Sunseeker

Thank you all so much! I was able to get it apart. I don't know what it looked liked in its original state, not polished, but I really like how it looks now.

Thank you Tim, that's very helpful!

Maybe this is better?

Okay, I was able to wiggle some more out and I took a felt cloth and tried getting all the gunk off it. I think you can see the last character now. Do the blades come right our of the handles? I mean are they meant too?

Thank you for that translation! Very interesting. I can see if I'm able expose more of the blade too.

Also thank you for that. I didn't know the handle was called Kozuka.

I think it came out a little more. I wrapped the blade in a heavy cloth,used some needle nose plyers and tried to pull on it. It did look like it may have moved a bit. I then tried to rub it with the microfiber cloth. I dideven know that blade could move. It certainly doesn't move inwards by hand. Not that I tried, but I did try to see if I could wiggle it out, nothing.

Oh, so maybe I need to look at it with the blade up? I'll see if it slides, while keeping my fingers in one piece of course,

Thank you!

I'm a fish out of water here. This was with my great Uncle's belongings and I haven't a clue what it says, means or is. I thought it was a butter knife at first glance, but trying to research online, I only came up with maybe a Japanese sword or little sword. The handle is gold-ish' with some copper coloring. The design appears to be a home or structure or building with a straw or otherwise roof. The blade, looks to have some discoloration and is very, very smooth feeling to the touch. Like butter actually, your fingers just glide over it. I did rub the entire item with a plane microfiber cloth to see if I could see what was on the blade and handle better. It became even smoother. I'm just wondering if someone could possibly point me in the right direction as to what this is, what kind of time period am I looking at, and where it came from. Like what us the meaning behind the raised design on the handle. In my opinion, I really find the mural on the handle very nice.its peaceful looking. I don't know if it is or not, but that's my opinion of what it looks like based on knowing absolutely nothing about this.