Mantetsu-to prices are going up

[Gerry]

It's interesting to see that Mantetsu-to prices are going up, even in Japan: https://www.samurais....jp/sword/24178.html At 680,000 yen, I can even get a TBH katana with koshirae. Case in point: https://www.samurais....jp/sword/22111.html

 

I still remember being able to get one in pristine shape for $1.5K 15 years ago.

 

[Stephen]

@Bruce Pennington

Nice date too bad I can't read the rest.

[PNSSHOGUN]

That is only in Japan where it isn't common to find them registered as they are regarded as non-traditional. Eveywhere else they hover around 2-3K usd. 

[Bruce Pennington]

Thanks Stephen!

Spring 1941, Koa Isshin Mantetsu; RE 347

@Kiipu @BANGBANGSAN

Your link went to a Yoshikatsu.  Here's the Mantetsu page: https://www.samurais....jp/sword/24178.html

 

Posting photos for the future if that link goes dead:

[Geraint]

Dear Bruce.

 

I think the Yoshikatsu was an illustration of Gerry's point that he could buy a papereed and mounted katana for the same price as the Mantetsu..............

Appreciate that you are a bit Mantetsu focused. 

All the best

[Bruce Pennington]

Ahh So!  Ha!  Got me, there.  But it did work out for both sides!

[Wangzi]

well,  this kind of mantetsu gunto are special to me coz it was forged in my hometown. 

The building below is the head office of south Manchuria Raiway(or called Mantetsu,滿鐵). It is still preserved well nowadays.

 

 

[Bruce Pennington]

Zi,

Do we have your blade in the files?  If not, could you do us a favor and post both sides and serial number?

 

Also, does that building have a museum with sword production history?  I know we have the basics already, but looking for anything deeper, like - the Nan and Ren stamped blades, were they actually made in the Nanban (Nanman) Arsenal?  If so, did they totally take over Mantetsu production or did SMR continue to make blades to the end of the war simultaneously?

[Wangzi]

On 12/5/2024 at 10:26 PM, Bruce Pennington said:

 

Hi， Bruce,

Yes, The SMR buildings in Dalian are now being used as museum ,exhibition gallery and liberary. However, it is a pity that exhibitions are mainly about history of SMR, not quite relate to its edged weapon manufacture. 
I am glad to post the details of my sword.
It was forged in Autumn 1942(昭和壬午年秋)， the number is Ku 101 （ク101）.

                                                        Zi

[Wangzi]

On 12/5/2024 at 10:26 PM, Bruce Pennington said:

Zi,

Do we have your blade in the files?  If not, could you do us a favor and post both sides and serial number?

 

Also, does that building have a museum with sword production history?  I know we have the basics already, but looking for anything deeper, like - the Nan and Ren stamped blades, were they actually made in the Nanban (Nanman) Arsenal?  If so, did they totally take over Mantetsu production or did SMR continue to make blades to the end of the war simultaneously?

Bruce,

 

About the stamp of 'Nan' and 'Ren'. I have found a table about the marks of Mantetsu Gunto.  Here I try to translate the content from the year of 1943. 

 

昭和18（1943）  興亞一心（Koa isshin） , 滿鐵作（made by Mantetsu） , Spring;

 

昭和18（1943） No motto，滿鐵鍛造之（forged by Mantetsu） ，Spring, 南（Nan）；

 

昭和19（1944） No motto，滿鐵鍛造之（forged by Mantetsu） ，Spring, 連（Lian，Ren）；

昭和19（1944） No motto，滿鐵鍛造之（forged by Mantetsu） ，Spring, 連（Lian，Ren）W；

昭和20（1945），no record.

 

It looks like the motto 興亞一心（Koa isshin）no longer existed  after 1943. Instead of it, the “Ren” and “Nan” blades are actually Mantetsu gunto without motto. 

 

[Wangzi]

About the place of production, I think they have always been produced in Nanman until the end of war, or to be more exact, produced in the city of Dalian（大連）. 

 

I have found a document, it is a section from the memoirs of ex-SMR staff. I made an interpretation below. 

 

It says, in July 1944, 三笠宮殿下（a royal member, the little brother of Japanese emperor）visited the Mantetsu gunto manufactory, 松岡洋右（the boss of SMR）planned to present a Koa isshin gunto as a gift. Therefore, the factory began to produce Koa Isshin gunto from 18th July 1944, they finally made 6 swords, and one of them was piked out as a gift. 

 

So at least they were still making Mantetsu gunto in Dalian in July 1944. 

the stamp 'Nan' (南，means south)，the stamp 'Ren'(連，possibly stands for the city name Dalian or DaiRen，大連，where they were forged). 

The photo below is the Mantetsu gunto manufactory（滿鐵大連鍛刀所）in shahekou district of Dalian. 

I hope these would help.

 

 Zi

[Bruce Pennington]

5 hours ago, Wangzi said:

Therefore, the factory began to produce Koa Isshin gunto from 18th July 1944, they finally made 6 swords, and one of them was piked out as a gift. 

That was a very interesting story, Zi, thank you!  We actually have 4 1944 Koa Isshin on file, so if this story means that only 6 Koa Isshin were made that year - we have 4 of them on file now!  I suppose it could mean they made 6 specifically for the visit aside from others that may have been made for the war.  Great piece of history, either way.