Bruce Pennington Posted August 21, 2023 Author Report Posted August 21, 2023 22 hours ago, Kiipu said: ウ七〇三 Thanks Thomas! I see it now after zooming in. Even more cool! Quote
farwest Posted October 14, 2023 Report Posted October 14, 2023 Hello, i bought this one. the number on the tang seems to be ra 493 which number is wrote on tsuba. i can not read in Japanese, then can i ve some help about manufacturing date? Thank you for your help 1 Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted October 14, 2023 Author Report Posted October 14, 2023 Hi Phil!, Thanks for posting your Mantetsu! You've got a Koa Isshin Mantetsu made in "Spring 1942" with serial number "(RA) ラ 485". A little puzzling since the painted number on the tsuka is 493. The "5" on the serial number is not solidly struck, so the fitters could have mistaken it for a "3". I could be wrong, and it is a 3 on the nakago mune, but I'm listing it as a 5 unless one of the other guys feels it should be 3. If SMR used the Fiscal Year beginning mid-April each year for their numbering, then this was made in the first 2 weeks of May, 1942. RA was the first line of blades made in '42, and they were making roughly 500 per month, on average. On that number, here's an example of a 5 and 3 together. The top line of the 3 is longer than the middle line, where the top line of the 5 is shorter, or no more than the same size as the the middle line. Also, you can see the vertical line between the top and middle lines, as well as partial vertical lines from the edges of the middle line going down. Quote
BANGBANGSAN Posted October 14, 2023 Report Posted October 14, 2023 2 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said: Hi Phil!, Thanks for posting your Mantetsu! You've got a Koa Isshin Mantetsu made in "Spring 1942" with serial number "(RA) ラ 485". Bruce It should be 495 四九五 1 Quote
farwest Posted October 14, 2023 Report Posted October 14, 2023 hello Bruce, thank you for the information. You're absolutely right, it is a 5 and not a 3. it may have been one of the last of the month. this thread is very interesting (thanks john) 1 1 Quote
slayersjoker Posted November 3, 2023 Report Posted November 3, 2023 Hello. I was asked to post the pictures of my Mantetsu sword. As you can see, it does not have the brand name "koa-isshin"; just the maker "Mantetsu". Made in 1943 spring; serial number KE 227; no stamp from the arsenal. 1 1 Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted November 3, 2023 Author Report Posted November 3, 2023 Hello Jun! Thanks for the photos! I actually had this one filed from it's sale pages on ebay, but appreciate knowing who's care it now resides in. This blade is cool for a couple reasons - It has the somewhat mysterious "W" stamp, which we now know is an inverted double chevron, the Army's "half-way inspection" mark; and it has a partially struck "Nan" stamp, on the back edge, of the Nan-man Army Arsenal Supervisory section. We only have 4 blades stamped on the mune like this, on file. Welcome to the Mantetsu Club! 1 Quote
Ontario_Archaeology Posted November 17, 2023 Report Posted November 17, 2023 Here is one on ebay, if someone wants to take the images off the listing and out it here that would be appreciated https://www.ebay.com...r=artemis&media=COPY Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted November 17, 2023 Author Report Posted November 17, 2023 Thanks Matthew! I've got that one on file from a month ago, being sold at the time by Smallsword. Looks like he's selling under a new name Jewelry&Coin. But it's the same guy. Here's the pics for those interested. It's a nice example of a '39 with only the SMR logo on the nakago. 1 Quote
Kiipu Posted December 19, 2023 Report Posted December 19, 2023 On 4/15/2019 at 10:08 AM, BANGBANGSAN said: It says belongs to General 石原莞爾 Kanji Ishiwara. Ran across it today and agree that it is suspect. The good general is indeed the rather outspoken Ishiwara Kanji. 石原莞爾閣下佩刀 = Ishiwara Kanji kakka haitō. e345454334 Quote
Kiipu Posted December 23, 2023 Report Posted December 23, 2023 A YouTube video of a 31st series Mantetsu can be seen via the link below. The crossguard is pierced and the polish is amazing. Special thanks goes to Trystan for grabbing a screenshot of the serial number. 昭和癸未春 = 1943 Spring. 興亜一心 満鐵作 = Kōa Isshin Mantetsu saku. ケ三〇八 = KE 308. 軍刀興亜一心滿鐵刀 1 Quote
Kiipu Posted December 23, 2023 Report Posted December 23, 2023 Cross-Reference 興亜一心 満鐵作之 = Kōa Isshin Mantetsu kore wo tsukuru. 昭和辛巳春 = 1941 Spring. ソ二一九 = SO-219. Help with translation on family NCO sword @Blaise Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted January 13 Author Report Posted January 13 6 hours ago, Decal said: from ebay last month Thanks Smith (is that your first name? We usually use first names at NMB). I'm glad you posted that. I had it in the files, but realized after your post that I had mis-labled it as a "Spring". I've fixed that now, thanks again! Quote
Decal Posted January 13 Report Posted January 13 4 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said: Thanks Smith (is that your first name? We usually use first names at NMB). I'm glad you posted that. I had it in the files, but realized after your post that I had mis-labled it as a "Spring". I've fixed that now, thanks again! Yes is my first name in my language meaning succeed 1 Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted January 14 Author Report Posted January 14 Thanks Smith! Got all 3 in the chart. Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted January 14 Author Report Posted January 14 @Decal I'm attaching the most recent version of the Mantetsu Serial Number Chart. You can use it to see if recently discovered blades are already recorded, if you like. kiipu-mantetsu serial numbers (rev1).docx 1 1 Quote
Brendan campbell Posted January 16 Report Posted January 16 Spoiler Hi Bruce, I don’t know if you have had this one before I acquired it . I have just received it back from being polished . 1 2 2 Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted January 16 Author Report Posted January 16 3 hours ago, Brendan campbell said: I have just received it back from being polished . Very nice, Brandon! Love it! I had this one on file from Antiques-atlas.com, but I've added your new photos. Thanks for the update. Quote
Brendan campbell Posted January 16 Report Posted January 16 Thanks Bruce, I restarted collecting after a 30 year break. I sold all my first collection back in the late 90 to date I have 2 Moritsugu Norisada guntos .1 repolished . 1 about to be started . 1 Takayama Nagamitsu, stuck in British border force , hopefully released in the a mediate near future.1 Shinano Tomomaro newly polished one of the best Gendaito I have ever seen .also waiting for polishing a Ujifusa and a nice Terahide. So if you need any info on these smiths I have examples . I lucky to have a togishi of over 40 years polishing near were I live in England , his teacher was a pupil of Kotoken Kajihara . All the best Brendan 1 1 Quote
Brian Posted January 17 Report Posted January 17 I have a Norisada, his work can be excellent from what I have seen, and it's one of my favorites. 1 Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted January 23 Author Report Posted January 23 A 1938 SMR Mantetsu in Navy Kyugunto fittings!!! 1 Quote
JohnWB Posted January 24 Report Posted January 24 I just saw this one on ebay from Showa22: "Prototype Koa Isshin Mantetsu", serial No. N 1 https://www.ebay.com/itm/235395849937?hash=item36ceaf9ed1:g:dREAAOSwtqVlrF9B&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA4DY2SjvTfA41OFCuE3Awoend%2F5b6BHNgVonp1wojbrNmyBv7UUFvSxf6bDxml1%2FvaZDFumMbLTEGD239o9sDO%2BwJt5CYCIOH7k1fWXoW%2BFBki5Mx%2FAUP6mLDl47xOb8ijq%2Fw0HKLxFplbanUQdYuc6kgzRBc%2FnFRHedWMSReZi4AsJEfQA0JlKYIJcYQ0dGojAJKHM1xbkhWNzkTMznDLQoWp%2BsoBfvDVGn1lUPCTMOkchgAlLY3dO%2F9qAS5Ufom%2FZUoP2uoKdrjzYVqXJNGWLxAy%2Fya8qovGrCOwpIq%2Bwt7|tkp%3ABk9SR_DA8sKnYw 1 Quote
Stephen Posted January 24 Report Posted January 24 Following to hear opinion I think I smell lutefisk. Quote
Ontario_Archaeology Posted January 24 Report Posted January 24 28 minutes ago, Stephen said: Following to hear opinion I think I smell lutefisk. I sent that to Bruce in DMs. He stated that it has popped up several times, and he keeps changing the mounts on it. Quote
Stephen Posted January 24 Report Posted January 24 1 hour ago, Ontario_Archaeology said: he keeps changing the mounts on it Mei filled with chalk to hide it was just cut. Quote
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