Japanese Nata "Machete"

T

TrapDrag

Joined
Jun 21, 2014
Messages
18
I found this Nata at the flea market this morning for $5.00.

The blade is about 8.5" long. Looks like it took some damage to the tip and it was re-shaped. A few licks on a stone got it shaving sharp.

It's got some Japanese characters stamped on the blade with a 21 (size?) on the reverse. For all I know it could say "Eat at Joe's".

The sheath is wood wrapped in what looks like bark with a leather frog. The is a brass lined drain hole on the bottom.

Tourist piece or something worth having?

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dude i have no idea, if it said legitimus on it then maybe we could help but i think you're better off asking the kukri guys or something
 
I found modern ones at the hardware store in Okinawa. Looks like yours is of much higher quality, nice score.
 
DeadFall27 said:
I found modern ones at the hardware store in Okinawa. Looks like yours is of much higher quality, nice score.
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I was told by a member on another forum that has a Japanese wife that the characters was the maker's name in OLD style kanji - probably made pre-war... First character is a family name but she can't make it out. Second character is first name "Yuya". And third character means "special make".

Then it clicked to where I had seen one before. A GI in Vietnam had one and made a OD webbing pouch for the wooden sheath. He said it was better for bamboo and such than a US issued machete due to the chisel edge.
 
We had similar ones issued in Special Forces, most with a rounded tip, and a canvas type sheath. They were the idea of Conrad "Ben" Baker, who worked in the CISO (Counter Insurgency Support Office" and who developed the famous SOG knife, the CIDG rucksack, the PIR ration and lots more equipment. Ben was recently approved as a DMOR (Distinguished Member of the Regiment-1st Special Forces) and will be inducted in several weeks. They were very efficient in cutting bush and bamboo. The one you got is a great looking tool. John
 
It's a better than average quality tool,if only because someone has bothered to laminate the edge on,judging by the weld-line by hand,and done very well.
Nata is not necessarily,or narrowly,purposed to be used as a machete....it's not uncommon for it to be used as a woodworking tool,in a number of trades...cooperage,cabinet-maker,shipbuilding....Very well designed,useful tool,and this one looks to be very well made...
 
jake pogg said:
It's a better than average quality tool,if only because someone has bothered to laminate the edge on,judging by the weld-line by hand,and done very well.
Nata is not necessarily,or narrowly,purposed to be used as a machete....it's not uncommon for it to be used as a woodworking tool,in a number of trades...cooperage,cabinet-maker,shipbuilding....Very well designed,useful tool,and this one looks to be very well made...
Click to expand...

What little I could find out lead me in the direction of a multi-use tool. I even found some that were made entirely of steel with cloth/cord wrapped handles with a hooked hilt for hanging at the end of the day. Those seemed to be used on farms and such for a lot of different chores.
 
Outstanding example of the tool. Not a tourist piece at all. Take care of it and use it well. It is not, however, a sword. The technique for use is to make short chops. Batonning is also done with these, but using a round mallet, akin to a cooper's froe.

Zieg
 
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