tanto for comment

[Jason Anstey]

Originally Posted by Rich

Very nice tanto, not a kamikaze dirk. Much earlier than WW II. Handforged
and folded blade. Nice monkey theme fuchi/kashira and menuki. A very
nice same'-nuri saya (sheath covered with polished rayskin). If you can
remove the bamboo peg (they are tapered, so only come out one way),
the entire handle will slide off the tang. If there is any writing (Kanji)
on the tang, please post picture. DO NOT CLEAN THE TANG or Blade.
I suspect this is at least mid Edo period, but that is a guess without
seeing the tang.

Rich

The Japanese Sword Index
http://www.geocities.com/alchemyst/nihonto.htm

Boy am I glad that I covered myself by saying that It might be much better than a kamakaze blade?

Jonng, can you also take a pic of the other side of the saya (scabbard) so we can see if there is a slot for a kozuka (utility knife) as the tsuba is shaped to fit around such a handle.

cheers

jason