Tonomachi Posted January 15, 2009 Report Posted January 15, 2009 I bought this at a flea market in California, USA. Is this an original small knife that was carried inside the guard of a samurai sword or is it a fancy letter opener. The scene looks like a Japanese cormorant fisherman at night. Quote
nagamaki - Franco Posted January 15, 2009 Report Posted January 15, 2009 Hi, Looks to be a reproduction kozuka and ko gatana, not a letter opener. Quote
Brian Posted January 16, 2009 Report Posted January 16, 2009 Kogatana is definitely a repro/modern. Mei looks laser cut. The kozuka....I think it's a repro, but there is a chance it is could be real? Low quality though. Could be the blade was added later, or the whole set could be made together. Brian Quote
Henry Stewart Posted January 16, 2009 Report Posted January 16, 2009 The Mei is far too neat and tidy for an original?? Henry Quote
leo Posted January 16, 2009 Report Posted January 16, 2009 Hi, All! I think, Brian is right. Blade is new off course, handle seems to be late 19th Cent. export work(shiriimono). Regards, Martin Quote
nagamaki - Franco Posted January 16, 2009 Report Posted January 16, 2009 The kozuka....I think it's a repro, but there is a chance it is could be real? sorry, should have elaborated that the kozuka is repro not in the modern sense, but in the sense that it was possibly made for export (meiji or post war) or simply as a replacement fill-in. As for real in the kozuka-samurai-art sense, my guess is it would bounce submitted to shinsa. Quote
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