Manchurian blade or Mantetsu blade Sword 1

Dogditcher · April 8

Was logged as ARMY MOUNT 26 3/4 MANCHURIAN STEEL #KO573-1942-

Comment and Enjoy

Dogditcher · April 8

Stephen · April 8

If you have available the numbers on the top of the Tang will be very beneficial

Dogditcher · April 8

Dogditcher · April 8

On 4/8/2025 at 8:43 PM, Stephen said:

If you have available the numbers on the top of the Tang will be very beneficial

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I Don't believe there was a number on top of tang

Stephen · April 8

Well Bruce can tell you 90% of the time they do he's the leading of expert here on it

Dogditcher · April 8

On 4/8/2025 at 8:48 PM, Stephen said:

Well Bruce can tell you 90% of the time they do he's the leading of expert here on it

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Would this be stamped on the edge behind the Munemachi ?-Thanks

Scogg · April 8

Yes, the numbers should be on the spine of the nakago. Bruce is usually active in the AM, so stay tuned.

Cool swords! Nice type 98 koshirae. That’s a SUYA stamp (suya shoten co.) on the tsuba. Maybe a clasped hands sarute? Thanks for sharing and I look forward to reading the feedback.
-Sam

Stephen · April 8

This is what Bruce will want to see on both swords

Stephen · April 9

Oh just seen other one is Hizen so just this blade

Bruce Pennington · April 9

Thanks, Steve! A few of us study the Mantetsu operation and we appreciate you posting this for us. They were quite popular with Japanese officers, and have become quite popular with collectors. You can read about them here:

Koa Isshin Mantetsu - Japaneseswordindex.com

and a more comprehensive article on our studies here at NMB:

South Manchurian Railway - The Mantetsu Blade

Like Stephen's example, the serial number is found on the back edge of the nakago (tang). You might have to remove the habaki (brass collar) to see it all.

Oh, and a basic page on sword care: Japanese Sword Care Guide - Japaneseswordindex.com

Dogditcher · April 9

Here the pic on the edge of nakado and sarute -thanks

Bruce Pennington · April 10

Thanks Steve, that's perfect!

So, you've really got something there, in my world. The serial is RA 768 which puts it in the first run of blades in FY '42. It is the earliest known Mantetsu blade, now, with the "half-way inspection" mark "W" or "M" and the earliest known with the "NAN" stamp (Nan-Man Army Arsenal Supervisory Section). The sword in Suya Shoten fittings, which is known to have made quality swords/fittings, and comes with the custom clasped hands sarute.

Congrats!

Bryce · April 10

G'day Guys,

I think the Suya Shoten tsuba and two seppa may be replacements. The left hand seppa with 377 serial number and made for a rounded nakago mune may be original.

Cheers,

Bryce

PNSSHOGUN · April 11

Agree with Bryce, Koa Isshin swords are usually in mounts that were produced in Manchuria. The other details of the Koshirae are not consistent with Suya Shoten either.

BANGBANGSAN · April 12

@Bruce Pennington

looks like there is "東“ under the number

Dogditcher · April 12

You guys got good eyes-Its teaching me to look deeper -cropped it down -What is its meaning ? Thanks

Bruce Pennington · April 12

I believe it to be an unside down NAN. We have 3 other 1942 blades with the NAN on the mune. They are later in the year, which is why I said this is the earliest known NAN stamped Mantetsu. They are

YA 677, YA 702, and YA 1048.