What do you think this is?

[Bugyotsuji]

Before I open it and ask again what you think it really is, what do you guess is inside this?

 

From the outside it looks to be crossover period, Bakumatsu/Meiji. Silver. Length 9.8cm. (3.8 inches)

[watsonmil]

Dear Piers,

It's a PEN or PENCIL or BRUSH !

... Ron Watson

[Bugyotsuji]

Ron, you have cast your net wide, wisely.

 

Narrow it down to one, please! :D

 

(Actually, it is none of those.) :lol:

[Surfson]

Looks like a Victorian retractable pencil to me.

[Bugyotsuji]

Looks like a Victorian retractable pencil to me.

 

To some extent, yes, agreed. But read my reply to Ron's post!

[watsonmil]

OK, then it's a rectal thermometer !

... Ron Watson

[Bugyotsuji]

OK, then it's a rectal thermometer !

... Ron Watson

 

Actually, I wasn't sure where to put this, Ron.

 

Off for a bite of lunch now while you gentlemen pussyfoot around.

 

The hint is in the section.

[Bugyotsuji]

An excellent lunch. Are you ready for the first answer?

[Drago]

Haha.

 

My first thought after seeing the solution was: It's gonna cause a hell of a lot of trouble if you forget that in your hand luggage at the airport.

[Nobody]

Not only at the airport but also anywhere in Japan, I am afraid.

[Bugyotsuji]

Thank you for the words of advice, Koichi Sama. Luckily it's in London.

 

Shobu tsukuri, with a kaku-mune along the top.

[Bugyotsuji]

So, question one was answered, but here is what puzzles me. Is it a doctor's scalpel?

 

This was described to me recently (his opinion regarding Nihonto I value highly), as an Anki (te-ura, shura, shuri) but the blade does not appear to have Yaki-ire.

 

Originally I bought this in Japan but would this really be against the law there as Nobody suggests, and why? |The length of the blade? The concealment/deception? What about if someone was using it as a fruit knife, for example?

[IanB]

Piers, Some suzuri bako have a similar small knife in the set for cutting paper. The fact yours has a suspension ring suggests it was meant to be carried around.

Ian Bottomley

[Bugyotsuji]

Thank you Ian. The suzuri-bako paper knife is a novel idea. I will need to investigate that.

 

The chap who sold it to me described it as having a sort of 'Netsuke' or 'Netsuke-like' function.

 

I asked him if he meant a) to hang from the obi like a Sagemono, or b) act as a Sashi-Netsuke 'stopper' tucked into the obi to suspend something else from it. He looked unable to answer, but the impression I got was that he too thought it was to be carried somehow. (I suppose though it could also just have had a fancy tassel attached?)

 

When setting the blade into the open or shut position there is no screw per se, but the traditional off-set twist you get to lock things together. (Loose entry, then twist to lock.) Normally if it is going to hang then I would be afraid of losing it, but it seems to be quite a tight fit. It could have been carried in the pocket of a frock coat or morning coat as a hidden last line of self-defence...if it was even a primary/secondary weapon...(just guessing here though.)

[Bugyotsuji]

Since the last post I have had a long and very detailed reply from Nobody explaining exactly how the Japanese law stands today regarding such articles, especially since the Akihabara incident. Many thanks. If I get a bit of time later on I will translate as much as I can of what he wrote, with links, and post here.

[cabowen]

Looking forward to that info....Maybe this is the reason?

[Bugyotsuji]

Well, there we go. That is the essence of it. Thank you.

 

Possession of a double-bladed knife of over 5.5 cms is illegal and has been since the the law was changed 5 Jan 2009 after that loony went on a rampage with a commando dagger that he had bought and possessed legally. Registered would be legal today, yes, but nothing that size would likely pass.

 

The only way I can see this knife above scraping through would be the existence of the square Kakumune for most of the top of the blade. Essentially it is not strictly 'double' bladed. (?) Still, that is a moot point as I have it here with me in London, safe from the long arm of Japanese law! :lol: Zenigata Keiji, come and get me!

 

Saving Japanese culture abroad!