Japanese WWII Side Knives?

laEspadaAncha · 14th December 2010, 01:49 AM

Here's pictures of the smaller knife's blade. Looks like a file knife, as if it was made from ground tool steel?

VANDOO · 14th December 2010, 03:19 AM

NOT MY FIELD BUT YOU MIGHT TAKE A LOOK AT JAPANESE KNIVES USED FOR WORKING ON BONSAI TREES SOME OF THEM RESEMBLE THESE ESPECIALY THE SMALLER ONE. GOOD LUCK

Battara · 14th December 2010, 03:37 AM

I think the smaller one is for marking wood when carving.

laEspadaAncha · 14th December 2010, 05:34 AM

Thanks Barry... seems the small one is a bonsai grafting knife. Jose, what did you mean by "marking wood" when carving? One down, one to go...

Rich · 14th December 2010, 11:52 AM

Neither are military knives. The top one is a gardening/bonsai knife; the lower one is a carpenter's knife used to mark and/or make precise cuts for wood working (I have two of them).

Rich S
-------------------------------------------------------
Richard Stein, PhD

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

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

laEspadaAncha · 14th December 2010, 04:37 PM

Hi Rich,

Thank you for the clarification - I was hoping you might spot this thread. I now better understand Jose's reply as well. Any idea what the kanji represent on either knife?

As mentioned in my OP, I'm still happy to have acquired a Japanese knife that is neither a tanto nor a military pattern dagger/dirk... While lacking the historical affiliation or importance one associates with a tanto, these are more closely related to the utility knives I myself often carry on my belt or clipped to my pocket.

Are older examples of these considered scarce by Japanese blade collectors? As many knives as I've encountered at flea markets, estate sales, shows, and auctions, these are the first examples I have encountered...

Rich · 14th December 2010, 05:17 PM

I'm not aware of anyone who actually collects these. Several sword collectors have picked them up as curios; I actually use mine down in the workshop.
Don't know how far back they were made, but suspect since the Japanese were/are excellent woodworkers, that they've been around a long time. I think the older ones were likely used up and discarded, but that's just speculation. I know the carpenter's knives are still being made and avialable thru several online dealers. Might check Google for Japanese wood working tools. Still a nice find and neat items to have.

Rich S

Nathaniel · 15th December 2010, 03:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich

Neither are military knives. The top one is a gardening/bonsai knife; the lower one is a carpenter's knife used to mark and/or make precise cuts for wood working (I have two of them).

Rich S
-------------------------------------------------------
Richard Stein, PhD

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

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

Here are some more examples of the Japanese wood working knife:

http://www.japanwoodworker.com/produ...&dept_id=13221

http://www.japanwoodworker.com/produ...&dept_id=13221

http://www.japanwoodworker.com/dept....&dept_id=13221

laEspadaAncha · 15th December 2010, 04:03 AM

Hi Nathaniel,

Thanks - I actually found that same website following a couple responses earlier in the thread...

What I can't seem to find, however, are any other earlier examples dating to the mid-century... And given the wide range in price for contemporary examples - ranging from less than twenty dollars to a couple hundred dollars - I am curious to find out more about who (person or factory) is responsible for the creation of these two knives...

14th December 2010, 01:49 AM	#1
laEspadaAncha Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 608	Here's pictures of the smaller knife's blade. Looks like a file knife, as if it was made from ground tool steel?

14th December 2010, 03:19 AM	#2
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	NOT MY FIELD BUT YOU MIGHT TAKE A LOOK AT JAPANESE KNIVES USED FOR WORKING ON BONSAI TREES SOME OF THEM RESEMBLE THESE ESPECIALY THE SMALLER ONE. GOOD LUCK

14th December 2010, 03:37 AM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,272	I think the smaller one is for marking wood when carving.

14th December 2010, 05:34 AM	#4
laEspadaAncha Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 608	Thanks Barry... seems the small one is a bonsai grafting knife. Jose, what did you mean by "marking wood" when carving? One down, one to go...

14th December 2010, 11:52 AM	#5
Rich Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: comfortably at home, USA Posts: 432	Neither are military knives. The top one is a gardening/bonsai knife; the lower one is a carpenter's knife used to mark and/or make precise cuts for wood working (I have two of them). Rich S ------------------------------------------------------- Richard Stein, PhD Japanese Sword Guide http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/nihonto.htm "Never go anywhere without a knife" - Leroy Jethro Gibbs -------------------------------------------------------

14th December 2010, 04:37 PM	#6
laEspadaAncha Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 608	Hi Rich, Thank you for the clarification - I was hoping you might spot this thread. I now better understand Jose's reply as well. Any idea what the kanji represent on either knife? As mentioned in my OP, I'm still happy to have acquired a Japanese knife that is neither a tanto nor a military pattern dagger/dirk... While lacking the historical affiliation or importance one associates with a tanto, these are more closely related to the utility knives I myself often carry on my belt or clipped to my pocket. Are older examples of these considered scarce by Japanese blade collectors? As many knives as I've encountered at flea markets, estate sales, shows, and auctions, these are the first examples I have encountered...

14th December 2010, 05:17 PM	#7
Rich Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: comfortably at home, USA Posts: 432	I'm not aware of anyone who actually collects these. Several sword collectors have picked them up as curios; I actually use mine down in the workshop. Don't know how far back they were made, but suspect since the Japanese were/are excellent woodworkers, that they've been around a long time. I think the older ones were likely used up and discarded, but that's just speculation. I know the carpenter's knives are still being made and avialable thru several online dealers. Might check Google for Japanese wood working tools. Still a nice find and neat items to have. Rich S

15th December 2010, 04:03 AM	#9
laEspadaAncha Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 608	Hi Nathaniel, Thanks - I actually found that same website following a couple responses earlier in the thread... What I can't seem to find, however, are any other earlier examples dating to the mid-century... And given the wide range in price for contemporary examples - ranging from less than twenty dollars to a couple hundred dollars - I am curious to find out more about who (person or factory) is responsible for the creation of these two knives...