A very fine Japanese magari-yari, late Edo period, with stylistic trident-form head, head length 18cm, the fine long tang with double hole piercings and signed to both faces, mounted on a pear-section light oak shaft, the upper grip section of corrugated black lacquer and gilt rattan with copper metal collars and hirumaki terminal, overall length 278cm, the blade with black lacquer saya. Provenance: the collection of the late Roald Knutsen (1933-2025); purchased from Wallis & Wallis (Fairclough), January 1961, for £4. Note: illustrated in ‘Japanese Polearms’ by Roald M. Knutsen, The Holland Press, London: 1963, pages 138 & 148, plates 18 & 23. Roald Knutsen identified the signature as Bakufu-Shi Kawai Hisayuki (aged 78) Saku, and the date as ‘Bunkyu 3rd year 1st month’ February/March 1863, and noted ‘mint condition, a fine handsome spear’. Hisayuki was a swordsmith of the last shogun’s government in 1863.