An Antique Japanese Samurai Horse Bit or Kutsuwa - Bit415 dixon This is a dark steel

This is a dark steel curb

Please look at the images

keeper 5½" (14cm)

possibly from Peru

An Antique Japanese Samurai Horse Bit or Kutsuwa - Bit415 dixon This is a dark steelThis bit is made of iron, its surface is dark and a little pitted, but it is in a very stable condition. It has a single jointed mouthpiece, the cheekpieces have cross bars and a split loop which would have suspended the bit from the headstall. The bit has simple circular rein rings. There are no makers marks or stamps, so dating this bit is difficult, it is probably 18th or 19th century, but this design can be seen in much earlier bits. Mouthpiece