Attention Mantetsu Owners: A Survey

[PeterCollector]

On 9/18/2024 at 1:29 AM, Kiipu said:

 

Peter, can you check the date side of the tang, that is the side marked 昭和壬午秋, for any small M stamps.  The flattened M stamp will usually be located toward the top, the bottom, or both top & bottom.  If on the top, they are sometimes under the habaki.

I am sorry about that, but l can not move habaki, it is frozen to blade  I also did not see any M stamp.

[Kiipu]

Many thanks for looking Peter.  No need to proceed further and risk damage to the habaki.  The kabutogane looks to have a deeply struck 東, which would indicate an army contract blade from 1942.

[Bruce Pennington]

@mdiddy @Kiipu @BANGBANGSAN

Matt, just saw this 1944 Mantetsu in MRS fittings, with the "REN I" stamp.  Sale ends in 5 hours!  Any chance of getting a photo of the serial number, PLEASE!

*RARE MANTETSU* WWII Japanese Samurai Sword SHIN GUNTO WW2 KATANA TYPE 3 RAILWAY

[Bruce Pennington]

Matt kindly sent us this photo of that serial number, for the record. The katakana is partially struck, but it should be SE 2431 of 1944 Spring.

[PeterCollector]

Hello, 

 

dear fellow collectors, I just want to share my latest sword made my Mantetsu. What is really nice is that whole sword is numbered "6" or "9" - on each of its part. Blade is in full mint condition, marked two times with "w" charakter, one time "6" on the back and below ith is also marked with bad punch "6". Please can you help me with exact datation of the sword? 

 

There is also little marking on pommel. It looks like sword was made with set of only four seppa, but everything holds tight without any movings. The sword is in state in which I bought it, I did not polished it, on ly cleaned it with piece of cloth. I hope you like the sword and if you see any red flags, please tell me, but I hope there is nothing to worry about the sword.

 

Kind regards

 

Peter

[PeterCollector]

Here are few closeup photos of the blade, I hope you like it. 

 

Kind regards

 

Peter

[Bruce Pennington]

It's a real beauty, Peter!  Thanks for posting!

 

The small stamp on the kabutogane is the Tokyo 1st Army Arsenal inspector stamp.

 

The mei is Koa Isshin  Mantetesu made this

 

Date: Spring 1942

 

Serial number: ノ302, or "NO 302".  The NO series was right in the middle of the 1942 production year.  If they counted the year by fiscal year (April to next Mar), it would put your blade around Oct of '42.  If calendar year, it would be around Jun '42.

 

You can read more on the following, but in short, the "W" or "M" was a half-way inspection stamp used by the army.

The Mysterious W Stamp

[BANGBANGSAN]

@Bruce Pennington

Unfinished Mantetsu made in China

[Bruce Pennington]

Sad to see that!  Is it actually up for sale, or are they still finishing it?

[Kiipu]

Quote

For the sake of the sword enthusiasts in the flock I asked about his General’s sword.  He replied that it was, as nearly every officer’s sword in Manchuria, made of Manchurian Railway steel.  It had a brown scabbard, red and brown tassle and a leather combat cover that he removed for formal occasions.  In the tradition of the American western movies he carried a pair of Browning automatic pistols that were in holsters behind his back.  He spent many an hour practicing with these finely made pistols which were much smaller and better in quality than the domestic variety.

 

King, Dan. “Chatting Vets, Part VI: Subject: Lt. General Okada.” Banzai Issue 127 (November 1992): pages 300–303.

[Bruce Pennington]

Somebody get that serial number! HA!

 

Nice find, Thomas.  Does anyone know anything about LtGen Okada?  Searches online line have scarce info on him.  Looked to have been in mainland Japan jobs mostly.  He commanded 2 tank divisions in '42, but none of the job titles I can find say where.

[John C]

Red and brown tassel? No mention of a yellow tassel, but could just be talking about the himo (cord, not the other meaning!). 

 

John C.

[Kiipu]

Lieutenant General Okada's first name was not mentioned in the article.  He graduated from Osaka University in 1934 with a degree in chemical engineering.  He worked for Mantetsu after graduation in a research center.  In 1944, he was commissioned in the army.  Captured by the Russians and did not return to Japan until 1966.  When interviewed, he was 82 years old.

[Michael T]

In his book “Japanese Generals 1926 - 1945”, Richard Fuller lists two Lieutenant Generals and four Major Generals with the name OKADA. None of the biographies match the General we are looking for.

Bruce, the Lieutenant General you found is Okada Tasuku (Tasuke). He was executed on September 24, 1949. (Richard Fuller)

 

But: The Shin Gunto of Major General OKADA Umekichi is in the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, UK. I photographed it in 2012, and if anyone is interested, I can upload a few pictures.

[Kiipu]

In the article, I noticed that Lieutenant General was used but then the Japanese pronunciation was given as shosa [Shōsa 少佐 Major].  Secondly, it seems he was a 軍属 gunzoku.

[John C]

1 hour ago, Kiipu said:

Shōsa 少佐 Major]

That would explain the tassel not being described with yellow fringe.

 

John C.

[BANGBANGSAN]

On 3/9/2025 at 1:59 AM, Kiipu said:

Lieutenant General Okada's first name was not mentioned in the article.  He graduated from Osaka University in 1934 with a degree in chemical engineering.  He worked for Mantetsu after graduation in a research center.  In 1944, he was commissioned in the army.  Captured by the Russians and did not return to Japan until 1966.  When interviewed, he was 82 years old.

I think it is very likely to be Hiroji Okada (岡田寛二). He appears on the list of remaining personnel at the Central Research Institute in the "Manshū Railway Employees' End-of-War Records" ("満鉄社員終戦記録").

Additionally, he is mentioned in Issue No. 26 of the "Manshū Railway Central Research Institute Association Bulletin" ("満鉄中試会会報"), in a Heisei 12 (2000) article by Masashi Ishiguro titled "The Secret Story of the Escape from Dalian to Shandong After the War" ("石黒正『終戦後の大連脱出、山東行きの秘話』"). The article states:このとき相談を受けた幹部の一人が石黒正であった。5人の幹部とは、高木智雄・石川三郎・大槻茂寿・岡田寛二と石黒である。

He later served as Executive Director of Kyōwa Yūka Co., Ltd. (協和油化㈱) in 1971.

 

[PNSSHOGUN]

On 3/9/2025 at 10:25 AM, Michael T said:

In his book “Japanese Generals 1926 - 1945”, Richard Fuller lists two Lieutenant Generals and four Major Generals with the name OKADA. None of the biographies match the General we are looking for.

Bruce, the Lieutenant General you found is Okada Tasuku (Tasuke). He was executed on September 24, 1949. (Richard Fuller)

 

But: The Shin Gunto of Major General OKADA Umekichi is in the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, UK. I photographed it in 2012, and if anyone is interested, I can upload a few pictures.

@Michael T Would be most interested in seeing the sword from the Maritime Museum.