Japanese Navy Dirk with no menuki

[Oceansider]

I picked up two apparently Japanese Naval daggers/dirks today. One is missing some parts, the other has all of its parts except the pommel cap - BUT.... neither has a peg for holding the grip onto the tang and there are no holes for them. Is this some sort of reproduction?

[Oceansider]

..

[gunto]

Its original.

[gunto]

I never seen one without the mekugi.
Normally they have a bamboo peg, metal mekugi w/ sakura, sakura cast on handle or a combo of the first and last.

[Oceansider]

Thanks all...

[Stu W]

Anyone have an idea as to how it all stays together? Friction fit seems highly unlikely but I'm at a loss as to how else it might be held together.

Regards,
Stu

[gunto]

If theres a hole at the end of the handle ,its for wood wedges. Then pommel is mounted with glue. Maybe glue was used on tang.

[Oceansider]

If theres a hole at the end of the handle ,its for wood wedges. Then pommel is mounted with glue. Maybe glue was used on tang.

I can't see any glue marks on the tang, but there does appear to be a small cut out for a wedge to go between the grip and the tang: