Kirikomi (?) marks meaning

[Ron M]

Hello to you all again, I have a tanto with lots of kirikomi on the mune. It was given as a gift to an officer (sayagaki states such) but I am wondering a) why they were done, how? And b) of some for testing then was the blade or even blades ruined? Any thoughts would be helpful. Thank you

[Brian]

Likely post war kids swordfighting. No reason for them to have been done deliberately or during real action. This is from messing around. Luckily they aren't fatal, but certainly don't add anything.

[Katsujinken]

Agree with Brian. Tanto and kirikomi are not a thing (that I have ever seen).

 

(Now waiting for a seasoned vet to pull out a picture from a 47 year old newsletter. :-P)