Little knife to identificate, please

[carlos]

This knife belongs to a friend of internet , he bought it sevaral years ago in a antique shop ,and now he ask me about information about knife, the scabbard seems ivory, maybe oriental? total length 15 cm.
thanks in advance
carlos

[Rich]

The knife is Japanese. Most likely a paper knife or a tourist item. Nicely carved saya (scabbard). I would suspect it is Meiji or Showa era. A nice piece.

Rich S
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Richard Stein, PhD

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

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