Kamikaze Tanto

[SwordGuyJoe]

Did another member win this?

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0366681580

[pcfarrar]

Hopefully not as they've paid far more than its worth. Black saya = navy pilot is a new one to me :lol:

[SwordGuyJoe]

Actually, this is one heck of a deal! These were Kamikaze blades, so first they are obviously very rare - not many can be salvaged from a pile of burning plane wreckage. Secondly, most of these were machine made, but this is a handmade piece. Certainly not of the same quality as a lot of the stuff I have seen other board members collect, but for militaria collectors, like myself, this is a very nice piece. I was "the other" bidder. Kind of kicking myself for not pushing it a bit further.

[Brian]

Joe,

There are very few of these that can be certified to have been "kamikaze" dirks, and I have serious doubts that this one was either. What proof besides the fact that he says so? There were thousands of these carried by average soldiers, and any standard shirasaya could have been blackened anyways. Kamikaze dirks usually had a hole for a lanyard too, which this one lacks. I also don't see any proof that this is handmade. All I see is a hamon that could be oil quenched like all the others.

No..I don't see anything here worth $600, and highly doubt this one came even close to a plane in its life. Looks Meiji period to me with an altered nakago at best.

 

Brian

[SwordGuyJoe]

Brian,

Maybe I should stop kicking myself then. Thanks for the info.

[Hermes]

Yes Joe, stop kicking yourself, in fact buy yourself a good lunch today instead. LOL hehe

 

I have a few just like it i bought over the years, i believe it is just a Airuchi made at the turn of the 19th century, i agree with Brian, $600 is very pricey indeed.