Traditional Japanese hunting camping knives?

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Feb 3, 2006
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Anyone have pics of anything. I did a search for traditional Japanese knives and all I get are kitchen blades. Really like the traditional tanto and was wondering if there were any other knives that were more particular to outdoor/hunting use.
 
Kanetsune makes traditional Japenese style knives of many designs. Hunting, Tanto, Katana, etc. etc. http://www.kanetsune.com/

Kanetsune Shinobi
KanetsuneShinobi-1.jpg


Kanetsune Katana
KanetsuneKatana-2.jpg


Bark River Ltd Edition Tanto - US made, Japanese styling
BRKT-LtdEd2009Tanto-DIB-1.jpg
 
Anyone have pics of anything. I did a search for traditional Japanese knives and all I get are kitchen blades. Really like the traditional tanto and was wondering if there were any other knives that were more particular to outdoor/hunting use.

Tanto is not knife, but short sword (tan-short to-sword, like nihhonto - Japanese sword). What is called tanto here is actually Unagasaki - kitchen knife to prepare eel. It was big confuse when I ask for tanto waiter in Japanese restorant assuming that tanto is Japanese word for knife - it is like asking for sword here in Stake House...

Traditional Japanese knife has thick laminated blade with two side convex grind and simple handle. Kanetsune is one you should look for if you need it to be authentic. I have this with cherry bark wrapped handle:

Kanetsune-Matagi-Hunter-3-002.jpg


Somehow in Japan they do not care much about handle, about fit and finish, but blade heat treatment and edge always perfect. And of course it is carbon steel Shirogami (or Aogami) in the core layer - it is all quite corrosive.

Thanks, Vassili.

P.S. This is Kukihide - knife shop in Yokohama:

Kikuhide-08.jpg


Kitchen knives - you may see on the top - Unagasaki:

Kikuhide-10.jpg
 
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