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#1 |
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 210
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This small knife has been in my collection for some time. I would like when it was likely made and whether it is consistent with known Japanese knives.
n2s |
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#2 |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: The Sharp end
Posts: 2,928
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"Welease the Kwaiken"
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#3 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: comfortably at home, USA
Posts: 432
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I don't believe this is a kwaiken - Japanese ladies sleeve tanto. I think it is a WW II officer's dirk; unfortunately in rather poor condition.
Rich S ------------------------------------------------------- Richard Stein, PhD Japanese Sword Guide http://japaneseswordindex.com/nihonto.htm "Never go anywhere without a knife" - Leroy Jethro Gibbs ------------------------------------------------------- |
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#4 | |
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 210
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Rich,
Thanks for the input. I have found remarkably little information on these knives or any other antique Japanese knives online. n2s Quote:
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#5 | |
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 210
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I am familiar with the officer's navy dirks which look very different. Would this have been an Army officer's dirk?
n2s Quote:
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#6 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: comfortably at home, USA
Posts: 432
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Yes, most likely an army officer's dirk. See my website for examples:
Japanese Sword Guide http://japaneseswordindex.com/nihonto.htm Go to the Japanese military dirks page. Rich |
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#7 |
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 385
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This type knife is referred to as an "Aikuchi" which is a dagger without a guard. Kwaiken is styled differently, and intended to be carried by women. These are often called "Kamikazi daggers", and are of the style carried by them. Your example is of better quality than most, and may be worthy of a polish. WWII era, or before. The leather cover denotes combat carry. As there was no regulation dagger for army officers, many of these were carried. Lots of these were given to departing soldiers by their mothers, grandmothers, etc. With a whispering in the ear of "Return victorious, or not at all" Nice piece.
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#8 |
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 210
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Here are some additional photos of the OP knife.
n2s |
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#9 |
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 385
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Ooh, didn't see the pitting in the first photo. No, not a polish candidate. Looks like it bathed in something caustic, and was cleaned up. Still, it is an interesting, and historic piece.
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#10 | |
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 210
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n2s |
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#11 |
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Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: USA
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Fyi, there is not a lot of information available about kwaiken, Wikipedia has an article with all the basic information and references.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaiken_(dagger) A kwaiken is just a small blade in a basic mount with very little or no fittings. |
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#12 |
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Room 101, Glos. UK
Posts: 4,168
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estcrh, that looks like a yari spearpoint mounted as a dagger. what i'd call a tombak/lading terus if it were indonesian. like this:
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#13 | |
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Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: USA
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