What is this? Junk? Japanese Shuriken?

Bought this on a whim over the weekend. Owner had some nice Asian items. I got the feeling they had been brought back from military service there, probably during WWII. I have no idea what this is but it’s reminiscent enough of a “ninja throwing star” to make you wonder. The Japanese called throwing weapons Shuriken it looks like. Could it be this? Is it a Repro/fake? Some industrial piece that has nothing to do with a weapon? I remember as a kid my dad had something resembling a throwing star to my eyes. Turns out it was used when he worked in a thread mill as a young man for cutting. This piece is quite big compared to the throwing stars you’d see in movies or for sale as novelty items. Dime for scale.

 

Looks like a "Throwing Star". Don't really know what else it would be. Or a meat grinder blade without the hole in it - LOL!

 

What about that rectangle in the middle??? Any way you can rub on it to see if any letters show up......???? Is the others side exactly the same?

 

it's a strange cut and size for a 4 pointed star......but don't throw it at me please....

 

I think that was probably left by removing of a sticker or tape. Seller uses heavy tape to mark prices. Looks like whatever was there had been there for a while though. I bought something else that had a very old piece of tape with country of origin written on it so this may have had the same thing on it.

 

If you search “antique Shuriken” you’ll see quite a variety of shapes and sizes. I don’t find this exact one though. It’s pretty thick and heavy. Even though it’s not sharp anymore (assuming it once was) you’re correct that you wouldn’t want it thrown at you.