Swords Posted Saturday at 07:50 PM Report Posted Saturday at 07:50 PM Hi Dose any one know about his swords? The hada It has a straight temper not much of a Boshi The blade itself looks darker as compared to other Traditional made ones it because of the forging and metal used The is my first ISSHIN MANTETSU sword so I’m not that familiar with his swords Steve Quote
Swords Posted Saturday at 08:00 PM Author Report Posted Saturday at 08:00 PM Here’s photos of the mei Quote
John C Posted Saturday at 08:27 PM Report Posted Saturday at 08:27 PM Steve: Here are a couple of sites to get you started. They explain quite a bit about Mantetsu swords. http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/koa.htm http://ohmura-study.net/998.html John C. 1 Quote
John C Posted Saturday at 08:27 PM Report Posted Saturday at 08:27 PM @Bruce Pennington Do we have this serial number yet? John C. Quote
Swords Posted Saturday at 09:09 PM Author Report Posted Saturday at 09:09 PM Thanks John I should had explained more clearly I know about the Manchurian in attempt to make pure steel I was asking more about the anesthetic darker surface of the blade and straight hada it almost looks like fine scratches but other swords I have seen looks similar to this one Anyway just an observation steve Quote
David Flynn Posted Saturday at 09:29 PM Report Posted Saturday at 09:29 PM The scratches, look like someone did a Amateur clean up job. 1 Quote
moriarty Posted Saturday at 09:35 PM Report Posted Saturday at 09:35 PM I agree with David Seems like someone ran a bit of sandpaper over the length of the blade, although it doesn't seem too major Quote
Swords Posted Saturday at 09:46 PM Author Report Posted Saturday at 09:46 PM Yep I wasn’t 💯 sure but I agree Damm it didn’t look like that in the original photos Quote
Brian Posted Sunday at 07:13 AM Report Posted Sunday at 07:13 AM There is no hada on these. They are made of mono construction steel and oil quenched. But collectible in their own right, as they are currently "in fashion" 2 Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted Sunday at 02:04 PM Report Posted Sunday at 02:04 PM On 2/15/2025 at 1:27 PM, John C said: @Bruce Pennington Do we have this serial number yet? John C. Thanks John, yes it's on file. Got it from an ebay sale back in April '23, then Lee Bray (edit: RobCarter3) in June '23. It's one of the blades with the early Nan stamp on the mune. 1 Quote
Swords Posted Sunday at 06:34 PM Author Report Posted Sunday at 06:34 PM Now I’m a bit confused Brian i agree with you not having a hada Back to the scratches Are we on the same page that someone cleaned it leaving scratches? Steve 1 Quote
Swords Posted Sunday at 07:10 PM Author Report Posted Sunday at 07:10 PM I’m still sitting on the fence about scratches could I be mistaken ? I wish that I could have another do a hands on rather than pictures As Brian pointed out there’s no hada but I can see a straight hada Can the metal cause it to look more like scratches? Just an observation Here’s more pics steve Quote
Lewis B Posted Sunday at 08:09 PM Report Posted Sunday at 08:09 PM 55 minutes ago, Swords said: I’m still sitting on the fence about scratches could I be mistaken ? I wish that I could have another do a hands on rather than pictures As Brian pointed out there’s no hada but I can see a straight hada Can the metal cause it to look more like scratches? Just an observation Here’s more pics steve Scratches? Yes. Looks like someone took a Brillo pad to it. Click for enlarged image and they are very easy to see. Quote
ROKUJURO Posted Sunday at 08:22 PM Report Posted Sunday at 08:22 PM Steven, do you confuse HADA with HAMON? These blades have of course a HAMON. Quote
John C Posted Sunday at 10:32 PM Report Posted Sunday at 10:32 PM Steve: In this one pic, the red circles are scratches and the green circle is hamon. The scratches go all the way to the kissaki. But keep in mind, these could be period. This may have been cleaned shortly after some GI received it. John C. Quote
Swords Posted Monday at 01:02 AM Author Report Posted Monday at 01:02 AM Thanks for clearing up the hamon John As far as I’m concerned regardless who cleaned it ruined the integrity of the sword Not for me I’m returning it Too bad it’s a waste of a nice sword I haven’t had much luck with swords lately people who i thought i could trust cant Quote
Brian Posted Monday at 06:25 AM Report Posted Monday at 06:25 AM Not sure you know exactly what you are looking for. Mantetsu swords are purchased for their history and as militaria. They certainly aren't bought for their artistic traits. They don't exhibit nice hataraki or interesting hamon. They are arsenal swords, but made using certain techniques that increased their useability. Whether it's cleaned a bit or not isn't the prime factor in owning one of them. If you are looking for a nice WW2 sword with interesting hamon and showing hada/hataraki, then Mantetsu swords aren't where you should be looking. What were you expecting of this sword? It's a factory, not a particular smith. This is like buying a Type 95 Gunto and then lamenting that it doesn't have a nice polish or hamon. 4 1 Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted Monday at 02:55 PM Report Posted Monday at 02:55 PM 13 hours ago, Swords said: ruined the integrity of the sword Not for me I’m returning it Too bad it’s a waste of a nice sword Mine was in pretty bad shape originally. Polished up quite well: 3 Quote
Swords Posted Monday at 03:44 PM Author Report Posted Monday at 03:44 PM Thanks Brian for your positive comments I’m aware that this type of sword doesn’t have a nice hamon However it’s been my experience that with any sword having an Amateurish clean up loses its value. I also believe it would be hard to resell Maybe I’m wrong? Just my opinion John just curious who did the polish Quote
Swords Posted Monday at 03:49 PM Author Report Posted Monday at 03:49 PM Sorry I meant Bruce not John Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted Monday at 03:54 PM Report Posted Monday at 03:54 PM If you are planning to re-sell, then, yes you might not want this one. You could face the same sort of complaint from the next buyer. Quote
Swords Posted Monday at 04:37 PM Author Report Posted Monday at 04:37 PM Bruce Can I ask who did the polishing on your sword ? Steve Quote
ROKUJURO Posted Monday at 05:25 PM Report Posted Monday at 05:25 PM 1 hour ago, Swords said: .....I’m aware that this type of sword doesn’t have a nice hamon ..... Steven, did you understand what Brian wrote? These swords have a SUGUHA HAMON but no HADA! 1 Quote
Swords Posted Monday at 05:45 PM Author Report Posted Monday at 05:45 PM Yes I did thanks for clarifying Quote
waljamada Posted yesterday at 01:07 AM Report Posted yesterday at 01:07 AM I do find Koa isshin swords interesting for the fact that they are a Japanese scientific/engineering/swordsmithing attempt in the steel and construction to improve the katana for practical war/battle usage. So essentially it may be the last time the Japanese apply their swordsmithing with more modern materials/technology specifically for actual war/battle use. Kinda neat. 1 1 Quote
Stephen Posted yesterday at 05:02 AM Report Posted yesterday at 05:02 AM 3 hours ago, waljamada said: I do find Koa isshin swords interesting for the fact that they are a Japanese scientific/engineering/swordsmithing attempt in the steel and construction to improve the katana for practical war/battle usage. So essentially it may be the last time the Japanese apply their swordsmithing with more modern materials/technology specifically for actual war/battle use. Kinda neat. Yes drawn from the fact they needed to function in cold weather. Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted yesterday at 02:28 PM Report Posted yesterday at 02:28 PM 21 hours ago, Swords said: Bruce Can I ask who did the polishing on your sword ? Steve Answered via PM Quote
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