Japanese Dagger or Short Sword

[twoodson412]

I'm assuming this is WW1 era, I picked it up today, does anyone know exactly what it is? It has a 5 pedal flower at the top.

[twoodson412]

2

[oldhonda]

I think it is a some kind of civil service dagger of lowest rank. Bruce Pennington may know what it is.

[BruceP]

Mr Woodson,

There is nothing in my reference books like this, though, there are several with some of the various characteristics - the plain saya is not unheard of and single-hanger rings are found here and there. The rayskin and wire wrap look legit. The blade is the worst I've seen in a while, which wants to say 'souvenier" or "occupied lands" made. The cherry blossom on the handle-end says Japan or China.

In recent conversation with Nick Komiya at warrelics, he pointed out that every region of the Impire had it's own forestry division, and each would have differing characteristics. It is possible this is one of those.

Unless someone else jumps in that has seen one like this and knows what it is, it will have to go down officiallyl as "unknown" (which Fuller & Gregory have several, but not like this one).