Staying on the Japanese Theme: Japanese Trade Blades in SE Asia

[trenchwarfare]

Thanks. I was wondering, it it might be a Kubikiri. They tend to have non-traditional style hilts. Possibly Ainu, as stated.

[laEspadaAncha]

Another member on NMB who collects Ainu cutlery strongly suggests an attribution to the Matagi, the bear-hunting mountain men of northeastern Honshu...

Here's a couple more photos of the above example:

[trenchwarfare]

Thanks for the additional photos. Would love to have seen it, before GI Bubba, and his decendants ravaged it for the last 70 years.

[Emanuel]

Hello,

A forum member here has a very impressive katana blade from Thailand. The fittings were Thai but made to resemble Japanese fittings. The handle, for example was a dark/black wood carved to resemble the wrap on Japanese handles. A gorgeous sword actually.

I don't recall the name, but there is a recent Thai/Japanese film about samurai mercenaries at various Thai courts, very interesting and fairly well done IIC. I'll look for the name...

Emanuel

[laEspadaAncha]

Originally Posted by Emanuel

Hello,

A forum member here has a very impressive katana blade from Thailand. The fittings were Thai but made to resemble Japanese fittings. The handle, for example was a dark/black wood carved to resemble the wrap on Japanese handles. A gorgeous sword actually.

Hello Emanuel,

Any chance we might entice said forum member into posting a photograph of said Thai-mounted katana?

Cheers,

Chris

[David R]

In the Royal Armouries Leeds there is a large Japanese Katana/Nodachi in a very long hilt that came from China. As part of the convertion the Chinese had forged the tang out to a long wittle tang and then peened it over the pommel to hold it, rather than using the flat tang and peg it had been made with.

[DhaDha]

Originally Posted by laEspadaAncha

Hello Emanuel,

Any chance we might entice said forum member into posting a photograph of said Thai-mounted katana?

Cheers,

Chris

Sure!
At almost 40 inches it is a bit of monster. I've been lucky enough to handle a few of this style and this is the largest. Others have had different blade styles but similar handles, with the wrapped-style decoration, and oval profile. I find the different cultures represented fascinating.

[DhaDha]

BTW I believe the blade to be locally made, in the spirit of a Katana.

[Nathaniel]

Originally Posted by DhaDha

Sure!
At almost 40 inches it is a bit of monster. I've been lucky enough to handle a few of this style and this is the largest. Others have had different blade styles but similar handles, with the wrapped-style decoration, and oval profile. I find the different cultures represented fascinating.

Wonderful piece Dha Dha, thanks for sharing!