Henry Stewart Posted November 25, 2008 Report Posted 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 Quote
Kevin Posted November 25, 2008 Report Posted November 25, 2008 I have one for sale made of Manchurian iron, but not specifically Manchurian railway. regards Kevin Quote
Henry Stewart Posted November 26, 2008 Author Report Posted November 26, 2008 Thanks Kevin; I'm given to understand they have a particular type of inscription on the nakago; Is this correct?? Henry Quote
Hermes Posted November 26, 2008 Report Posted 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 Quote
Henry Stewart Posted November 27, 2008 Author Report Posted 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 Quote
Henry Stewart Posted November 27, 2008 Author Report Posted 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 Quote
Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini Posted November 27, 2008 Report Posted November 27, 2008 Still remember that nice one in Tachi mount we saw a few time ago... I wonder who purchased it... Quote
Stephen Posted November 27, 2008 Report Posted 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. Quote
Henry Stewart Posted November 27, 2008 Author Report Posted November 27, 2008 Thank you Stephen; will keep a watching brief; Henry Quote
Kevin Posted November 27, 2008 Report Posted 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 Quote
pcfarrar Posted November 28, 2008 Report Posted November 28, 2008 Hi Henry, Bill Tagg had a Koa Isshin mantetsu in his shop a couple of weeks back. Regards, Peter Quote
Henry Stewart Posted November 28, 2008 Author Report Posted November 28, 2008 Peter Many thanks I'll see him at Liverpool on Sunday if I cant catch him by phone regards Henry Quote
Ed Posted November 28, 2008 Report Posted November 28, 2008 Henry, Contacted a friend who has one, but he is not ready to part with it. Quote
Henry Stewart Posted November 29, 2008 Author Report Posted 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 Quote
Henry Stewart Posted November 30, 2008 Author Report Posted 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 Quote
John A Stuart Posted December 1, 2008 Report Posted December 1, 2008 It is not made from tamahagane. Of course neither were some made of nambantetsu. Hmmmm. John Quote
hybridfiat Posted December 1, 2008 Report Posted 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 Quote
Henry Stewart Posted December 1, 2008 Author Report Posted 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. Quote
Henry Stewart Posted December 4, 2008 Author Report Posted 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 Quote
Henry Stewart Posted December 4, 2008 Author Report Posted 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 Quote
Brian Posted December 4, 2008 Report Posted 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 Quote
Stephen Posted December 5, 2008 Report Posted December 5, 2008 i think you did well, one of the cleaner ones ive seen. good work. Quote
Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini Posted December 5, 2008 Report Posted 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. Quote
Brian Posted December 5, 2008 Report Posted 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 Quote
Rich S Posted December 5, 2008 Report Posted 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 Quote
Henry Stewart Posted December 6, 2008 Author Report Posted 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 Quote
Henry Stewart Posted December 6, 2008 Author Report Posted 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 Quote
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