Help identifying old bone knife?

[KSgent]

A while ago an older family member gave me a knife, it seems to be a fairly old flensing knife, definitely made of bone. I cannot find any details about its origins. I am assuming the blade has been restored. The shape of the sheath reminds me of older Japanese style sheathed blades, but I don’t have anything to go on. If anyone has any thoughts about its origins/age/anything please share, I am very curious about the knife. (It could also just be a few years old and not worth a thing but I would just like to know anything about it). Thanks.

**EDIT**

I was able to gently tap out the pin holding the handle on to find the signature on the tang. I'll try to translate it but here's what I found, both sides of the tang have characters.

 

[John A. Larsen]

It looks to be a Japanese tanto, whether it is an older one I leave to those with better knowledge, but highly doubtful it was ever used to remove whale blubber as a flensing knife. John

 

[Hickory n steel]

Is it just me or does the drawstring on the storage sleeve look like nylon ?

 

[brandoak]

This looks to be Japanese Edo period Tanto. You need to have this checked out by the Nihonto people (Japanese sword collectors) ...It could be well worth your time.
The Kashezuno (little claw on the sheath) kinda gives it away as a true antique among other details like the Habaki, Menuki ana, Bo-hi, and true hamon line also tell a story. Depending on the Mei (signature) if equipped, this hand me down could very well be worth quite a bit.

 

[KSgent]

Is it just me or does the drawstring on the storage sleeve look like nylon ?

I’m pretty sure that was added later, it’s just stitched on, not a drawstring, but the bag is really worn while the string is in perfect condition.

 

[KSgent]

This looks to be Japanese Edo period Tanto. You need to have this checked out by the Nihonto people (Japanese sword collectors) ...It could be well worth your time.
The Kashezuno (little claw on the sheath) kinda gives it away as a true antique among other details like the Habaki, Menuki ana, Bo-hi, and true hamon line also tell a story. Depending on the Mei (signature) if equipped, this hand me down could very well be worth quite a bit.

Thank you so much for all of this information, I honestly had never noticed the Hamon line before, I’ll definitely be looking into the nihonto people very soon.

 

[brandoak]

I might also add that the Nihonto "club" or forums/community is made up of some of the most snooty, pompous and arrogant people to ever walk on earth. Just be forewarned, haha!
Student of Nihonto for 16 years now, dont let them stray you from learning, they can be a challenging group of people.
Welcome to the forums!

 

[brandoak]

double post...

 

[lieferung]

Check this link out: https://www.japaneseswordindex.com/realold.htm

According to it, bone carved handles/scabbards are likely low value tourist items. But don't let that stop you from verifying.

 

[KSgent]

I might also add that the Nihonto "club" or forums/community is made up of some of the most snooty, pompous and arrogant people to ever walk on earth. Just be forewarned, haha!
Student of Nihonto for 16 years now, dont let them stray you from learning, they can be a challenging group of people.
Welcome to the forums!

Thanks for the warning haha

 

[KSgent]

This looks to be Japanese Edo period Tanto. You need to have this checked out by the Nihonto people (Japanese sword collectors) ...It could be well worth your time.
The Kashezuno (little claw on the sheath) kinda gives it away as a true antique among other details like the Habaki, Menuki ana, Bo-hi, and true hamon line also tell a story. Depending on the Mei (signature) if equipped, this hand me down could very well be worth quite a bit.

Do you think I should try to remove the handle to find a signature on the tang? There is one pin that doesn’t look to be metal in the handle, so I feel like any attempt to remove it could damage the pin.

 

[braillediver]

It looks like it's trying to be Japanese.

 

[brandoak]

Its strange because the end of the Tsuka (handle) looks to be recessed on the Urra side for traditional tsukamaki. The recess was done so that the knot did not protrude or stick out to far. However I cant imagine that this tsuka was ever wrapped in ito to begin with.??
The saya opening also appears to wide for the habaki suggesting it was not made for this tanto. The mekugi ana looks to be recently drilled as well...

 

[KSgent]

Its strange because the end of the Tsuka (handle) looks to be recessed on the Urra side for traditional tsukamaki. The recess was done so that the knot did not protrude or stick out to far. However I cant imagine that this tsuka was ever wrapped in ito to begin with.??
The saya opening also appears to wide for the habaki suggesting it was not made for this tanto.

so you think the blade has been changed? That's interesting, I had noticed the recession but couldn't figure out why it was there, I wonder if the handle was actually wrapped at some point. I have posted the same pictures to a Nihonto forum, I'm hoping the signature on the tang is in good enough condition to identify, I've been trying to translate it with little (slow) success.

 

[brandoak]

Those guys over at the Nihonto forum will shed some better light on it for you. Its looking more and more like it was a cut sword, a sword that was cut down or salvaged to be a tanto and then stuffed into furniture it did not belong in. ...in other words ...a mess. Its still neat! Good luck in your search!

 

[Rhinoknives1]

I was given on consignment a collection of 10 different Japanese swords & a Tanto ....some turning out to be three hundred years plus all purchased by a US service man that was in our occupation forces in the late 1940’s ... many of these had been refitted numerous times and one was a cut down Tanto from a sword.. have fun completely Iding that baby and get ready for conflicting reports from the “Experts” do you find any Oragami? Paper work??

 

[KSgent]

I was given on consignment a collection of 10 different Japanese swords & a Tanto ....some turning out to be three hundred years plus all purchased by a US service man that was in our occupation forces in the late 1940’s ... many of these had been refitted numerous times and one was a cut down Tanto from a sword.. have fun completely Iding that baby and get ready for conflicting reports from the “Experts” do you find any Oragami? Paper work??

Sadly no, and the one who gave it to me has no other information about it.

 

[KSgent]

In case anyone wants updates, the people at the nihonto forum said the signature translated to “Kiku Ichimonji Saku” nobody has been able to read the date though, which is pretty worn. Thanks everyone for your opinions and lots of helpful information!