Dad's Mantetsu Koa Issin

[Shawn7]

[Shawn7]

[Shawn7]

Bruce, I think you saw this sword back in March, and posted some of the pics here for reference.  I'm fairly certain I purchased it right after you saw it.  Let me know what you think, and if you need any more pics, info, etc.  Thanks!

[Bruce Pennington]

10 hours ago, Shawn7 said:

Bruce, I think you saw this sword back in March, and posted some of the pics here for reference.  I'm fairly certain I purchased it right after you saw it.  Let me know what you think, and if you need any more pics, info, etc.  Thanks!

First, and "Oops" - When I said to post them here, my head has us on the Mantetsu Survey thread!  But this is fine.  

 

Yes, that's that Shigefusa blade!  If I recall, there is no serial number, right?  Even so, if you could post a photo of the nakago mune, showing no number. I'd like it for the file as I don't have one.

 

How do you like it?  How does if feel in-hand?

[Shawn7]

I'll try to get some more pics this weekend.  I believe you are correct that there is no serial number whatsoever.  As to the feel, I rather lucked into this one in that it was already at my perfect length.  I had another koshirae made for it that makes it perfect, and I have it in that, displayed next to the original koshirae.  I'll get some pics of that as well. I did have it polished, and the hamon is exceptionally wide, as can be seen in my earlier picture of the blade.

[BANGBANGSAN]

On 12/14/2023 at 10:36 AM, Shawn7 said:

Bruce, I think you saw this sword back in March, and posted some of the pics here for reference.  I'm fairly certain I purchased it right after you saw it.  Let me know what you think, and if you need any more pics, info, etc.  Thanks!

It was sold by Showa22, right? If I remember correctly.

[Shawn7]

3 hours ago, BANGBANGSAN said:

It was sold by Showa22, right? If I remember correctly.

Yes.  It needed polished, but I took that into account.

 

[Bruno]

15 hours ago, Shawn7 said:

It needed polished, but I took that into account.

 

Woody Hall would do a fine polish on it.

[Shawn7]

6 hours ago, Bruno said:

Woody Hall would do a fine polish on it.

Thanks!  This one is already done, but I have others that could use it.  Mantetsu are the only exception my togishi makes for non-traditionally made swords.  I have a Kai gunto and another Shin gunto that could use some help.  How can I get in touch with Woody?

[Bruno]

12 hours ago, Shawn7 said:

Mantetsu are the only exception my togishi makes for non-traditionally made swords.

Shawn,

 

Woody told me more or less the same regarding my Mantetsuto, it was 2 years ago. He won't polish standard showa-to but may do exception for well finished  ones.

 

I reach him on Messenger but can ask him more details to contact him if you need.

 

[Bruno]

13 hours ago, Shawn7 said:

This one is already done

May I ask who polished it? Any photos?

[Shawn7]

43 minutes ago, Bruno said:

May I ask who polished it? Any photos?

Wayne Sunday 

[Shawn7]

On 12/14/2023 at 8:09 AM, Bruce Pennington said:

First, and "Oops" - When I said to post them here, my head has us on the Mantetsu Survey thread!  But this is fine.  

 

Yes, that's that Shigefusa blade!  If I recall, there is no serial number, right?  Even so, if you could post a photo of the nakago mune, showing no number. I'd like it for the file as I don't have one.

 

How do you like it?  How does if feel in-hand?

Here is the pic, Bruce:

[Shawn7]

8 minutes ago, Shawn7 said:

Here is the pic, Bruce:

[Bruce Pennington]

Thanks Shawn, beautiful fittings too!

[Shawn7]

2 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said:

Thanks Shawn, beautiful fittings too!

Thank you!  My sensei has a Mantetsu as well, which I hope to be photographing and documenting when he returns from his trip.  I'll add it to your survey when I can.  If you ever need any more pics or info, please let me know.

[Stephen]

@Bruce Pennington

in case you haven't seen

 

https://www.ebay.com...r=artemis&media=COPY

[Guest Simon R]

$7,500 for a Mantetsu? Seriously? 😳

[Bruce Pennington]

46 minutes ago, Stephen said:

@Bruce Pennington

in case you haven't seen

 

https://www.ebay.com...r=artemis&media=COPY

Thanks Stephen!  I have that one on file from seller 'Smallsword' back in Oct '23.  Can't recall if 'jewelry&coin' is Smallsword, but I think he changed his ebay name.

[Karu]

46 minutes ago, Simon R said:

$7,500 for a Mantetsu? Seriously? 😳

Expensive yes, but I think mantetsuto with the Manchuria Railroad company stamp are quite rare, aren't they ? maybe wrong

[Conway S]

It says best offer… And yes this is one of the more rare early ones (this one is dated 1939). The stamp is for those produced at the Dairen Railroad Factory which predates the Koa-Issin inscriptions.
 

The seller still comes up as smallsword when you click on the individual listings. 
 

Conway

[Shawn7]

12 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said:

Thanks Stephen!  I have that one on file from seller 'Smallsword' back in Oct '23.  Can't recall if 'jewelry&coin' is Smallsword, but I think he changed his ebay name.

Bruce, unless I'm seeing things, that's a Tachi mei!  Weren't those only produced for important people in the company?  I've only heard of two of them so far, and that price is actually in line with those others.

[Bruce Pennington]

15 hours ago, Shawn7 said:

Tachi mei!

Shawn,

I checked a sample in each of the years and they are all on the same side as this.  

[Shawn7]

6 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said:

Shawn,

I checked a sample in each of the years and they are all on the same side as this.  

Interesting!  Granted, mine is not standard, but it is opposite, as is the other ebay entry adjoining this one, and the one pictured in Modern Japanese Swords.  Those all have the mei on the omote, and the date on the ura, and do not have the railway stamp.  This one is the reverse.  Did all the others you checked have the railway stamp as well?  Do you have any in the survey that have the mei on the ura that don't have the stamp?

[Bruce Pennington]

I’m sorry Shawn, I am a bit overwhelmed at home, taking care of two households, and may have rushed my search and maybe didn’t understand fully the point you were making. Also, I always have to relearn the language when guys are talking about which side the sword is named on.

 

 It will be a while before I can look into this again, maybe Thomas, or Trystan can enter this for you. 
 

@Kiipu @BANGBANGSAN

[Kiipu]

The alphanumeric Mantetsu, that is those with an A to V serial number prefix, have the markings in the following positions.  There have been no exceptions so far.

Obverse (Ura-mei 裏銘): Year & Season.

Reverse (Omote-mei 表銘): SMR logo.

 

Starting with the W-series, the Kōa Isshin 興亜一心 slogan takes the place of the SMR logo.

[BANGBANGSAN]

The Mei on the Taichi that Mantetsu gifted to some employees who have worked for 25 years is reversed.

 

[Bruce Pennington]

Super!  Thanks guys.  It would have taken me quite a while to to figure that out.

[Shawn7]

My thanks to you!  I've been hearing about the Tachi mei Mantetsu and haven't had a chance to see the mei.  Great stuff!

[Shawn7]

22 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said:

I’m sorry Shawn, I am a bit overwhelmed at home, taking care of two households, and may have rushed my search and maybe didn’t understand fully the point you were making. Also, I always have to relearn the language when guys are talking about which side the sword is named on.

 

 It will be a while before I can look into this again, maybe Thomas, or Trystan can enter this for you. 
 

@Kiipu @BANGBANGSAN

Bruce, you never have to say you're sorry to me.  I deeply appreciate the knowledge you provide, and I know all too well how life sneaks up on us some times. Hope your situation improves.  Smooth sailing on calm seas.