yard sale knife--Japanese ?

[helmetbuyers]

Hello forum...

I bought this knife last Friday for $10.

It looks old... but... is it post war.... or wartime, or an earlier made knife?

Thanks for the help Robert

[helmetbuyers]

1

[helmetbuyers]

sorry for the lousy photos. will retake tomorrow

[helmetbuyers]

5

[Bob Coleman]

It appears to be the type of tanto sold as a shrine offering. It appears to be 20th century and not a forged blade. A friend of mine in Japan showed me a collection of over 30 similar pieces found in his family shrine.

[kaigunair]

Interesting but pics are too blurry to determine anything. Lack of a habaki is an indicator it is of a non-nihonto souvineer type dirk. Since it has both groves and a horimono, better pics would be nice.

[helmetbuyers]

thanks guys for the help

here are some better photos... Robert

[helmetbuyers]

it's fairly oily/greasy

[kaigunair]

pics still not very clear, but from what I can see or, rather what I can't see, seems like a low quality blade, post war or perhaps used per bob's comment.

[bolo]

Japanese fisherman's bait knife

I remember they use to sell cheap knives like this at the Bait & Tackle shops, they were used for cutting bait, but I dont remember any with dragons

I would say it's a post war item