Menukis are the ornaments that sword makers placed on the handle of the swords. They were secured to the handle via one or two pins on their back as well as the handle wrap. These ornaments came in pairs but over time they became separated making it difficult to find them as a set today. The menuki illustrated on the top photograph represent cherry blossoms and were used by the Japanese Army of WWII as their symbol. The rest of the menukis displayed on this page range in vintage from the 1700s to the 1800s.