A fine Japanese hira-sankaku yari, 16th century, the long triangular-section blade with deep cut and chiselled flame decoration, picked out with red lacquer, blade length 66.5cm, the unsigned tang with single hole piercing, overall length 86cm, with black lacquered and copper mounted scabbard, decorated with raised stylized fish and dragons. Provenance: the collection of the late Roald Knutsen (1933-2025); purchased from John Harding, 21st June 1962, for £2. Note: illustrated in ‘Japanese Polearms’ by Roald M. Knutsen, The Holland Press, London: 1963, page 166, figure 32. Roald Knutsen noted that this was possibly used at one time as a sword. He also noted that the flame groove suggests a samurai owner who followed the Mikkyo, either Shugendo or Shingon, as flames represent Fudomyo-o.