Smaller blades thread

[Bugyotsuji]

Tonkotsu recently showed us a smaller blade in Shirasaya style, with a decent-looking Habaki, having elements of useful/tourist knife to it. (Of course the word katana 刀 in its broadest original meaning was a knife.)

 

Perhaps members would like to show some smaller knives which do not perhaps fit our normal Nihonto parameters but may have some overlapping elements.

 

May I start with this one. It is larger than a toothpick as you can see and once had a very specific use. Those who know will know.

(No, not the weapon used in ‘Hidden Blade’ Oni no Tsumé, though not far off!)

 

 

[Kurikata]

Adding the thread mentioned here above: 

 

[Bugyotsuji]

The answer to the first post is contained in the following link.

https://www.google.com/search?q=矢立の小柄&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiF5I3pssDtAhWPad4KHSBSCOgQ_AUoAXoECA8QAw&biw=1366&bih=625

[Bugyotsuji]

No.3 

This has the Mei 盛道 Morimichi on the blade.

Alongside a toothpick for size reference.

 

 

[Brian]

I Missed that post. Really? used for tobacco/pipe cleaning? I would have thought something with more of a scoop. Tiny kogatana. Wonder if they have a hamon?

[Bugyotsuji]

Brian, the first one above is a tiny kogatana/kodzuka that slides down inside the stem of a Yataté brush and ink combo. They are said to be paper knives.

Tiny hamon??? Hmmm... 😂

I have only managed to find three of them in my travels. The handle wrap is usually a simple fold of copper or brass.

[Bugyotsuji]

Well, in the meantime, I do not know what this is, but it was given to me recently. Lost the blade tip.

Blade length: 7.5 cm, just under 3” or 2.5 Sun.

Total length: 16.5 cm, 6.5 inches, or 5.5 寸

 

[Dave R]

4 hours ago, Bugyotsuji said:

Well, in the meantime, I do not know what this is, but it was given to me recently. Lost the blade tip.

Blade length: 7.5 cm, just under 3” or 2.5 Sun.

Total length: 16.5 cm, 6.5 inches, or 5.5 寸

 

 

 I have seen these on Japanese sites on  Ebay described as arrowheads! I suspect they are actually marking knives or similar.

 Nice though, I might buy one at the right price.

 

[Bugyotsuji]

When I was taking the photos, I found there is some flexibility/movement in the twisted haft.

[EdWolf]

Here is my contribution to the small knife thread. The saya is well made and the arrow is painted by someone with good skills. The blade length is just under 11 cm.

Regards, Ed 

[Ken-Hawaii]

Ed's blade looks thick enough to be a short yoroi-doshi.

[Bugyotsuji]

I'm struggling to come up with a name for that saya shape.

 

I like the way the menuki is done on the flight like that, ...and there is some writing above it.

[EdWolf]

Hi Piers,

There is some writing on both sides but it's very hard to read.

 

[Bugyotsuji]

These contain a sprinkling of love from Hawaii.

 

 

 

[Bugyotsuji]

A word of explanation. Some years ago, Ken and Linda kindly brought over a chunk of meteorite and gave it to the Osafune smith Ando Hiroyasu (Yusuke) who incorporated it into various objects experimentally. I remember a tsuba and these Kozuka, but there could have been other things too. Ken?

[Brian]

And neither of you ended up with one of the items?

[Bugyotsuji]

Correct, Brian. 

[Bugyotsuji]

True story time.

 

About three years ago I bought a sweet little iron Bashin from a dealer, in the shape of a bamboo stalk. He assured me that it was the work of Yanagimura Senju, the famous Kinko and Horimono-Shi (who passed away not too long ago). Sadly it was not signed. I was proud to be buying something created by Senju Sensei, especially as I had once owned, and stupidly sold, a Chiisa-gatana with a superb horimono by him.

 

Through an intermediary, I contacted his son Soju who continues the workshop and asked if he could certify it in some way. He and his mother both clearly remembered the piece, but he would not insert his father's Mei. He kindly wrote a cover letter acknowledging its provenance, but he did not want any payment. I gave him a bottle of good Scotch whisky in thanks. Then I discovered that they had put another little handy knife into the box, which actually did carry the signature of his father! 

[EdWolf]

Piers,

That's a great story!

[Jim Manley]

Two, hamon's look real.

jim

[Bugyotsuji]

True. 
 

Someone here, (Guido?) once asked an authority what defines a Nihonto in the eyes of the law in Japan and was told that a Mekugi ana is one deciding feature.

 

What are the circular dot marks on the sheath, Jim?

[Jim Manley]

I think the dots are a lead filler inserted in drilled holes to hold the saya together. It looks like it was inserted and then filed down. I have no idea why it was done vs. glue. 

Jim

[Bugyotsuji]

So they show on the other side?

[mecox]

Kogatana by Kimura Kanemitsu of Yatsushiro, Kumamoto Pref

[Jim Manley]

Yes the lead dots go through the saya and are identical on both sides.

jim

[Bugyotsuji]

Bashin described in post #18 above by Yanagimura Senju.

 

 

[Bugyotsuji]

On 12/11/2020 at 8:30 PM, Dave R said:

 

 I have seen these on Japanese sites on  Ebay described as arrowheads! I suspect they are actually marking knives or similar.

 Nice though, I might buy one at the right price.

 

Yesterday I was observing an artisan making Habaki and he used the spiral end of one of these for marking lines on the metal he was working with. The other end was not a blade but a kind of two-curved-pronged measuring compass 

[Geraint]

Dear All.

 

Not sure how small we need to be but here is a little tanto.  Nagasa is 150mms

 

 

All the best.

[Bugyotsuji]

懐剣 Sweet. A very small Kaiken, perhaps?

[Geraint]

Hi Piers,

 

Yes, I have always assumed that it is a mamorigatana because of the koshirae.

 

All the best.