[Pitt1999]

Today I bring to your attention a possible first to the forum, what I believe to be an Okinawan/Ryukyuan Yamanaji. Supposedly used in a manner similar to the mainland Japanese Nata, as a hatchet or woodsman's knife, while also being used as a general utility knife. I got this on eBay back in August of last year but didn't think it would spark much interest so I neglected to make a thread regarding it. I began to research (looking for photos of similar examples while on my lunch break) and found that knives of this style are still being made to this day in the region. My example was being sold as a WW2 bringback piece. The leather sheath probably isn't original to the knife, as none of the currently made examples have this type of sheath. There is a stamp on one side of the blade that looks either very worn or partially struck. I leave these pictures to you guys for your comments and speculations!