Japanese 1883 Pattern Naval Officer’s Dirk, WW2 Production

Straight single-edged blade with shallow fuller, brass habaki, brass S-shaped crossguard, white rayskin grip wrapped with gilt brass wire, brass pommel. Brown leather-covered wood scabbard with brass throat and chape pieces, two opposite hanging rings at the throat. Gilt brass cherry blossom menuki, further cherry blossom and leaf motifs to pommel and scabbard fittings.

Officer’s equipment was privately purchased, so these purely ceremonial dirks vary in form and quality of construction. This example is of wartime construction, with many of the simplified design features typical of late war examples, such as the very basic blade, rough habaki, and the lack of a locking mechanism. Note that the throat piece of the scabbard still has a hole for a locking button, suggesting reuse of a preexisting part in the revised simpler format.

Blade is clean and unsharpened, a few nicks to the edge. Rayskin is fully intact and tight, wire wrapping is also 100% with only slight movement. Minor dents to the scabbard leather, no flaking. No dents to any brass part, some wear to pommel piece, brass patina as expected for age.