DIRK, Naval Officers, Japanese

Originally registered with a belt - belt missing 17/5/1973.
Tanto Of Kaigunto type ie: Standard Navy Officers issue WWII Black Lacqered leather Scabbard with gilt brass fittings. Straight grooved blade.
[.a] Blade - straight single edged curving towards point for lower 8cm. Single groove near back edge. Brass band around top 1 1/2cm. Blade is plated.Shape is Tanto. Length[Nagasa] 20.8cm, width at base[Motohaba] 1.7cm, width at point [Motosaki] 1.2cm.
Form is hira Tsukuri, blade taper[funbari] is slight, back[mune] is low ihore, carving is BoHi.
Edge - temper outline [Hamon] is Suguba [artificial], tip[boshi] is short Ko maru, return [Kaeri] is short. the forging technique and grain[kitae] is Muji The tang is uneven and has no signature.
The tanto is standard Navy issue to Japanese officers in WWII.
Hilt/handle - white same[Rayskin] wound with gilt wire grip. Fittings gilt brass 'ensuite' with scabbard. Quillon plain back curved down, forward curved up. Brass ferrule and top [with cherry blossom]
[.b] scabbard - black laquered leather, gilt brass throat and chape with cherry blossom motif.

W1970.827
United Service Institution Collection
Blade
Type: TANTO

Mei: mumei

Nagasa: 20.8 cm overall, fixed hilt

Sori: muzori

Sugata: hira tsukuri, iori mune

Hada: muhada

Hamon: artificially applied sugaba
Horimono: bo-hi

Date: 1926-45
This is a modern machine-made gunto blade of the type manufactured during World War II for issue to naval officers.
Koshirae
Type: KAIGUNTO

Saya: lacquered black leather over wood. Gilded brass kuchi gane and kojiri with cherry blossom motif

Tsuka: white same bound with gilt wire

Fuchi/kashira: en suite with scabbard
Menuki: en suite

Tsuba: adaptation of Western style guard

Overall length: 40.7 cm
This is a standard World War II naval officer’s dirk, which was surrendered at Rabaul in August 1945 to Capt. Bryce-Morris.

Department: 

Collection

History Collection

Collection Item Data