1868-1912 Japanese Meiji Period Decorated Bone & Buffalo Horn Mounted Aikuchi (dagger / dirk without a guard) / Daggers

1868-1912 Japanese Meiji Period Decorated Bone & Buffalo Horn Mounted Aikuchi (dagger / dirk without a guard) / Possible Samurai Ladies Knife With Dragon & Cloud Carved Blade & Scabbard With Expert Assessment. Sn 18828 - 18828

This is a Japanese Aikuchi (dagger / dirk without a guard) . The piece has been examined by UK Japanese sword expert Bill Tagg and a copy of his hand written notes accompany the sword. In extracts of his notes he states “Aikuchi dagger meiji period export ware 1868-192 Possibly sold as a Samurai Ladies Knife. With no demand internally due to the ban on Sanurai wearing swords, artisans started to make things like this aikuchi for markets outside of Japan. A basic one piece forged blade which has very simple hormino 9both sides). Blade carving of Dragon & clouds with simulated hamon put on with stones. It will have been tempered in oil to harden it. Cannot strip to examine tang (they are usually un-signed). It is mounted in a bone & Buffalo horn mount. Bone is painted with gold lacquer cherry tree & blossoms & birds. In original un-touched condition. Some small patches of old rust near habaki collar”. In his illustration of the blade he notes: Cutting edge Cutting edge of blade is just under 6”. Total length 9 ¾”. The price includes UK delivery. Sn 18828

£675.00