Bruce Pennington Posted February 6, 2020 Author Report Posted February 6, 2020 Hey Bruce, here's another, can you translate? Neil, good buddy, I'm getting old! Any way you can get a more clear picture of that serial number? Especially that kanji at the top? It's obviously a Koa Isshin - Mantetsu made this; Spring 1943 Serial # ? 304. But there are a couple of kanji that COULD fit that image, but it's mighty blurred. Quote
16k Posted February 6, 2020 Report Posted February 6, 2020 would have thought like you, but is the line at the part of the character or just a deep scratch? Quote
IJASWORDS Posted February 6, 2020 Report Posted February 6, 2020 Took off the tsuka and sketched it , Quote
16k Posted February 6, 2020 Report Posted February 6, 2020 "shi" then. ...Our first "SHI" for 1943.... 1 Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted February 6, 2020 Author Report Posted February 6, 2020 After your sketch, Neil, I agree with "Shi" シ. It was possible it was TSU ツ or SO ソ, but both of them are 1942 numbers. And while anamolies exists, they are rare. I'm putting this down as a Shi, unless someone puts up a good arguement for something else. Thanks Neil, it's been added. It's been 2 months since I posted the Mantetsu Study document. In that 2 months we've added 13 serial numbers and have made several corrections to existing kanji/serial numbers after a thorough review by Thomas (thanks Thomas!!!). So I've attached the latest version of it for those interested. mantetsu serial numbers (1).pdf 1 Quote
Kiipu Posted February 6, 2020 Report Posted February 6, 2020 (edited) Mantetsu Yearly Serial Number Prefixes 昭和丁丑 1937: Unknown. 昭和戊寅 1938: C, N. 昭和己卯 1939: N, V, W, イ, ロ, ハ, ニ, ホ. 昭和庚辰 1940: ホ, ヘ, と, チ, リ, ヌ, ル, ヲ. 昭和辛巳 1941: ワ, カ, ヨ, タ, レ, ソ, ツ, ネ, ナ. 昭和壬午 1942: ラ, ム, ウ, ヰ, ノ, オ, ク, ヤ. 昭和癸未 1943: マ, ケ, フ, コ, エ, テ, ア, サ, キ, ユ, メ, ミ, シ, ヱ, ヒ. 昭和甲申 1944: ヒ, モ, セ, ス, (イ). 昭和乙酉 1945: い. Purple = English letters. Black = Katakana. Red = Hiragana. Note how similar some of the characters are to one another. For example, ソ and ツ in 1941. Edited February 6, 2020 by Kiipu 1 Quote
Possumcop Posted February 25, 2020 Report Posted February 25, 2020 Bruce, here is another for you. Quote
Ganko Posted February 25, 2020 Report Posted February 25, 2020 I didn't realize they preceded the numbers with the Iroha sequence similar to what they did with type 14 Nambus. They would stamp serial numbers up to 99,999 and change the Iroha character then start over. Maybe to keep the enemy from knowing their production figures? 1 Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted February 25, 2020 Author Report Posted February 25, 2020 Bruce, here is another for you. Thanks Possom! I didn't have that one, I appreciate it! Quote
Kiipu Posted February 26, 2020 Report Posted February 26, 2020 Bruce, here is another for you. That is an army contract blade made in 昭和癸未春 [spring 1943], serial number ユ 二〇九 [YU 209]. Does the nakago have any W or M inspection marks? If so, how many? Quote
16k Posted February 26, 2020 Report Posted February 26, 2020 It’s something I was wondering too! Possum (your real name would feel less awkward:)), those W are often tiny and can be missed, so use a magnifying glass. Quote
Possumcop Posted February 26, 2020 Report Posted February 26, 2020 The is a small M on the same side as the date. I am just a beginner at this, does everything else look correct on this sword? Thank You, Sam Quote
16k Posted February 26, 2020 Report Posted February 26, 2020 Absolutely! Enjoy your Mantetsu, one of the finest sword ever made! Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted February 27, 2020 Author Report Posted February 27, 2020 Thanks for the update, and thanks JP for checking on that! Quote
drb 1643 Posted March 1, 2020 Report Posted March 1, 2020 Bruce, here is another one that I just picked up. It needs the front seppa that is missing. Tom 3 Quote
vajo Posted March 1, 2020 Report Posted March 1, 2020 Bruce, here is another one that I just picked up. It needs the front seppa that is missing. Tom Wow Tom in late mounts. Thats a nice one! Quote
drb 1643 Posted March 1, 2020 Report Posted March 1, 2020 Thanks Chris, the blade is not in the greatest condition. No pitting but someone "cleaned" it with an abrasive. Also the front seppa is missing, but I'm still very happy to have it! Tom Quote
BANGBANGSAN Posted March 1, 2020 Report Posted March 1, 2020 Tom Not many of Mantetsu in this mount, nice! Bruce, here is another one that I just picked up. It needs the front seppa that is missing.Tom Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted March 1, 2020 Author Report Posted March 1, 2020 Bruce, here is another one that I just picked up. It needs the front seppa that is missing. Tom Tom, thanks for the blade info! Spring 1944; SE 1029. I have some spare seppa. If you want to PM me your mailing address, I'll send them to you. Use what you want and send the rest back to me. Quote
IJASWORDS Posted March 1, 2020 Report Posted March 1, 2020 Bruce, my Spring 1944, has mune stamp SE2340. Also with a Dairen Stamp. Does this mean a definite sequence of numbers of manufacture by each factory? 1 Quote
BANGBANGSAN Posted March 1, 2020 Report Posted March 1, 2020 +1,I would like to know that as well, my two: セ 1066 &セ 2575. 1 Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted March 2, 2020 Author Report Posted March 2, 2020 Bruce, my Spring 1944, has mune stamp SE2340. Also with a Dairen Stamp. Does this mean a definite sequence of numbers of manufacture by each factory? +1,I would like to know that as well, my two: セ 1066 &セ 2575.Well, maybe you guys can help me figure this out, because just looking at the '44 Se line, it's mixed. I don't now what it means. If you have any thoughts, I'm all ears. The green highlights are "Nan" stamp and the blue are "Ren". Quote
Kiipu Posted March 3, 2020 Report Posted March 3, 2020 The green highlights are "Nan" stamp and the blue are "Ren". I think Bruce is testing me! "Green" is 連 and "Blue" is unknown. Stamped on the reverse side with 連: セ 一〇二九, セ 一〇六六, セ 一一四三, セ 一三一〇. Stamped on the obverse side with 連工: セ 二四三〇 and セ 二五七五. Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted March 3, 2020 Author Report Posted March 3, 2020 I think Bruce is testing me! "Green" is 連 and "Blue" is unknown. Stamped on the reverse side with 連: セ 一〇二九, セ 一〇六六, セ 一一四三, セ 一三一〇. Stamped on the obverse side with 連工: セ 二四三〇 and セ 二五七五. Ok, "Grasshoppahh" you snathced the rock! You are free to wander the desert southwest of the mid-1800's USA@! Oy vey! I guess I had been sampling the Nikka Whiskey when I posted that! Soooo... yes considering the "unknowns" MAY be Ren-stamped blades as well, then I suspect these blades were all made in sequence by the same factory. Quote
IJASWORDS Posted March 4, 2020 Report Posted March 4, 2020 Thought I would put up a few pics of my Winter 1938 Mantetsu, Bruce already has the numbers. I guess this is fully Chinese made due to the uncommon Manchurian Railway stamp. This is an early made example. Has very visible hada, and nice Hamon. 3 Quote
Kiipu Posted March 5, 2020 Report Posted March 5, 2020 (edited) Make it three. http://kajiyahiroshi.com/nihonto/gunto/ka038052/token-ka8052.html 昭和壬午秋 ヤ 七三六 http://ohmura-study.net/712.html And now four 1942 dated Mantetsu 興亜一心 blades stamped with an M partial inspection stamp along with a 東 stamped kabutogane is known. The latest one is also stamped with the symbols for 東京第一陸軍造兵廠 [Tōkyō 1st Army Arsenal] and 株式會社中野商店 [KK Nakano Shōten] on the other side of the kabuogane as well! See list below. 1. 昭和壬午春 ウ 二〇 2. 昭和壬午春 ノ 四三〇 3. 昭和壬午春 ヤ 七三六 4. 昭和壬午春 ヤ 一〇四八 Edited March 5, 2020 by Kiipu Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted March 5, 2020 Author Report Posted March 5, 2020 Thomas, I see the "To" but don't see the Nakano stamp? Quote
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