how to read date/unusual date on mantetsu blade...

[kaigunair]

I see the showa 4, but don't understand how to read the rest of the date...don't see a month day character.

 

This was off a mantetsu nakago. Is this date variation commonly seen only on mantetsu? I dont' recall it on isshin or other mantetsu blades.

 

As someone will probably point out, this was from an older ebay auction (already ended). I didn't win it, but came across it searching for more info on other showa period blades. (i.e. I cannot provide any additional pics)

 

thanks in advance...

 

[SwordGuyJoe]

Looks like 1945 based on zodiacal dating system (http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/kanji/zodiac.htm)

[Brian]

Sorry, don't have a chance to look at the date, but a quick comment: Most of the Mantetsu blades used the Zodiac dating system.

 

Brian

[kaigunair]

great info. thanks all.

 

here's the mei w/stamp for reference (stamp is different from others noted in some websites):

[kaigunair]

stamps commonly noted for mukden/mantetsu for reference (from Dr.Stein's site - i hope this is ok)

[Denver]

This Ren stamp..

I showed the same stamp, in this topic viewtopic.php?f=50&t=8010&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=60

 

see link, there is shown this stamp http://www.h4.dion.ne.jp/~t-ohmura/gunto_114.htm

 

[k morita]

Hi,kaigunair,

 

The date is "Showa kinoe-saru haru", Showa 19th year(1944),spring.

I am interested in the S/N number of this sword.

Please show me the S/N number on the Mune side of the tang? 　　

[kaigunair]

totemo sumimasen morita-san. I don't own the blade, and the pictures were from an ebay auction several months old. I found the blade while looking at the feedback of a seller on ebay. I am trying to find the ebay listing again, and will post it once I find it. I do not recall there being any better pictures of the nakago, as didn't even realize there was a serial number on it.

 

update: found it!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.l2557&rt=nc&nma=true&item=320641229265&si=PvwUFU85XYmaIKu8NdLE19hWvmU%253D&viewitem=