Translation Assistance: Battle Damaged Blade

[chgruener]

Hello all,

 

Is anyone able to translate or recognize the signature on this blade? Thank you for taking a look!

[PNSSHOGUN]

興亜一心満鐵作 - Koa Isshin Mantetsu Saku Kore, dated 1942. How bad is the damage?

 

https://www.japaneseswordindex.com/koa.htm

 

http://ohmura-study.net/998.html

[chgruener]

59 minutes ago, PNSSHOGUN said:

興亜一心満鐵作 - Koa Isshin Mantetsu Saku Kore, dated 1942. How bad is the damage?

 

https://www.japaneseswordindex.com/koa.htm

 

http://ohmura-study.net/998.html

Thank you! The blade’s condition has been seriously neglected over the years, and parts from the tsuba and below are missing. 
 

The scabbard was struck multiple times by shrapnel, with one piercing the scabbard, striking the blade, denting and bending it. 

[PNSSHOGUN]

Firmly in relic condition now. If the details and battle it came from are known, it would make a smart display.

[Bruce Pennington]

As one that studies the Mantetsu blade, it is rewarding, in a way, to see one that was in battle.  SMR was making 5-6,000 per year, so intellectually, we know they were in the field.  But this is a living proof of a Mantetsu in action.

 

Christopher, you can read all about the Mantetsu on this NMB download: Mantetsu - The South Manchurian Railway

[chgruener]

1 hour ago, Bruce Pennington said:

As one that studies the Mantetsu blade, it is rewarding, in a way, to see one that was in battle.  SMR was making 5-6,000 per year, so intellectually, we know they were in the field.  But this is a living proof of a Mantetsu in action.

 

Christopher, you can read all about the Mantetsu on this NMB download: Mantetsu - The South Manchurian Railway

Bruce,

 

Thank you for your reply. I will definitely take a look at that link. I’ve been able to read into SMR because of this group’s assistance and it’s quite interesting. 
 

This is why Im so fascinated by battle damage, regardless of condition. These pieces experienced war and ultimately felt similar consequences as their owners. It’s as close as we can get to those men. 

[KungFooey]

Well said!

It's as much a piece of history as a 700 year old blade with a big cut in its back!

 

Dee

[Peter Bleed]

Thank you for showing us this blade.It is very interesting and certainly deserves preservation and attention. BUT< I am not sure how it should be preserved. Given traditions of Japanese swords, I think it should be polished, but how should that be done? How would/should the bullet deformation be treated? And how should the saya be preserved. Putting it in shirasaya might be hard, but certainly the blade and the gunto saya have to remain Linked. Frankly, I think this is a blade that should be considered by the NBTHK - but I bet it wouldn't be let in Japan!

Thanks and best wishes!

Peter

 

[chgruener]

7 hours ago, Peter Bleed said:

Thank you for showing us this blade.It is very interesting and certainly deserves preservation and attention. BUT< I am not sure how it should be preserved. Given traditions of Japanese swords, I think it should be polished, but how should that be done? How would/should the bullet deformation be treated? And how should the saya be preserved. Putting it in shirasaya might be hard, but certainly the blade and the gunto saya have to remain Linked. Frankly, I think this is a blade that should be considered by the NBTHK - but I bet it wouldn't be let in Japan!

Thanks and best wishes!

Peter

 

I generally refrain from any sort of restorative work on damaged blades. This is now my 3rd. One is rather quite nice despite taking a bullet, and actually splitting the bullet in half. The other is a Copper handle Type 95 NCO sword which was struck multiple times by shrapnel, similar to this blade. 
 

I plan on oiling the blade and removing any physical dirt, but keeping it as is. I will though seek out a period tsuka with similar “wear and tear”, along with the correct fittings.