Japanese Navy Dagger

Axis Powers > Japanese > Edged Weapons >

This is a nice 1883 patterned WWII Imperial Japanese Naval officer dirk. This example is of wartime construction with machine made plated blade. The blade shows some sharpening and scuffs. This example utilized a mix of brass and celuloid based fittings. The crossguard is polished brass with a Navy stamp. The grip is white faux ray skin used on late war pieces with triple brass wire wrap. The reverse has a silver pin in place of the usual 5 leaf cherry blossom, likely a family crest. The saya (scabbard) is leather covered wood stitched up to the reverse with all the stitching intact. It has detailed upper and lower fittings. The lower celluloid based fitting shows wear with some loss of detail to the very lower section. The lock works as it should. Overall, a very nice example of a later Japanese Naval dirk.