obiwanknabbe Posted January 26, 2018 Report Posted January 26, 2018 34.5 inches overall length... 23.75 inch nagasa...So i think i'm 99.99% correct in thinking that this is a cut down Mantetsu (which honestly i dont think i have ever seen before)... The placement of the mei in relation to the mekugi ana, in conjunction with the yasuri mei variations, seems to indicate it was a katana cut to wakizashi size ... but... i'm .01% curious.. is there an off chance this is a factory wak? Quote
PNSSHOGUN Posted January 26, 2018 Report Posted January 26, 2018 Compare to this one Ed had: http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/23002-mantetsu-wakizashi/ Reckon you're right, suriage. Is it still in Shin Gunto mountings? They were popular Tameshigiri swords for some time so it would be consistent with shortening to suit them. Quote
obiwanknabbe Posted January 26, 2018 Author Report Posted January 26, 2018 yes..still in war mounts.. wood saya.. leather sheath... i was thinking cut down for a tank or aircraft. 1 Quote
Dave R Posted January 26, 2018 Report Posted January 26, 2018 34.5 inches overall length... 23.75 inch nagasa...So i think i'm 99.99% correct in thinking that this is a cut down Mantetsu (which honestly i dont think i have ever seen before)... The placement of the mei in relation to the mekugi ana, in conjunction with the yasuri mei variations, seems to indicate it was a katana cut to wakizashi size ... but... i'm .01% curious.. is there an off chance this is a factory wak? Likely, indeed almost certainly a suraige blade, but still within regulation length, and a little long for "crew mounts". I have read elsewhere that Gunto no Soho put some emphasis of speed of draw, so my guess is it was shortened to facilitate that. It was in field mounts rather than formal ones after all. An online conversation about Gunto no Soho here. http://www.e-budo.com/archive/index.php/t-14638.html 2 Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted January 26, 2018 Report Posted January 26, 2018 Kurt, do you own this? Pretty cool, with the "Namizuzu street emblem" stamp! Quote
Ed Posted January 26, 2018 Report Posted January 26, 2018 Suriage. The last several characters of the mei are missing. Quote
obiwanknabbe Posted January 26, 2018 Author Report Posted January 26, 2018 No Bruce i dont own it.. was thinking of owning it.. but a cut down modern made sword seems like a poor investment unless i could get it on the super cheep.. its part of an auction lot with another tanto.. now if it was a Wak id be all over it. .. ill put in a low bid and see what happens.. tanto looks ok.. Quote
Dave R Posted January 26, 2018 Report Posted January 26, 2018 I think you will regret missing this... not today, but some time down the line! Quote
PNSSHOGUN Posted January 27, 2018 Report Posted January 27, 2018 Mantetsus are getting more and more collectable. This piece would be more interesting if the suriage occurred during WW2, but that would be hard to prove. Get it if you can, Mantetsu still in mounts with the emblem are rare and sought after no matter the condition. 1 Quote
obiwanknabbe Posted January 27, 2018 Author Report Posted January 27, 2018 some more pics of the blade.. what do you guys think is the max i should bid? 1 Quote
PNSSHOGUN Posted January 27, 2018 Report Posted January 27, 2018 Hard to say, not in polish and shortened, get it for what you can but don't go crazy. 2 Quote
obiwanknabbe Posted February 15, 2018 Author Report Posted February 15, 2018 It hammered for $1800... way to much for the condition in my opinion. Quote
reeder Posted February 15, 2018 Report Posted February 15, 2018 Rock island draws lots of different buyers with deep pockets. Quote
Stephen Posted February 15, 2018 Report Posted February 15, 2018 one coming up in PA 1st March https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/Japanese-mantetsu-manchurian-railway-katana-swo-302-c-e1949ccb03 few other swords too Quote
Mortis Posted February 18, 2018 Report Posted February 18, 2018 ☝???? Morphy's had one a few months ago that sold for $1800ish I believe. Might have been over 2 grand though, too. I can't remember. That auction house is about 1.5 hours away from me . I was thinking about attending this upcoming one just to take in the festivities. I'm not really looking to buy at the moment. Anything look interesting or worthwhile? Most look in fairly less than desirable condition to me. Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted May 3, 2019 Report Posted May 3, 2019 34.5 inches overall length... 23.75 inch nagasa...So i think i'm 99.99% correct in thinking that this is a cut down Mantetsu (which honestly i dont think i have ever seen before)... is there an off chance this is a factory wak? I was reviewing this discussion and noticed the hamon carries around the curve of the kissaki, meaning the tip wasn't shortened, so for the nagasa to be shorter than standard, someone had to move the hamachi and munemachi. This is not hard, I guess for a professional. Anyone know if there is a way to tell? I agree with Kurt that the mei is correctly placed around the mekugi-ana. Is there a standard distance from the ana to the machi? If the machi were moved, this might show in the measurement? Quote
PNSSHOGUN Posted May 4, 2019 Report Posted May 4, 2019 On a new Suriage there would be a large gap from the filemarks to the Machi one would imagine. Quote
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