A LITTLE ASSISTANCE, PLEASE

[Grey Doffin]

Hi guys,

I have a dispute to settle and my word isn't good enough. Would 2 or 3 of you please help. Tell us exactly what you think the knife below is: when and where it was made and who used it. Overall length is 8 1/2" and blade length is 4 1/4"

Thanks, Grey

[cabowen]

I believe the sayagaki says "Shizu Saburo Kaneuji Saku".

 

Looks like a Seki souvenir to me....hard to say when it was made since the blade is too short to require a license, meaning it could have been made anytime from WWII to rather recently. I would guess it was made in Seki...

 

Not sure who used it....

[Ted Tenold]

Tell us exactly what you think the knife below is: when and where it was made

 

Post War Showa Period tchotchke. Somewhere in Japan, likely Seki city.

 

and who used it

 

Tourists...for opening their mail upon return from vacation in Japan.

 

blade length is 4 1/4"

 

Under 5.9 inches, so it's exempt from Jutoho laws and thus can be purchased over the counter at a "Tchotchke-Ya" or cutlery shop, tossed in the luggage and carried home. Well... at least we used to be able to casually toss stuff like this in the luggage.