Manchurian Railway sword questioin?

Henry Stewart · November 25, 2008

Gentlemen

Just to put a preliminary toe in the water; does anyone know of an example of the Manchurian Railway sword which may be in circulation for sale?

Henry

Kevin · November 25, 2008

I have one for sale made of Manchurian iron, but not specifically Manchurian railway.

regards

Kevin

Henry Stewart · November 26, 2008

Thanks Kevin;

I'm given to understand they have a particular type of inscription on the nakago; Is this correct??

Henry

Hermes · November 26, 2008

Here's some good sites to check out, not Nihonto, but there some of the best cutters ever made, i have one, very nice Gunto for sure.

http://www.geocities.com/alchemyst/koa.htm

http://www.h4.dion.ne.jp/~t-ohmura/gunto_114.htm

http://www.k3.dion.ne.jp/~j-gunto/gunto_149.htm

Henry Stewart · November 27, 2008

James, Hi

Very many thanks for the three links you have given me; they are indeed what I seek;

Kind regards

Henry

Henry Stewart · November 27, 2008

Kevin Hi;

re - your sword you have for sale. Can you see the three links James Reinig has kindly provided. If you check out the first one it tells you what I seek, Can you have a quick 'shufti' and let me know.

Kind regards

Henry

Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini · November 27, 2008

Still remember that nice one in Tachi mount we saw a few time ago...

I wonder who purchased it...

Stephen · November 27, 2008

Henry

Ive got a line on one stay tuned as i have not heard back from him if its still for sale.

Henry Stewart · November 27, 2008

Thank you Stephen; will keep a watching brief;

Henry

Kevin · November 27, 2008

Kevin Hi;

re - your sword you have for sale. Can you see the three links James Reinig has kindly provided. If you check out the first one it tells you what I seek, Can you have a quick 'shufti' and let me know.

Ah, no, unfortunately it isn't a Koa Isshin sword - it's traditionally made using Manchurian steel.

regards

Kevin

pcfarrar · November 28, 2008

Hi Henry,

Bill Tagg had a Koa Isshin mantetsu in his shop a couple of weeks back.

Regards,

Peter

Henry Stewart · November 28, 2008

Peter

Many thanks I'll see him at Liverpool on Sunday if I cant catch him by phone

regards

Henry

Ed · November 28, 2008

Henry,

Contacted a friend who has one, but he is not ready to part with it.

Henry Stewart · November 29, 2008

Thanks Ed; All assistance gratefully received. I hope after this hoo ha I can afford the sword if one comes up; Anyone know a ball park figure they fetch,understanding condition is all.

Henry

Henry Stewart · November 30, 2008

Peter

Have seen Bill and now own a Kao Isshin,thankyou all. In passing anyone know why it is not regarded as Nihonto??

Henry

John A Stuart · December 1, 2008

It is not made from tamahagane. Of course neither were some made of nambantetsu. Hmmmm. John

hybridfiat · December 1, 2008

Peter

Have seen Bill and now own a Kao Isshin,thankyou all. In passing anyone know why it is not regarded as Nihonto??

Henry

Maybe because it isnt made from tamehagane

Henry Stewart · December 1, 2008

Follow up as to Nihonto recognitioin of Manchurian steel sword:

I have been speaking to a colleague who tells me that Manchurian iron-sand (similar to the Japanese variety)(raw material was one of the reasons the Japanese attacked Manchuria) was imported to Japan, and quite a few blades were make including some at Yasakuni. The problem is they werent notated or marked apart from the Kao Isshin legend so theres no means of knowing.Anyone know if this is a myth or is there more than a 'grain 'of truth in it??

regards

Henry.

Stephen · December 1, 2008

Pictures?

Henry Stewart · December 4, 2008

Stephen.

Thank you for your interest. I have sent some pictures to Brian and asked him to put them up. I'm afraid I only seem to be able to send attachements with e-mail;

Regards

Henry

Henry Stewart · December 4, 2008

Stephen

I cannot see who actually made this sword, but this one seems to have an uncanny feeling when one takes it out of the saya. Its balance feels somewhat heavy to the blade as if to increase the centrifugal force moment on the slash or swing. I certainly looks majestic,but there is not much attractive about the blade patterns. The Suguha Hamon is business like,the sword gleams and the overiding feeling is of it being made as a very efficient weapn to cut,which lets face it is what its meant to do. I base my opinion on the fact that I have handled certainly over a thousand blades.

regards

Henry

Brian · December 4, 2008

I'll post the pics tonight. They show a fairly standard Koa Isshin sword, of the type written about here: http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/koa.htm

Good steel, and made to work.

As this is still in the for sale section, I will prune it and move it over to the General section shortly.

Brian

Brian · December 5, 2008

Pics as promised..

Brian

Stephen · December 5, 2008

i think you did well, one of the cleaner ones ive seen. good work.

Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini · December 5, 2008

May I ask the owner to kindly post the number that's stamped on the Nakago ?

If I remember well Morita San is still making researches about this...

No pics needed, just the number.

Brian · December 5, 2008

For the record, the number is on the back upper edge of the nakago...easy to miss.

These are the ONLY WW2 swords besides the NCO Shin Gunto that are serial numbered. Anything else is a warning sign of a possible fake.

Brian

Stephen · December 5, 2008

also they're in Japanese

Rich S · December 5, 2008

Henry -

They are not considered Nihonto as they are not made of tamehagane.

IMHO they are still excellent swords (I've had a couple beauties).

Rich S

Henry Stewart · December 6, 2008

Brian- many thanks for the photo's,an excellent job as usual.

Stephen; thank you for your opinion on the blade which I very much value

Gentleman from Magenta- I will do my utmost to get the number and post it on this forum.

if they are in Japanese I may struggle a little.

Dr.Richard Stein- Sir, I am indebted to you for the opinion on Nihonto. A great pity I think personally. A Japanese national I met quite a few years ago always said "does the blade please you",and does it look well made. That is the true test.He had held a commission in the Imperial Army during WW11.

Kind regards Gentlemen

Henry

Henry Stewart · December 6, 2008

The Gentleman from Magenta Italy (sorry I dont know your name).

The number on the sword is 354 and as Stephen said is indeed in Japanese numeric symbols.Each seppa of which there are four is numbered 18.

For your further interest and/or information; between the number and the end of the Mune is stamped what looks like a small vertically held blade down dagger or cross with the blade bent to the left. It is definitely a stamp as opposed to a mark.

Kind regardrs

Henry

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