Bruce Pennington

Here:

Same to you Neil, and all. A bit of a party pooper, though - I just went by the Narita antique shop, hoping to haggle with the guy about that Emura gunto and found out it sold 3 weeks ago!

I know someone was looking for a nice Koa Mantetsu a while back but I don't remember who it was. So I've posted a '41 Koa in the Sale section. I'd like to sell it here before I head over to fleabay, so I'll leave it posted for a bit. http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/30647-nice-1941-koa-isshin-mantetsu-type-98-for-sale/ Some sample pics:

According to Chris, quoting Marcus Sesko, Morimitsu was from Fukuoka. Since the lower mark is the 小 (ko) of Kokura, maybe the Fuku is intended to indicate the location of this particular inspector. I'm just brain-storming here, because I don't picture individual smiths placing a single kanji stamp on the mune of their own blades.

Thanks Thomas. I've noted that one in the Stamps Doc. General consensus is that it is an inspector stamp from the Fukuoka area, like the Gifu stamp. There were many smiths operating in that area. Though, that is speculation unless we (meaning you "wink") can find a document verifying this.

For those who are interested in the manufacturing process and don't browse Ohmura's site, here are his photos depicting the process. Found here: http://ohmura-study.net/223.html

So, do you think it's likely that the stamp - 連工 - is a contraction of this name, Dairen Railway Workshop? It is interesting that both the blades that I have with this stamp were made for a Rinji (Type 3), with extended nakago jiri and second mekugi ana:

Jean & Stegel - It is truly a joy to be a part of this great group of friends, thank you for your kind words. And I, too, consider everyone here my friend. There have been some fascinating discoveries made (on more threads than this one!), some new, and some just catching up with Ohmura-san who has been right on many things. We are just finding verification of some of his ideas. I'm growing more impressed every day with our Thomas! He is turning out to be NMB's version of Nick Komiya at Warrelics! Oh, and Stegel has pointed out a failure on my part to transfer some updates - Nick Komiya on the Mantetsu thread at Warrelics has made a clarification of the late-war mei "満鉄鍛造之 (Mantetsu Tanzo Kore)" The Mantetsu contraction singularly stands for SMR. Many older threads have mistranslated this phrase to "Made from Manchurain steel" or "Made from Mantetsu steel" or "Made the Mantetsu way." It is simply "Mantetsu forged this."

Thomas, Still catching up with you - "Dairen Tetsudō Kōjō　Dairen Railway Workshop The full name being 南満洲鉄道株式会社大連鉄道工場刀剣製作所." Where does this come from? Is it a seperate business from SMR? Who is this?

Ok. I’m getting it. Just as Nagoya had 17 factories making blades under their supervision. SMR’s numbers would be included with any and all other factories making blades for Nanman.

[pulling out hair!!!] AAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!! THOMAS ... ok, I'll calm down .... [breathing deaply ... not helping] I just got a chance to look at the chart and the translation you've given (which I completely agree with) and, correct me if I'm wrong, but this is saying NANMAN ARSENAL, not SMR Dalian, is the one the chart is showing tasked with supplying/transfering 5,500 unfinished blades (KOA ISSHIN BLADES) to Tokyo and producing 500 Koa Isshin blades. Is that what I'm seeing?!?!? Additioinal request - after looking at the lines at the top of the untranslated part of the chart, it appears to be showing production numbers for other arsenals? I see the NA of Nagoya. I think a lot of people would enjoy knowing who these other are, and seeing the amazing numbers they were cranking out.

Just posting some of his pics for the future. Linked pictures ofter dissapear over time.

Thomas, my Toyokawa anchor is 5.37 mm. If you include the circle it’s 6mm.

So, that proves that Nanman was making blades! I still haven’t had enough time to sit down and digest the translation you gave on the Koa chart.

Ok, you can’t get away with that! Pics please!

The size and style of the seppa (spacers on either side of the tsuba) and the cat-scratch patterned habaki indicate the owner spent extra money to fit this blade out in quality fittings. The guys are saying not to make an effort to remove the rust marks from the blade because the process will often damage the fancy temper pattern (many technical terms for this, but often simply refered to as "hamon"). If this turns out to be something you want to have professionally pollished, you'd regret causing harm at this stage.

Well said, Austus.

I mean contraction. Man - tetsu is the first and last kanji of the SMR name. I don't remember where I read that, maybe Ohmura. Why? Is the "Dairen Railway Workshop" a contractor?

That’s interesting Thomas. Mantetsu itself is a contraction, so there already is an established practice of using contractions. If true though, it really messes with the idea these Ren stamped blades were made at the Nanman arsenal.

Here’s some

Austus, Here's where I brought the old blade, mounted in Kaigunto fittings, to the forum for evaluation: http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/20630-kai-gunto-with-koto-blade/ It was early in my collecting days, and I was looking for my first kaigunto. A dealer was selling this one for TWICE the price of a normal kai. All the gold gilding was gone and the saya showed considerable wear and delapidation. So and asked why the price? 1. The sharskin saya, 2. The Fujiwara mon, and 3. the old blade. I got interetsted and bought it. After all these years of learning, I realized I still paid too much, but I'm glad I have it. The blade is mumei and was likely made during a period of much warring, so it was probably as mass-produced as blades could be back then. I'm still honored to have a blade that went through that much time, and possibly battle, and still be here today.

It’s certainly just as possible as it is for Nanman to have been manufacturing them. But we already have a document ordering 5,500 unfinished blades to make up for Tokyo’s shortfall. Still not out of the question though.

Austus, Yes, I have an old blade that tapers from the nakago ana all the way down to the kissaki. Can't get the habaki off either. Mine is likely between 1400 and 1600 on the year. That's as close as I was able to narrow it down.

Great find, Chris! Looks pretty old to me by the sight of that nakago.

The nakago looks really thick! Or is it just camera angles? The second mekugi ana is quite common for older blades pressed into service for the war. The one closer to the habaki is usually the one fitting the military tsukas.