Bruce Pennington

Which is why I've hung onto the horrible one I have - I can't tell if it's a fake or just a really poorly made gunto, late in the war, etc.

I agree with Geraint it’s a well made fake. Blossoms have points rather than rounded. Boar’s eye (heart shape) holes are just drilled out holes. The same blossom problem on the fuchi. I own a fake probably made by the same shop.

I honestly haven’t actually seen that many to say Stephen. Ohmura’s example has it an inch over the mekugi ana, but his doesn’t have the Koa as high as this one. It does seem like the initial years of production of any Type gunto has a bit of looseness in quality control and standardization.

Thanks Tom! I sent him a message and he said he’d look tonight for the serial number.

Another update from Nick Komiya: Bruce Pennington: “Thanks Nick! So my take, if I understand correctly, is it is happening and just depends upon the judging team and municipality. 11-17-2018, 04:03 AM #12 nick komiya: Yes, happens all the time and the difference between municipalities is in the degree of prejudice towards Guntos among Nihontoh purists. There are 5 judging criteria and the first 4 are hardcore nihonto features, but the 5th serves as a loophole clause, as it serves to leave a margin of error by saying "None of the above, but with exterior attributes equally worthy of preservation as a work of craftsmanship". Whether a Showato survives is a question of whether the judge applies this clause.”

Something interesting. Found this 2008 discussion on Gunboards about the progression of the Mantetsu mei: Though, even this is not hard & fast, as I have recorded a 1944 Koa Isshin blade (Spring '44; "I" 1644 in Type 3 mounts). I would more likely accept the start date of each mei, but leave the end date more broadly open.

I was hoping one of the guys that really know this stuff would post some good examples. Thanks to Hamfish and Steve for theirs. I haven’t studied this area enough. I’m posting pics of my Star-stamped gendaito, and my polished Mantetsu. You can see lots of activity in the gendaito. While tha Mantetsu doesn’t have activity, it doesn’t have the dark spots of the oil quenched blade, which is why even my polisher thinks the blade was water quenched.

Here's the pics of Ed's wak, dated Autumn '40, serial Wa 33. 21" nagasa. Don't have pics of the actual wak.

Since this is turning into a broader study of the Mantetsu, I'm including a link to a discussion of a Mantetsu wak. It looks original, as the nakago and kanji don't look cut down. Dated Autumn '40. PM'd Ed to see if he has the serial number. http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/23002-mantetsu-wakizashi/

Didier, It is my understanding that the stamp wasn't widely used before late '41, but that implies that it WAS used to some degree before that. All of the stamping wasn't widely done at first. I see this in other areas where an official order, or we'd call ops spec, is issued but we don't see it in the field until a couple or 3 years later. The "Type 3" or Rinji model gunto is such an example. I'm glad to see your example, because it simply supports the idea that stamping was beginning to be used. I personally haven't seen a date earlier than yours, but others may have.

Ok, a MAJOR discovery! It's discussed in full on this thread http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/27137-very-unusual-konan-essei-mantetsu/, but I want to add it here as someone may only come across this thread in a google search. I have found a Spring 1945 Mantetsu blade with a different slogan "Kou-nan Issei". It isn't marked with the usual Mantetsu made this logo, but the workmanship, kanji style, and mune serial number all say "MANTETSU". The owner also has info/evidence that this was made for only "a few" upper level commanders toward the end of the war. I'm writing to him about that evidence. Hopefully he'll let us know. The serial number is unusual in that it has both a hiragana and katakana kanji before the number "22". It is "I Na 22" I've attached an updated chart of the collected numbers (over 80 now). Mantetsu Serial Numbers.docx

Well, I guess it just ended! Mr. Chua just sent me pics of the date and serial number of the Konan Essei blade, and it's Spring 1945. Serial number is odd in that it has a hiragana "I" and a katakana "Na", "22". So his story is correct. I'm writing back to see if he will let us know his source on the story. pics attached.

It’s possible a vet did bring this back. The tourist fakes were being made even back then.

There are some guys here who study these, and I'm not one, but from what I've seen, this looks good.

Interesting follow up from Nick Komiya, at Warrelics: “Now I know that the phrase Kou-nan 興南 was referring to the colonization of Southern China as well as Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, etc. The main emphasis of the Kou-nan program was development of Japanese multicultural administrators to run the colonies and promote Japanese language education. They started to train such personnel in April 1941 and the school was initially called Takunan-Juku (Development of the South Classes), a 2 year program that sent 300 graduates out to the southern countries. This school changed its name to Kou-nan-Rensei-in 興南錬成院 (Academy of Southern Territories Development Administrators) in November 1942 and, under that name, they sent out 179 graduates to the South. One year later, they will further change their name to Academy of Great East Asia Development Administrators. Thus colonial development of South East Asia initially used the phrase Takunan 拓南, then Kou-nan 興南 and further Great East Asia Development 大東亜. Think of it as a Japanese counterpart to something like "Pax Romana". Kounan, the phrase used on the sword was only used between November 1942 and November 1943. Thus the sword can be dated linguistically to this period. Koua, "Development of Asia" was a phrase used in a similar context, but preceded Takunan. So it is clear that "Koua-Isshin" and "Kou-nan Issei" were twin slogans representing Japan's pre-1944 coloniallization program and those slogans are attributed to a specific timeframe, but how and why they ended up being engraved on swords is another story. By the end of the war, after November 1943, Kounan-Issei was a dead phrase, and it was totally out of place to mention the phrase in connection with the last ditch efforts in the South Pacific, out of place like the German word "Lebensraum" in late 43/44.”

I don't know John. In the intro page, he says he's sold some of his watch collection, but he didn't mention swords being sold. 208 Japanese swords and 2 dirks!!!

Just got confirmation that the slogan was in use in Japan, culturally. He thinks it was more around 1942. Hopefully the owner will respond to my request for a date and serial number.

Came across this quite unusual gunto on the Kinghouse.sg, sword collection site. I tried copying the particular page, but the link takes you to page 1 of 27. The sword is on page 7. http://www.kinghouse.sg/collections_frame.asp?cat=8 He claims, and it does appear to be made by Mantetsu, but it simply "Konan Essei" stamped on the nakago (picture attached). According to the collector: "Extremely Rare Mantetsu sword signed "Konan Issei This is an extremely rare blade specially made by Mantetsu, South Manchurian Railway Company for the senior Officers at South Pacific War zone during the last stage of the War in 1945. very few were made and very hard to find. It's so rare that no literature on "Konan Issei" can be found. During 1944 and 1945 the Japanese suffered major reverses in mainland Asia in South Central China and Burma, while the Allies crippled the Japanese Navy and captured key Western Pacific islands. "Konan Issei" swords were created hastily from readily Mantetsu blades in very small quantity at Seki in 1945 at the final phase of WW2 to rush to the senior commanders fighting in the South Pacific War. "Konan Issei" was meant "to win the South Pacific War with determination" a "WAR CRY" to boost the morale of the very weary troops after loss of many battles. To the best of my knowledge, this sword, is so far, the only one with "Konan Issei" inscription that has surfaced unlike other swords made by Mantetsu. The hamon is suguha and except with the wordings" Konan Isshin, otherwise, it's very much a Mantetsu sword" It's the first I've ever heard of this, but it appears legit. He's got 3 other standard Mantetsu Koa's, and I've emailed them for the serial numbers. Hopefully they reply!

Interesting point Peter. Even from this standpoint, though, it is the scammers of the world that latch onto these, regardless of their reason to exit, and market them as something other than what they are in order to make a quick buck. Heck, from a pessimistic point of view, even Tibet has scammers in their midst (if there are humans present, there are crooks among them) and who knows what the innocent buyers are being told about those product! Maybe they are being sold as "WWII Japanese ....".

Interesting read on a Warrelics thread about a commonly seen style of fake sword. Guy and Nick go into the accurately written Japanese, and that a slogan normally wishing good fortune in war is rearranged to wish for continued war (against the Japanese!). The kanji and serial number on the blades are all identical as if stenciled and etched, and are obviously made by the same shop. http://www.warrelics.eu/forum/Japanese-militaria/help-fake-sword-712996-2/

Has a “Gifu” stamp, so showato.

Excellent one Mark! Thanks a lot!

Interesting. I just came across another post on Warrelics of another fake sword with the same blade etchings and serial number. Clearly a different sword with different koshirae, but obviously the same blade maker using maybe a template for the blade etchings.

Many thanks to Jon (PNSSHOGUN), for a great link that had 4 Mantetsu for sale ( Japanese site, double USA prices). One of them had the assembly numbers matching the seppa, stamped on the nakago! “278” “W”

Thanks John! That put me at 73 Mantetsu blades on the list! (I found 3, and DRDave found 1 more, so if there are more than 4 let me know).