440 Stainless Steel Knife Appraisal

Taiwanese 440 Stainless Steel Tanto Knife with Leather Sheath

The item is a fixed blade knife, likely a tactical or utility knife, accompanied by a black leather sheath. The knife features a blackened steel blade with a tanto-style tip, though significant wear indicates a loss of the original coating or finish, particularly towards the tip where the bare metal is exposed and chipped, revealing a lighter color underneath. The tang of the blade appears to be full or partial, leading into a hilt with a visible rectangular guard that transitions to the handle. The handle is black, possibly made of a texturized polymer or hard rubber, designed for a secure grip with a diamond-patterned or checkered texture across its surface. The butt of the handle has a small, triangular opening, which could be a lanyard hole. The blade itself shows markings that read "440 STAINLESS STEEL" and "MADE IN TAIWAN," indicating its material and country of origin. The overall length of the knife and sheath suggests it is a medium-sized personal carrying knife. The black leather sheath has a snap-button strap for securing the knife's handle and features an embossed design, possibly a ninja or warrior symbol, though it is somewhat indistinct due to the image clarity and angle. The stitching on the sheath appears to be intact, defining its shape. Given the 'Made in Taiwan' marking and the 440 stainless steel, this item is likely from the late 20th century to early 21st century. The condition shows evidence of use and wear, with the blade coating significantly compromised and the leather sheath showing some signs of handling.