006, 02:14 PM

The shape of these blades looks very much like mainland SE Asia general purpose knives. Take the riveted hilts off these, and replace with a piece of bamboo or hardwood (mounted blind tang) and a single ferrule to hold it tightly in place, and they would be typical working knives from Burma to Vietnam. This blade style has been around a long time in that region.

Perhaps some are Japanese copies post-WWII.

Has anyone etched these to see if they have a hardened edge?

Ian.

19th February 2006, 07:33 PM	#1
not2sharp Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 210	An interesting old Chamorro knife The stamping on the blade reads "Tokyo Japan/ano bei" (italian for beautiful year) Has anyone come across a similar knife or stamp. n2s

19th February 2006, 10:49 PM	#3
not2sharp Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 210	Here are a few more examples. It is a fading art but there are still a few knifemakers producing these today. These are all from around or before WWII. The one with the star shaped rivets dates from the 1920s. n2s Last edited by not2sharp; 19th February 2006 at 11:02 PM.

9th April 2006, 02:14 PM	#6
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,207	Blades look mainland SE Asian The shape of these blades looks very much like mainland SE Asia general purpose knives. Take the riveted hilts off these, and replace with a piece of bamboo or hardwood (mounted blind tang) and a single ferrule to hold it tightly in place, and they would be typical working knives from Burma to Vietnam. This blade style has been around a long time in that region. Perhaps some are Japanese copies post-WWII. Has anyone etched these to see if they have a hardened edge? Ian.

19th February 2006, 09:36 PM	#2
Justin Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 175	It vaguely reminds me of these: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...=keeling+knife There are also some knives from Guam that might be a closer match but working only from memory I think they are a little different,shorter and wider mainly.

9th April 2006, 08:58 AM	#4
not2sharp Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 210	BTTT, The markings on the original knife may read Tokyo Japan/5nd BEI; could that be read as Tokyo Japan 1905? I am reading this as a Guam made knife produced for a sailor in 1905 ("5nd BEI" may provide a hint as to which flag this guy sailed under?) n2s

9th April 2006, 11:53 AM	#5
Rich Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: comfortably at home, USA Posts: 432	Interestingly, I've seen a number of these on ebay being sold (without sheaths) as Civil War bowie knives :-) Rich S