Japanese Knife Blade

sabertasche · 10th September 2010, 05:38 PM

Hi all, I won this small blade on ebay thinking that it was a kozuka blade. It was labled as a "ninja knife". Despite the lable and poor photos, I put in a low bid and won the auction. What arrived in the mail is a bit of a mystery. The construction is quite facinating despite its' small size. I believe it is too thick to fit a kozuka handle and the blade too wide to fit in a saya. It appears to have a hamon or at least a hardened edge.

It looks Japanese but as to its purpose, I have no idea. I am Intrigued by the "rat tail" tang, it must fit on to some form of handle. Has anyone else seen a similar blade? I'm hoping a more learned collector can shed some light on my newest "ninja knife."

Regards,

Greg

Rich · 10th September 2010, 06:25 PM

I've played with all sorts of Japanese edged weapons, tools, etc for about 30 years - never seen anything like this. Not sure it is Japanese; not sure it isn't :-)

Rich S
-------------------------------------------------------
Richard Stein, PhD
Old Puukkophile
NKCA Life Member

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

sabertasche · 10th September 2010, 06:32 PM

Thanks Rich, the blade is flat on one side and beveled on the other. What is the technical term for this in a Japanese context?

Greg

Lew · 10th September 2010, 06:57 PM

What you have here is a puukko blade from Finland.

http://www.hankala.com/suomi/kayttop/lastu.htm

Rich · 10th September 2010, 07:37 PM

No, sorry, not a Finnish Puukko. I have lots of them, about 300 vintage and a few modern ones, and they never have one flat side. Hankala's Lastu puukko is diamond cross section. The proper Japanese term for blades flat on one side - katakiri-ha if I recall correctly.

Rich S

-------------------------------------------------------
Richard Stein, PhD
Old Puukkophile
NKCA Life Member

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

fearn · 11th September 2010, 01:39 AM

I've got several American production blades that are single-beveled. It's cheaper to produce them that way.

That twisty, pointed handle makes me start thinking that it's either a special-use tool, or alternatively, it was an art project by a blacksmith.

Best,

F

pbleed · 11th September 2010, 02:39 AM

I am sure that this is a post-war Japanese "paper knife" the sort of thing somebody would keep in there desk to, well, cut paper or wahtwever. There were common in "craft stores" 30 years ago. Folk craft not weaponry
Peter

Rich · 11th September 2010, 11:55 AM

Peter -

Thanks for the id. I'd never seen one of this type before. The twisted handle is what made me doubt its Japanese origin. Thanks again,

Rich S
-------------------------------------------------------
Richard Stein, PhD
Old Puukkophile
NKCA Life Member

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

sabertasche · 11th September 2010, 10:45 PM

Thanks guys, I'' call it a "ninja paperknife."

I took it to the local knife collectors club and they came up with a similar use. A tool rather than a weapon.

Cheers,

Greg

10th September 2010, 05:38 PM	#1
sabertasche Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 149	Japanese Knife Blade Hi all, I won this small blade on ebay thinking that it was a kozuka blade. It was labled as a "ninja knife". Despite the lable and poor photos, I put in a low bid and won the auction. What arrived in the mail is a bit of a mystery. The construction is quite facinating despite its' small size. I believe it is too thick to fit a kozuka handle and the blade too wide to fit in a saya. It appears to have a hamon or at least a hardened edge. It looks Japanese but as to its purpose, I have no idea. I am Intrigued by the "rat tail" tang, it must fit on to some form of handle. Has anyone else seen a similar blade? I'm hoping a more learned collector can shed some light on my newest "ninja knife." Regards, Greg Attached Images Last edited by sabertasche; 10th September 2010 at 05:50 PM. Reason: addining smaller pics

10th September 2010, 07:37 PM	#5
Rich Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: comfortably at home, USA Posts: 432	No, sorry, not a Finnish Puukko. I have lots of them, about 300 vintage and a few modern ones, and they never have one flat side. Hankala's Lastu puukko is diamond cross section. The proper Japanese term for blades flat on one side - katakiri-ha if I recall correctly. Rich S ------------------------------------------------------- Richard Stein, PhD Old Puukkophile NKCA Life Member Japanese Sword Guide http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/nihonto.htm Last edited by Rich; 10th September 2010 at 07:46 PM. Reason: i can't spell

11th September 2010, 02:39 AM	#7
pbleed Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Little Rock, Arkansas Posts: 88	Japanese Knife Blade I am sure that this is a post-war Japanese "paper knife" the sort of thing somebody would keep in there desk to, well, cut paper or wahtwever. There were common in "craft stores" 30 years ago. Folk craft not weaponry Peter

10th September 2010, 06:25 PM	#2
Rich Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: comfortably at home, USA Posts: 432	I've played with all sorts of Japanese edged weapons, tools, etc for about 30 years - never seen anything like this. Not sure it is Japanese; not sure it isn't :-) Rich S ------------------------------------------------------- Richard Stein, PhD Old Puukkophile NKCA Life Member Japanese Sword Guide http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/nihonto.htm -------------------------------------------------------

10th September 2010, 06:32 PM	#3
sabertasche Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 149	Thanks Rich, the blade is flat on one side and beveled on the other. What is the technical term for this in a Japanese context? Greg

10th September 2010, 06:57 PM	#4
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	What you have here is a puukko blade from Finland. http://www.hankala.com/suomi/kayttop/lastu.htm

11th September 2010, 01:39 AM	#6
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	I've got several American production blades that are single-beveled. It's cheaper to produce them that way. That twisty, pointed handle makes me start thinking that it's either a special-use tool, or alternatively, it was an art project by a blacksmith. Best, F

11th September 2010, 11:55 AM	#8
Rich Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: comfortably at home, USA Posts: 432	Peter - Thanks for the id. I'd never seen one of this type before. The twisted handle is what made me doubt its Japanese origin. Thanks again, Rich S ------------------------------------------------------- Richard Stein, PhD Old Puukkophile NKCA Life Member Japanese Sword Guide http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/nihonto.htm

11th September 2010, 10:45 PM	#9
sabertasche Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 149	Thanks guys, I'' call it a "ninja paperknife." I took it to the local knife collectors club and they came up with a similar use. A tool rather than a weapon. Cheers, Greg