Questions about Mantetsu

[Matt D]

1. Are all Mantetsu swords “Koa Isshin”. Or are Koa Isshin a specific type of sword made with Mantetsu steel?

 

2. Other than the use of a laminate made from modern steel, were there any other differences in the way these swords were made? Were machines used? Were they quenched in water?

[John C]

1 hour ago, Matt D said:

“Koa Isshin”

Matt:

Here are a couple of sites that will answer many of your questions.

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

 

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

 

John C.

[Matt D]

Thank you John.

[Bruce Pennington]

Hi Matt!

 

Do you have one, or contemplating buying one?

[Matt D]

Bruce, I am not currently looking for one. I was just curious about them.

[Bruce Pennington]

You'll find the answers to both questions on the links above.  We wrote a bigger article combining all the sources into one, posted here at NMB: SMR - The Mantetsu Blade

 

In short - The South Manchurian Railway (Mantetsu) mined and produced their own steel, invented their own sword manufacturing process.  Originally there was no mei, simply the SMR logo stamp.  But soon they made them with the Koa Isshin slogan, made by Mantetsu mei and date.  In 1943 (very late '42) they dropped the slogan.  Finally in 1945 a new slogan - Konan essei - appeared briefly.  Some mumei blades are also seen in '45.

 

It is not known, but debated, about whether the non- Koa blades were made by the Nanman Army Arsenal or all blade made by SMR and some of them polished and finished at Nanman.  We know factually that SMR sent unfinished blades to Tokyo 1st arsenal, and that some blades were polished at Nanman.  But any more than that is speculation.

 

As for machines, the massive majority of WWII blades were made with the assistance of machines.  SMR used them extensively.  The Ohmura site shows several photos of them.

[Matt D]

Thank you Bruce. This is really helpful and interesting.

[Matt D]

I understand the steel and the construction of the laminate. However, one thing I’m still not clear on is how the blades were shaped. Were they hand hammered or was machinery involved? Also, the articles seem suggest that water was the quenching medium, under carefully controlled conditions. Is this correct?

[Bruce Pennington]

Ohmura said the manufacturing process was a trade secret, so we don't know a lot.  You can see from these photos of the Mantetsu operation, that machinery was used extensively, but I don't think the shapes were cookie-cutter like the Type 95 NCOs.  I have not had multiple blades in hand in order to compare for exactness in size and form, but they seem pretty darn uniform from all the photos.  Quenching?  I cannot find an official statement about it.  I know it has been discussed and there are some who believe water was used.  That's all I know.

 

 

From the first diagram, you can see the length of the initial steel bar was precisely cut, and it appears (I can't read the text) the initial shape was machine rolled/pressed.  From there, though, it looks like the working of the block into a blade was really a human thing, assisted by hydraulic hammers.

[Matt D]

Thank you Bruce. I would like own one these blades someday, someday…

 

To me, part of the allure is that they were such good swords from a functional perspective.

[Bruce Pennington]

21 hours ago, Matt D said:

To me, part of the allure is that they were such good swords from a functional perspective.

I got a head start since mine came to me from my dad, but it was Ohmura's write-up about them that got me hooked.  They made a really good weapon, and following Ohmura's logic, improved upon the traditional samurai sword, making it the latest development in the famed Japanese Sword mystique.  I'm a military guy, and like military weapons.  Yes, I also appreciate a good looking weapon whether it be a sword, or pistol, tank, or airplane.  So, for me, I love the Mantetsu blade.