I have 3 of what I believe to be Japanese naval dirks. One of them I believe is a naval cadet version. Another seems to be a regular officer version. The third has a hilt of smooth brown composition and a metal scabbard. None of them has a mekugi of any sort, although the cadet version has a tiny pin showing on one side of the hilt. Can anyone offer any ideas with regard to identifying these items? Thanks.
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Japanese Naval Dirks
- Thread starter RichardM
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Welcome to the forum.
We're going to need some pics.....
We're going to need some pics.....
Definitely need photos.
You also might get better responses in this BF subforum.
Sword Discussion
The place to discuss all aspects of swords and sword fighting from the traditional style of the Samurai to modern European fencing, you will find it here.
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There are a quite a lot of REPLICA Navy Dirks on the market. Seems to be with militaria of all kinds.
An authentic Imperial Japanese Navy TANKEN (Short Sword) taken apart below.
This Japanese (translated) website gives good information about these Tanken:
An authentic Imperial Japanese Navy TANKEN (Short Sword) taken apart below.
This Japanese (translated) website gives good information about these Tanken:
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Ken, I appreciate your response. I know I am not extremely knowledgeable in this area, but I don't get the idea these are fakes or replicas. I have had them for quite a long time. I don't know how long fakes have been common, but I think these may be older. Also, it seems as though a faker would have been more meticulous than to omit the mekugi, which is a pretty obvious piece. The one with the brown hilt also stands out as quite different, so I don't know what it might have been intended to replicate. The decorations on the scabbards are identical to each other, and they are slightly different from the pictures I have found, including yours. Th scroll work on mine is more open. I am still in a quandary as to what I have. Again, thank you so much for your time and effort in getting back to me, and thank you for the reference you provided.
Richar Mayward
Richar Mayward
Richard,
I do not have the expertise with this type of short sword to identify an authentic one, a replica, or a "copy"(ie;fake).
Although with "fakes" I can often spot them with Katanas. What I do know is that I have never seen a Naval Dirk without the mekugi,
actually often a Pin with a Sakura (cherry blossom) or other motif.
It would require someone well versed in these dirks to make any real determination. I am simply stating that there are many Replicas
available on the market. I am not suggesting anything either way about yours in this respect.
I would suggest you join and post your photos here:
www.militaria.co.za
Ken
I do not have the expertise with this type of short sword to identify an authentic one, a replica, or a "copy"(ie;fake).
Although with "fakes" I can often spot them with Katanas. What I do know is that I have never seen a Naval Dirk without the mekugi,
actually often a Pin with a Sakura (cherry blossom) or other motif.
It would require someone well versed in these dirks to make any real determination. I am simply stating that there are many Replicas
available on the market. I am not suggesting anything either way about yours in this respect.
I would suggest you join and post your photos here:
Nihonto Message Board
www.militaria.co.za
- Joined
- May 28, 2012
- Messages
- 3,189
I have a dumb question. What is a dirk?
Synov
Gold Member
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- Jan 21, 2023
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- 1,037
Whatever the police want it to be :^)
Thanks, Ken. I really do appreciate your inputs. I have not seen any depictions of them without mekugi either. That is why I am puzzled about what these are. I will keep searching.
For GatorFlash1 - a dirk is a type of knife (or very short sword). It can be either single or double edged. Japanese dirks are single edged. Scottish dirks are double edged. I think distinguishing a dirk from a dagger is matter of who is responsible for determining the terminology
Richard Mayward
For GatorFlash1 - a dirk is a type of knife (or very short sword). It can be either single or double edged. Japanese dirks are single edged. Scottish dirks are double edged. I think distinguishing a dirk from a dagger is matter of who is responsible for determining the terminology
Richard Mayward
The term "Dirk" often appears in Laws restricting certain types of bladed weapons. In most cases it seems to be used synonymously with "dagger". However, looking around it seems there is a direct reference to a traditional Scottish bladed weapon of military background.
Wikipedia:
"A dirk is a long bladed thrusting dagger.[1] Historically, it gained its name from the Highland Dirk (Scots Gaelic "Dearg") where it was a personal weapon of officers engaged in naval hand-to-hand combat during the Age of Sail[2] as well as the personal sidearm of Highlanders. It was also the traditional sidearm of the Highland Clansman and later used by the officers, pipers, and drummers of Scottish Highland regiments around 1725 to 1800[1] and by Japanese naval officers.[3]"
Cambridge Dictionary:
"a type of dagger (= small pointed knife) used as a weapon in Scotland in the past"
Vocabulary.com:
"A dirk is a knife that was traditionally carried by Scottish Highland soldiers. A dirk is known as a thrusting or stabbing dagger."
Macmillan Dictionary:
"a knife used as a weapon by Scottish soldiers in the past".
Wikipedia:
"A dirk is a long bladed thrusting dagger.[1] Historically, it gained its name from the Highland Dirk (Scots Gaelic "Dearg") where it was a personal weapon of officers engaged in naval hand-to-hand combat during the Age of Sail[2] as well as the personal sidearm of Highlanders. It was also the traditional sidearm of the Highland Clansman and later used by the officers, pipers, and drummers of Scottish Highland regiments around 1725 to 1800[1] and by Japanese naval officers.[3]"
Cambridge Dictionary:
"a type of dagger (= small pointed knife) used as a weapon in Scotland in the past"
Vocabulary.com:
"A dirk is a knife that was traditionally carried by Scottish Highland soldiers. A dirk is known as a thrusting or stabbing dagger."
Macmillan Dictionary:
"a knife used as a weapon by Scottish soldiers in the past".