My new Japanes dirk - comments & information please

[Kev G]

Hello guys,

The fever got me

A friend of mine showed me some of his daggers and I was right away loving them - so here is my first own one.

Unfortunately, I don't know too much about it other than it's a Japanese dirk and that the blade has been modified.

I really would appreciate if you could give me some more information about my first collection part.

Thanks.

[gunto]

Hello
I also love the navy daggers.
Its made late war.
There are 2 issues with Yours , 2 wire missing on handle. Scabbard mouth is missing.
I cant see why the blade schould have been modified ,its just the chorme plating missing.

[Kev G]

Hello
I also love the navy daggers.
Its made late war.
There are 2 issues with Yours , 2 wire missing on handle. Scabbard mouth is missing.
I cant see why the blade schould have been modified ,its just the chorme plating missing.

Great, thanks for the info!

Do you have a picture of a complete dagger so that I can see what one in a good condition would look like?

And yes, I really also like the finishing of these daggers!

Thanks again,

Kevin

[Paul G]

I agree, it doesn't look like the blade has damaged severely. sometimes these daggers are thought to have been shortened as they tend be be quite a bit shorter than the scabbard.

PG-

[gunto]

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[Kev G]

Thanks for the picture - gives me a better idea of what it "should" look like.

Does someone know what this dagger in my condition would be worth?

Thanks,

Kevin

[gunto]

IMO 200-300 usd.

[Kev G]

IMO 200-300 usd.

Thanks ... maybe I should look for a complete one then - in which range do they rank?

Kev

[Michael Downey]

I have always had a soft spot for Japanese dirks. Not any one ever seems to be the same as the other.

[gunto]

Very nice daggers Love the early ones with handmade fittings.
Yes , Near no one looks the same and I got one You dont have The first from left in the photo.Any way You got a very nice collection.
Number 6 from left , isnt the guard turned upside down?Does the menuki look original to the dagger?Any close up photo ?
I would like to see number 6 and 7 without scabbard.



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[Kev G]

Wow @ Michael,

these daggers look nice As gunto I would be interested in some more pictures of these really beautiful ones.

I'm really starting to think of getting a new, more complete one now ...

[Michael Downey]

Here is a full view of the Kanehisa. I assume the blade (which is signed Kanefusa) is a gendaito - meaning a modern hand made blade. The dirk is much larger and chunkier than the WWII naval dirks that are normally encountered. There has been variously explanations given for the existence of these large sized dirks which are encountered from time to time. But my sense is that a lot more research needs to be undertaken to determine their origins. I spent literally months deciding where to part out for a similar dirk signed by Akihide which was quite similar in construction to the Kanehisa.

[Michael Downey]

Here is a close up of the handle. Most of the gilding has gone, but the dirk is still in quite good condition. Notice the sharkskin cover barely discernible on the scabbard.

[Michael Downey]

A view of the blade.

[Michael Downey]

A close up of the signature. The habaki was originally finished with a silver wash, but this has mostly worn off now.