Lot 257: Japanese Style Dagger with Fine Carved Bone Fittings

10" OAL, 6 1/2" blade set in a copper habaki. No mekugi visible; the blade appears permanently installed in the hilt. The hilt and saya are of bone construction (source animal unknown), with cloud and vine motifs on both, a dragon wrapping around the grip scenes of men in a field on the saya. The bone shows mild cracking and a fine aged color, and the blade shows minor spotting, with some swelling of the wood lining inside the say making it difficult to fully seat the blade inside.