Interesting Blade On E-Bay

[echizento]

Came across this odd looking blade for sale on e-Bay. Could this be a head cutting blade or one that was broken and re-worked in  this? Though you all work find it interesting.

 

 http://vi.vipr.ebaydesc.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemDescV4&item=323149476571&t=1521264915000&tid=10&category=66841&seller=koushuya&excSoj=1&excTrk=1&lsite=0&ittenable=false&domain=ebay.com&descgauge=1&cspheader=1&oneClk=1&secureDesc=0

[Jean]

Ron,

 

Where did you pick up this urban legend of head cutters?

 

There were never any head cutters, there were enough edge weapons on a battlefield not to add a fancy one. This good old story was made up for bloodthirsty westerners. I have never seen one and innocent people are trickered in buying nata believing they are head cutters.

[echizento]

Gee, I must have heard the story many years ago, too old now to remember when or where I heard it. This blade with it's reverse edge is so odd that it seems to have no other use. 

 

I just did a quick internet search and found this : https://japaneseswordindex.com/unji.htm

[Ed]

It is called Nata which loosely translates to hatchet.They are for cutting, pruning shrubs, flowers.  But "Head cutter" sounds a damn sight more manly than flower cutter. 

[echizento]

I've seen Nata before, they are used crudely made, none were  as nice as this. Maybe the smith made his for and important person. Thanks Ed for the reply. 

[Jean]

Ron,

 

Search the Board about nata. There was a good one by Naotane which was posted, they can be called « flower head cutters »

[Ray Singer]

FWIW, Ohno Yoshimitsu has made several high-end nata similarly shaped to this example, done with his trademark hitatsura choji hamon. I saw one Japanese collection which had two. Another was offered on a site in Japan for 700,000 JPY.

[Ed]

Ron, yes the better ones were made for the upper class.

 

 

For additional photos:

http://yakiba.com/nata.htm

[Surfson]

Ron, there is a previous discussion about this, with some other examples of "kubikiri" or head cutters.  Some NMB members insist these were garden tools and others are open to the possibility that the "legend" is correct, said legend being that high ranking samurai had a retainer that would remove heads after battle in order to use as trophies or threats to the opposition.  

 

http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/23725-kubikiri-korner/?hl=kubikiri

 

There are a number of them that have beautiful mounts and full samurai polish, making the garden implement theory untenable in the view of some.....

[echizento]

Thanks all for your replies, I'm one of those that like to believe the legend even though the facts may prove otherwise. 

[Jean]

http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/23725-kubikiri-korner/page-2

 

Everyone is entitled to dream Ron, as long as no fake news are spread.. so your blade is a nata as Ray and I mentioned from the start

[vajo]

Ron that blade looks like a good cooking knife for meat and big fishes. Maybe for dishing 河豚 (fugu)