Help to identify knife please

[Sarah piddock]

please can anyone identify this knife that I have inherited. I know it is not original but I am still interested in where it is from and how old it is. Thank you. Sarah 

[Ron M]

Hi, what does the other side of the blade show?

 IMO (guess) this was initially a dinner knife, using a kozuka as handle. The knife appears to be electroplated “EP over A” which would be suitable to eat with.

[PNSSHOGUN]

These were a novelty around the late 1800s, entire dinner sets with handles made from antique Kozuka. No idea about the quality, one gets the impression these were Kozuka were bought in vast quantities at a time when all things Japanese or 'Oriental' were in high style. 

[ROKUJURO]

Sarah,

the handle is called KOZUKA, and they were originally made in Japan as utility knife handle for SAMURAI. The blade in yours is mounted (or ground) in wrong orientation; it was probably added later. 

There are two different types of KOZUKA: as John states, there were antiques ones, some being repurposed later. They were not made in series, but as unique items. The second category was made as copies of old KOZUKA. They were made in series, so there were many with the same design, often on both sides. I have seen them fitted even with brass blades, designed and sold as "fruit knives". These were press molded by machines (sometimes not in Japan) and do not have the same collecting value as the authentic ones.

If you want to show more and better focused photos of your knife (also the back side of the KOZUKA, we could perhaps tell you more.

[The Blacksmith]

Here is a wakizashi (short sword), with the kozuka in place in the scabbard as it would have been used.

 

 

 

I also found these for interests sake.....