[pbleed]

As a long term lurker, it is a joy to see an Ainu kakiri. I am sure that this is a Showa era piece, certainly made for the collector's trade - rather than for use as a working belt knife. It is certainly well-crafted and handsome, tho I see it as a bit over the top. A key feature of makiri was the scabbard that was carved hollow, rather than made of two halves that were carved and glued. Often that involved opening a section of the back edge - as well as a hole in the tip and at the opening, of course.
Darn nice!
Peter Bleed