A Japanese oni-no-yari or ‘demon spear’, Edo period, with long slender blade, blade length 54.5cm, the long tang with single hole piercing and signed to one face, mounted on an oak shaft, the upper grip of black lacquer with plain copper ring mounts, overall length 230cm (lacking hirumaki). Provenance: the collection of the late Roald Knutsen (1933-2025); purchased Wallis & Wallis, January 1961, for £3. Note: Roald Knutsen identified the signature as Shigehide and noted that there were four swordsmiths known by this name, most working throughout the 19th century. He also noted that the shaft has a feature with the copper rings suggesting probably used on horseback.