Japanese sword identification pls

[rfc99]

Can anyone tell me about this sword based on these markings? Thank you!

[Ray Singer]

A Mantetsu-to. Please see below for information and examples. 

 

https://www.google.c...rome-mobile&ie=UTF-8

[Kiipu]

It is a sword made by the South Manchuria Railway Company (SMR) and is better known by the name Mantetsu.  If possible, take a picture of the markings on the nakago mune (this is the blunt edge of the tang).  Below is a link to a brief article about them.

Mantetsu - South Manchurian Railway

[Bruce Pennington]

Love to see photos of the whole sword, too.  Both sides of the nakago, serial number on back edge (as Thomas requested) and fittings.

 

The side you show says "Asia is One Heart" or "Asia is United" - Koa Isshin - and was the slogan of the push to unite the 7 "tribes" of East and S.E. asia under one roof of Japan.  

The lower portion saya "Mantetsu made this".

The other side will show the date.

 

Quite popular swords, if you are looking to buy it.

[rfc99]

This is the other side of the blade. I dont have photos of the rest at the moment. It is in storage. I was told it was marked 171 out of 200 or something like that. And they called it WInter Tiger or something like that?

[Bruce Pennington]

Ron, you're killin' me, man! Ha!  

 

It's a zodiacal date (probably year of the tiger) which comes out to Winter 1939.  Well next time your have the time to root it out, I sure would appreciate that serial number.  It is how we track these.  It will look something like these:

[rfc99]

Lol. Sorry. Im a Newbie. I will get that and more photos for you to look at in the next few hours. Please check back when you have time. Is that photo you posted the back of the blade or the part of the blade that is under the handle? And thank you for the help:)

[Bruce Pennington]

It is under the handle on the back edge of the tang.
 

[rfc99]

Here are more photos

[rfc99]

more

[lonely panet]

Hi unknown dude, 

In short you have a very neat example of a type 98 shingunto with a koa isshin mantetsu blade. All thought not a traditionally made blade still desirable and sellable. 

 

Prices range due to conditions. 1500 to 3000

[Michaelr]

Very nice sword Ron. I would be proud to own it. Looks like you are off to a great start   

  MikeR

[Bruce Pennington]

Yes!  Pristine fittings!  Thanks for the added photos.  Turns out we already have that blade on file.  Trystan - @BANGBANGSAN - brought some photos to us back in May. Don't know where he saw it.  He didn't have fittings photos, though, so glad you posted!

Serial is "HO 171" which puts it in the 5th series of blades Mantetsu made.  Assuming they used the fiscal year on their dating, we're talking Feb - Apr 1940 with your blade.

[BANGBANGSAN]

59 minutes ago, Bruce Pennington said:

Yes!  Pristine fittings!  Thanks for the added photos.  Turns out we already have that blade on file.  Trystan - @BANGBANGSAN - brought some photos to us back in May. Don't know where he saw it.  He didn't have fittings photos, though, so glad you posted!

Serial is "HO 171" which puts it in the 5th series of blades Mantetsu made.  Assuming they used the fiscal year on their dating, we're talking Feb - Apr 1940 with your blade.

Yes, the fitting looks very clean, despite the blade having a lot of rust.

 

[rfc99]

Thanks for all the help. Are there any good sites other than this one that I could read more about this?

[Bruce Pennington]

I'll give you a couple links, but the article we wrote, that Thomas link above, extensively includes all known sources.  You will find interesting stuff on the following, but they won't have near as much as our all-encompassing article.

 

The Whole Aspect of the Koa Isshin Sword -Ohmura

Koa Isshin Mantetsu - Japaneseswordindex.com

Mantetsu - South Manchurian Railway Sword - Our Article