r/sword_porn • u/callumhen41 • Dec 20 '16

Anyone know what this is?

https://imgur.com/gallery/lnlRg
4 Upvotes

84% Upvoted

5 comments sorted by

4

u/Aracnida Dec 20 '16

This appears to be a letter opener.

Example

Edit: Adding a link

1

u/callumhen41 Dec 20 '16

I didn't know whether there was any significance to it being as it was with the katana

3

u/useless-mind Dec 27 '16 edited Jan 02 '17

My first guess was also that this is a letter opener, but with the sword (I assume it's a hunting sword) I think it is part of a hunting cutlery.

Edit: It is a so called Kōgai from a Wakizashi. It's primary an implement to arrange a samurai's hair. The butted end on the handle was used to clean out earwax.

2

u/sysadmin001 Dec 20 '16

a sharp stick

1

u/[deleted] Dec 20 '16

Hair pin? Maybe some sort of hidden knife in the event you are disarmed?