Stange Japanese knife/axe

[Aurangzeb]

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! :D 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]

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]

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]

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]

No new comments?

Mark...