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Posted

When I was 16 I went to a gun show, pulled all the money I had out of an ATM…. and bought a sword. That was more than 30 years ago and today (1/19/25) I found out I bought “Manchurian steel” :-) 

 

anything you can tell me about my sword would be appreciated. I’m not looking to sell it but I am curious if it’s worth more than the price of the enfield rifle that the guy at the gun show had just traded for the sword and hence the price I paid for it …. $300. 
 

Jackson 

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Posted

Hi Jackson!  Can you do me a big favor and post a couple shots of the blade and fittings for the files?

 

Koa Isshin, Mantetsu made; Spring 1940; serial "TO 827"  It is the highest number I have on file of the TO series.  TO was the 4th out of 11 series in 1940.

 

Brian's link has a great history of the SMR Mantetsu operation.  Several of us worked up an article that brought all the Mantetsu history we could find and included the discoveries made here at NMB about their operations.  Here is the article, if you haven't seen it: SMR Mantetsu Article

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Posted

Jackson, 

The world is a complicated place and I think that WE ought realize that "collecting" and "discovery" are the real rewards of collecting. Treating the swords we "discover" and "acquire" as "investments" is very difficult because values go up and down for both the stuff we acquired and the stuff we swapped away. I think we all must learn to enjoy the process of collecting rather then the things we acquire. Manchurian blades are pretty interesting, but realizing that involves moving them from "gun show" to "collector's" condition. It also involves moving them into the collectors community. There will be both delays and costs in doing that, and maybe some disappointment. It looks like you preserved a worthwhile sword and you can take pleasure in that. 

Peter

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Posted

I’d be happy to post pictures of the furniture later tonight. It all looks very similar to other examples I’ve found in the last 24 hours. I’m still unsure if it’s original to the blade or not, until yesterday I had assumed that it was a Frankenstein of different pieces cobbled together. 

Posted

I’d be happy to post pictures of the furniture later tonight. It all looks very similar to other examples I’ve found in the last 24 hours. I’m still unsure if it’s original to the blade or not, until yesterday I had assumed that it was a Frankenstein of different pieces cobbled together. 

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Posted

Thanks for the added photos, Jackson!  That's a nice quality pierced tsuba.  If you ever want to spend the time, you can find spare seppa for sale now and then, and even fuchi.  Seppa are easy to fit/re-size the ana, but fuchi might be a little harder to find a perfect fit.  I've heard of it being done, though.

 

It's an interesting tsuka.  Seems like it was lacquered, darkening the rayskin.  The kabutogane is very crude, like a late-war re-fit.  Maybe the tsuka got damaged and the kabutogane was a replacement.  Damaged tsuka were the most common repairs listed during the war.

Posted
1 hour ago, Jackson Douglas said:

So I only know some one of those terms :-) 

 

tsuba is the guard correct? 
 

Would you please define the other terms for me? 

Tsuba = Guard
Seppa = "Washers" that go on both sides of the tsuba. 
Tsuka = Grip / handle.
Fuchi =the cap at the end of the handle where it meets the Tsuba(guard)
Kabutogane = Metal fitting at butt of the grip. Called a kashira on katana fittings, and on my source below.

And if you have any further questions, below is my source:
Hope this helps!
Cheers,
-Sam

https://nihonto.com/about-swords/diagrams-terminology/#:~:text=Fuchi – The cap at the,secure the scabbard when drawn.

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