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Dad's Mantetsu Koa Issin

Bruce Pennington
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Bruce Pennington Grand Master

Bruce Pennington

Posted
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Three years ago, my dad passed away and I got his WWII Japanese officer sword. It was missing parts, so I've spent the last 3 years fixing it up, and have just had it polished. If you'll indulge me, I'd like to tell the story, as much as I have.

 

It was made in Spring 1941, by the Mantetsu factory in Manchuria, and carrries the "Koa Issin" slogan. Don't know anything about it's path in the war, but by the look of the blade it did some duty in the field. My dad lied about his age (16 at the time) and joined the Marines in 1950. They kicked him out when Korea started, but he rejoined in 1956 and served 7 years and seperated as a Staff Sgt. Somewhere along that time, he picked up the Mantetsu. I wish I had asked him how he got it, but as a kid, it never occured to me. He did say that the missing parts were stolen buy guys "looking for jewels."

 

When I got it in 2014, it was missing sarute, rank tassel, tsuba/seppa, semegane, ishizuke, and mekugi. I found a nice tsuba/seppa set from a Japanese seller online, and ordered the mekugi online. Then I found someone selling a tsuka that had the same cloth sarute, which I swapped out to Dad's tsuka. When looking for rank tassels, most Field grade tassels were in the $500 range where the Comapany grade tassels were around $150, so I decided Dad's mantetsu could be a Captain's sword! I later found a semegane. Had to file the inside of it to get it up the saya far enough! And the last piece, the ishizuke, came from another Mantetsu saya from The Ozzy Samurai on one of the forums.

 

After a 2 year wait, my turn came up for the polish. I highly recommend David Hofhine. He did a fabulous job! I really debated about the polish. The blade was stained and scratched and showed that it had a bit of history. So I almost kept it that way. But in the end, it was Dad's and I wanted it to look top-notch, so I went ahead with it, and I'm glad I did. It's quite beautiful.

 

Since I have difficult uploading pictures on this forum, with large enough data and size, I'm just going to link to the same post on Gunboards: http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?828922-Dad-s-Mantetsu-Koa-Issin&p=7427746#post7427746

  • Like 7
vajo Grand Master

vajo

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Posted

Howly cow Bruce, that blade looks fantastic!! The hole sword looks like it came from Ohmuras site.

I think your father would be very proud about what you have done with his sword. Very, very nice.

 

Hold it, it's a treasure.

 

Best Regards

 

Chris

  • Like 1
Stephen Grand Master

Stephen

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I tried to copy and paste but got a notice NOT allowed!!

 

sad that forums cant share

 

 

anywho, job well done Bruce, you did your dad proud! love the polish, looks like a Yasukuni blade now. 

  • Like 2
Shamsy Mentor

Shamsy

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Hi Bruce,

 

I think the restoration turned out to be well worth it. It's not always about the money; some things are worth doing because of what it represents to you.

 

Cheers, Steve

  • Like 5
Bruno Mentor

Bruno

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Not yet, Bruno. Still saving up my fun money, but it's something I need to do.

Thanks Bruce. Aren't you afraid to store the blade inside the old gunto scabbard?

Bruno Mentor

Bruno

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The liner is dry and smooth. I live in dry Colorado, and I keep the blade oiled. So, all said and done - very little risk.

 

 

I have also the project to have a shiage done on my Koa Ishhin but will start with a shirasaya done first. I have chosen Bob Benson to do the shiage polish.

  • Like 2
  • 6 years later...
Bruce Pennington Grand Master

Bruce Pennington

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On 8/28/2017 at 12:55 PM, Bruno said:

 

 

I have also the project to have a shiage done on my Koa Ishhin but will start with a shirasaya done first. I have chosen Bob Benson to do the shiage polish.

Bruno,

Read this old post, and wondering if you made any progress on this?

Bruno Mentor

Bruno

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Hi Bruce,

 

I delayed this project. Eventually Woody Hall shall do the polish but he has a 60 swords back log, so it won't be polished tomorrow! :laughing:

  • Thanks 1
Bruno Mentor

Bruno

Posted
Posted
11 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said:

I waited 2 years in line to get mine done

That 's about that also for me concerning another WW2 blade he has at the moment. I am a patient guy, not a problem for me to wait.

  • Like 2
Shawn7 Rookie

Shawn7

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Hi Bruce!  Really appreciate this story, and all the work you have done on Mantetsu.  I have one I would like to get your opinion on.  Should I start a new thread or add to an existing one?

This thread is quite old. Please consider starting a new thread rather than reviving this one, unless your post is really relevant and adds to the topic..

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