Manchurian blade or Mantetsu blade Sword 2

[Dogditcher]

This is logged as ARMY MOUNT 26" MANCHURIAN STEEL

 

 

 

 

[Dogditcher]

 

 

[Conway S]

Hey Steve, 

 

This one is signed 肥前國住保廣作- "Hizen Kuni ju Yasuhiro Saku" and dated January 1942. The smith is Yasuhiro. It looks like he was from Saga. I don't have any additional details. 

 

This is not a Mantetsu, although it looks like it could be traditionally made. 

 

Conway 

[Bruce Pennington]

Here is what Sesko has on him:

"YASUHIRO (保広), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Saga – “Hizen no Kuni-jū Yasuhiro” (肥前国住保広), “Yasuhiro” (保広), real name Motomura Tamotsu (元村保), born 1910, he studied under Hisahiro (久広) and worked as rikugun-jumei-tōshō, jōkō no retsu (Akihide), Second Seat at the 6th Shinsaku Nihontō Denrankai (新作日本刀展覧会, 1941)".  

So, a good smith!

[Dogditcher]

Question -What is the hand written A36( looks like to me ) at bottom Nakago represent -Thanks

 

A couple more pics -Enjoy -More swords coming -Thanks Everyone

 

 

 

 

[Bruce Pennington]

Steve,

Painted numbers are usually assembly numbers that match stamped numbers on the metal fittings.  This isn't the case for yours.  Some swords got refitted along the way and we'll see two sets of painted numbers, or simply numbers that don't match like yours.  An interesting idea comes from a discussion (lost to memory, who or where) that some swords got painted with inventory numbers by the occupation teams that were collecting, logging, and handing out sword after the war.  So, the short answer is - Don't really know, but usually assembly numbers.

 

The two small marks on the nakago mune (back edge) are "NA  HO".  NA being the inspector marks of the Nagoya Army Arsenal, then the HO from the Kokura Army Arsenal that was over-all supervisor for sword production up to that year.