What is the type of knife & blade is this?

[postmodernnut]

I bought this knife in a lot and have been trying to figure out the type of blade it is, also the locking mechanism, which I think it lockback. Any help will be greatly appreciated. The cutting edge is on the right hand side of the image, and it begins about 1 1/4 inches from the handle. The pushbutton on the bottom middle disengages the lock. Also what or why is the back of the blade pitted, intentionally. The bottom image shows a small portion of the Japanese characters stamped in the blade.

[OLDE CUTLER]

Could be a woodworkers marking knife. Instead of a pencil, one would draw this blade along the square for a very precise mark for joint cutting. Is it sharpened on just one side?

[OSCAR]

Definitely a wood marking knife. I use one for years instead of a pencil but mine don’t fold.
The “pitting” isn’t added. They just didn’t grind out the forging marks as it’s not necessary for a wood marking knife. Not needed for rough carpentry but invaluable for marking dovetails and other close fitting joinery in woodworking.

[catspa]

I agree, a kiridashi. Folding ones like Oscar’s are much less common than fixed ones.

All I’ve ever bought or made have been chisel ground, basically the equivalent of a very acute skew chisel without a protruding handle.

Interesting lock.

Parker

[postmodernnut]

Could be a woodworkers marking knife. Instead of a pencil, one would draw this blade along the square for a very precise mark for joint cutting. Is it sharpened on just one side?

Yes, only 1 side. Thank you very much for your thoughts. It is never one I would have thought of its use.

[postmodernnut]

Thank you gentlemen I very much appreciate the discussion and thoughts. It would be quite precise, with a mark from the knife, rather than a pencil. Yeah.

[catspa]

It’s pretty much a furniture/cabinetry making tool, or other fine woodworking. Although some finish carpenters (including myself) have used them out on the job. There’s right and left handed ones.

Parker