Is it souvenir or real

[Guzewski]

Hello dear forum members!

Could you please tell me if you've ever seen a dirk in this format? The sakura flower is not a separate piece, but rather a piece of plastic handle. It's available for sale in my city for \$450. In your opinion, is it worth it?

[Bruce Pennington]

Hoping to hear from guys that collect these.  Looks legit in age, but never seen one with fully molded celluloid tsuka.  Richard Fuller has one that used celluloid for the fittings, but don't know if this is along those lines or not.

 

Here's Richard's

 

 

We also know that Tenshozan was making and selling souvenir dirks after the war, but have no idea what they looked like as we've never seen one with the Army PX sales certificate.

[John C]

That was my first thought as well, Bruce. Late war legit with the celluloid handle. Without the mekugi, how were the tsuka attached? Pommel screw? I agree as well that it might be one of the souvenirs we haven't seen.

Maybe a shot of the tang would tell us more if the handle could be removed. 

 

John C.

[Bruce Pennington]

I sent the pictures to Richard Fuller, and here are his thoughts:

 

”Hi Bruce

I think its late war. I have one where the scabbard chape is entirely celluloid although the upper mount is brass. The grip appears to be proper same. 

The navy had to make swords and daggers for the last officer draft so the shortage of materials may well have necessitated faux materials”