rivet on a sword hilt
A small metal pin that secures the blade tang inside the hilt of a Japanese sword. Domain-specific term used in sword-making and martial arts contexts.
I removed the rivet from the sword hilt and drew the blade from the handle.
Compound of 目 (me, 'eye') and 釘 (kugi, 'nail'), referring to the small nail-like pin that resembles an eye in the hilt. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.