I need help to identify a knife?
I bought a knife at a yard sale today because it looked intresting and I collect bladed wepons. however I am not fermilure with this type of knife and would like to know what it is is propper name value what its primary use is ect. heres a bref description.
the blade is aproxamently 9 inches long I beleve it is stainless steel it has a very fine carved hard wood handle with a brass dragons face on the handle the blade is shaply curved I know that it was made in japan and its bares the name samuri on the blade near the handle. The knife also has a A shaped hand gaurd between the handel and blade that is made of a stonger but simmler steel as the blade.
in my exsperiance stainless steel normal means kitchen knife not combat knife but ive never seen or heard of a kitchen knife with the attention to detail that was put into this handle nore have I ever seen a kitchen knife with this fine a grade of wood for the handel also I have never heard of makers of kitchen knifes put hand gaurds like these on them. I dont know what type of knife this is and cannot find one like it on the net so please if anyone can shd some light on it please help?