Mantetsu Gunto is now the time to buy?

[Utopianarian]

It appears the prices of Mantetsu Gunto prices have trended down significantly especially since before the Pandemic. I just saw one just yesterday auction off on eBay for $1400. These used to go for $3,800 just a few years ago. The one just auctioned was a Mantetsu forged spring of 1941 in half decent original Gunto fittings with blade in decent shape. All matching seppa and parts numbered appeared all original untouched. I am not much into WW2 blades but man what a deal I should have bid higher than $1300 range. Who knows maybe the trend will go lower. I used to think $2000 was a decent deal. Now what? I think I will keep an eye out for a Mantetsu or at least an exceptional example is out there for a good bargain now

[Utopianarian]

Here is the Mei of that blade

[Bruce Pennington]

Thanks for the photos, George, didn't have that one in the charts!

 

It was surprising to see the pricing fall like that.  I don't study market ways, but it seems to imply the skyrocketing prices before COVID were being pushed by fad'ism or something.  Or maybe guys were trying to get into the profit opportunity.  Now, we could be seeing a 'market correction' as they say in the financial world?

[Utopianarian]

Hey Bruce, yes agree a market correction seems likely. What a better buying opportunity it seems. Yes this one the seller said google translate could not make out the mei and elaborated saying it adds to the mystery of the sword. So it somewhat went under the radar not listing as a Mantetsu piece.

[Bruce Pennington]

Google translate give some pretty hilarious mei translations, sometimes!

 

Now if we could just get the sword fans of Japanese women interested in Mantetsu, the sky's the limit on the market price!!!

[Utopianarian]

I couldn’t agree more Bruce. Maybe if I told my wife the next sword I buy comes in a Louis Vuitton sword bag I will have much success:)

[Ontario_Archaeology]

the Navy Kyu Gunto Mantetsu sold for 5.5k CAD. it was a 1938 and had the sought after stamp though. I don't think this is a collapse of the market rather there were not two people looking for a Mantetsu right now