A JAPANESE IRON KNIFE

A JAPANESE IRON KNIFE, UMABARI OR BASHIN

EDO 1603-1868

With a short slim blade engraved with an abstract design, the handle with two lines of calligraphy, together with a fitted wood tomobako box, 20.1cm. (3)

Provenance: An English private collection, Surrey.

These blades are said to have been used as horse bleeders or back-up weapons for samurai.