Interesting Early Japanese Navy Dirk

Axis Powers > Japanese > Edged Weapons >

This is a 1883 patterned Imperial Japanese Naval Officer Dirk with some interesting features. The blade on this one is very clean. The fit is tight and the tip is perfectly pointed! The blade rates NM. The blade measures 8.25 inches long. The black saya (scabbard) is wood based and covered in very finely textured shark-skin. There are some wee marks but overall looks great. the leather covering remains at 100%. The saya has two brass based scalloped fittings. They show wonderful detail with several leaves and cherry blossoms throughout. Both screws remain intact and the top clip works well! The brass based gilded crossguard looks good and is marked with Naval mark. The ferrule and pommel cap are also brass based. They are nicely detailed with random pebbling a cherry blossom and leaves. The grip is tightly brass wire wrapped, over a white pebbled ray skin and seamed to the reverse. Look for a second at the "chain" pattern of the wire. Very interesting, I love these small variations. It has two cherry blossoms over the mekugi (peg).