Missing character on Koa Issin nakago?

[matei]

Can any of the learned and experienced members comment on the mei here?  I posted this to a FB group but just realised that I should’ve come here first. 
 

It looks like they left out the “kore” symbol from Mantetsu Tsukuru Kore! 
 

On the other side of the nakago I could figure based on Ohmura’s page that the first figure is Showa and the last is also Haru… but can’t figure out the middle two characters, they didn’t seem to correspond to any kanji symbols I could find.

[Bruce Pennington]

Ha!  You're right, they left off that last kanji.  We've see a couple Mantetsu over the years with errors, but it's pretty rare.

 

This is where I go to translate Zodiacal dates: Japaneseswordindex.com - Zodiac Dates, but it's Spring 1943.

 

Do me a BIG favor and post a photo of the full serial number on the back edge of the nakago.  I like to file a couple of shots of the overall rig, too, with fittings.

 

@Kiipu @BANGBANGSAN

[Brian]

As far as I know, saku and kore are interchangeable largely. Don't think that would be considered a mistake. You get saku, kore, kore kitau etc.
It's still complete as to meaning.
Was just going to post that link that Bruce did. You can also visit http://meiboku.info/mei/zodiac/index.htm

[matei]

2 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said:

Ha!  You're right, they left off that last kanji.  We've see a couple Mantetsu over the years with errors, but it's pretty rare.

 

This is where I go to translate Zodiacal dates: Japaneseswordindex.com - Zodiac Dates, but it's Spring 1943.

 

Do me a BIG favor and post a photo of the full serial number on the back edge of the nakago.  I like to file a couple of shots of the overall rig, too, with fittings.

 

@Kiipu @BANGBANGSAN

Certainly - once I get a chance I'll get some pics posted.  Thanks for the info!

[matei]

2 hours ago, Brian said:

As far as I know, saku and kore are interchangeable largely. Don't think that would be considered a mistake. You get saku, kore, kore kitau etc.
It's still complete as to meaning.
Was just going to post that link that Bruce did. You can also visit http://meiboku.info/mei/zodiac/index.htm

Thanks for that.  I know only a tiny bit of Japanese, still learning.  The variations on these military swords is mind boggling!

[BANGBANGSAN]

19 hours ago, matei said:

 

It looks like they left out the “kore” symbol from Mantetsu Tsukuru Kore! 
 

On the other side of the nakago I could figure based on Ohmura’s page that the first figure is Showa and the last is also Haru… but can’t figure out the middle two characters, they didn’t seem to correspond to any kanji symbols I could find.

Some Mantetsu that were produced in the autumn of 1942 and the spring of 1943, bearing the signature "Mei 滿鐵作" rather than "滿鐵作之." Such swords are not uncommon.

昭和壬午=1942

 

昭和癸未=1943

http://ohmura-study.net/222.html

 

 

[Bruce Pennington]

1 hour ago, BANGBANGSAN said:

Some Mantetsu that were produced in the autumn of 1942 and the spring of 1943, bearing the signature "Mei 滿鐵作" rather than "滿鐵作之."

OH!  Good catch, Trystan!  I hadn't noticed that before.

[matei]

1 hour ago, BANGBANGSAN said:

Some Mantetsu that were produced in the autumn of 1942 and the spring of 1943, bearing the signature "Mei 滿鐵作" rather than "滿鐵作之." Such swords are not uncommon.

昭和壬午=1942

 

昭和癸未=1943

http://ohmura-study.net/222.html

 

 

Wow - thanks for that, very interesting.  Initially I was concerned that perhaps the sword was fake, good to know about these variations.

[Bruce Pennington]

 

Getting withdrawal symptoms waiting for that serial number! Ha! 

[matei]

On 6/4/2024 at 2:13 PM, Bruce Pennington said:

 

Getting withdrawal symptoms waiting for that serial number! Ha! 

Apologies for the delay in responding, it took ages to get here due to the silliness re. sending anything with blades.  
 

I did look for an arsenal or inspection inspection stamp but none was present.

 

There was incipient red rust on the nakago as well but I applied some light oil to get rid of it.

 

Edited June 19, 2024 by matei
Wrong photo

[Bruce Pennington]

Thanks for the update, Mat!

Turns out I have this one charted already from a past seller online, but your photos are clearer, so I appreciate it.

[matei]

20 minutes ago, Bruce Pennington said:

Thanks for the update, Mat!

Turns out I have this one charted already from a past seller online, but your photos are clearer, so I appreciate it.

That is good to know - a small world!  Do you know what that equates to?  I've been trying to figure it out but I don' know if that is a chi, or a tri... my eyes are now square from looking at all the different variations :-D

[Bruce Pennington]

That is "Ki" キ122.  Mantetsu used katakana to serialize their production line.  Ki was the ninth line (out of 15) for the year 1943.  I do not know if their "year" was calendar year or fiscal year.  Fiscal year started in April, but you can sort of guess-timate the timeframe.  Ki was 3/5 of the year (9 out of 15), so around May or August, depending on which "year" they were going by.

[matei]

6 minutes ago, Bruce Pennington said:

That is "Ki" キ122.  Mantetsu used katakana to serialize their production line.  Ki was the ninth line (out of 15) for the year 1943.  I do not know if their "year" was calendar year or fiscal year.  Fiscal year started in April, but you can sort of guess-timate the timeframe.  Ki was 3/5 of the year (9 out of 15), so around May or August, depending on which "year" they were going by.

Thanks Bruce - your knowledge, and hard work researching this, is commendable!