What is this?
 

My latest arrival - can anyone tell me anything about it?

I guess it is a modern Chinese creation......

Ariel, it could be but I think that is hard to tell from these pics. Would it be possible to get better shots of the handle, fittings and markings on the blade? Also, what is it's length? I have some thoughts but need better pics to form an opinion.

Mor Pix
 

It's Jerry, not Ariel :)

Here are the additional pictures:


http://mysite.verizon.net/res06stf/mvc-344f.jpg
http://mysite.verizon.net/res06stf/mvc-345f.jpg
http://mysite.verizon.net/res06stf/mvc-346f.jpg
http://mysite.verizon.net/res06stf/mvc-347f.jpg
http://mysite.verizon.net/res06stf/mvc-348f.jpg
http://mysite.verizon.net/res06stf/mvc-349f.jpg

Yet even more pix
 

pictures deleted

I'm very sorry for you but it is a brandnew imitation of a tanto, the japanese dagger. As far as I can judge it, the fittings are moulded and it is indeed probably made in China.

Agreed. It's quite possible the blade is not steel; will a magnet stick to it? It looks like a weak cast metal used on many decorator "Japanese" swords.

ROFL
 

:o :o :o :o :o :o
Thank you all for your information. I guess the joke's on me. :rolleyes:
All of my other swords were attracted to a magnet, puting the lie to the old myth that a magnet wouldn't stick to stainless so it never occured to me to try it even though I was suspicious of the brightness of the blade. Sure enough <smacks forehead> it is about as attracted to a magnet as a frog of the amphibous persuasion. Now it can join my "Ninja Sword Set" in hiding.

For Sale
Genuine counterfit Chinese imitation japanese tanto. Contact Owa Tanna Siam.

Don't feel so bad, Jerry. That knife happens to appeal to my personal aesthetic quite nicely. It is what it is, and would probably wind up on my desk as a letter opener or paperweight. :)

The blade looks like the zinc alloy commonly seen on iaito (and, of course, many of the decorative Japanese-style swords sold in mall cutlery stores across the US).

Is your avatar a dha? Nice looking - is there a big pic available?

Want to trade? ;)

Yup, it's a dha. Here's a link to the Oriental-Arms sold page.

http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=1192

I'm going to hold onto this one. :)