Original Japanese Late Edo Period Women's Kaiken Dagger with Lacquered Handle & Scabbard - Handmade Blade Military Books & Documents and is maker marked on

and is maker marked on the blade with HARVEY

This typical design has a cruciform hilt/guard with huge broad blades

and there are some additional dents

There is also a size 57 clearly stamped into the leather of the liner

the original manufacturer can still be seen:

Original Japanese Late Edo Period Women's Kaiken Dagger with Lacquered Handle & Scabbard - Handmade Blade Military Books & Documents and is maker marked onOriginal Item: Only One Available. Purchased at a recent military show, this is a very nice Japanese Kaiken (), which translates to "pocket sword". Very similar to the Tanto ( short sword), these were often worn by women, and were used strictly for combat and self defense purposes. Typically measuring 2025 cm (810 in) long with a single edged blade, these were usually housed in a plain mount with minimal ornamental fittings. These were once carried by