Attention Mantetsu Owners: A Survey

[Conway S]

Posting this recent acquisition. It's dated Spring 1939 with katakana "ro" 口 233. It was hard to get a good picture of the mune due to it being a little rusty. Based on Bruce's Iroha chart, I believe this would be from the second series. Please correct me if that is incorrect. 

 

The sword has early features such as the center chuso release, thick pierced tsuba, copper rain pattern habaki, and hands clasped sarute. The tsuka also has metal shims for added durability.

 

Conway 

 

[Conway S]

A few more pictures:

 

[Bruce Pennington]

Nice one, Conway!  I bet it's heavy!

 

As to it's place in the series, it's hard to say exactly.  '39 was the year of overlap as they finished out the English lettering N-Z (we only have examples of N, O, V, and W) and began using IROHOA.  All the Alpha/numerics for '39 were "Spring" and the IROHA started with Spring, so either they finished the Alpha/numberics before staring IROHA or they ran the two numbering system simultaneiously.

 

1939	--	--	--	--	--	N-423春 N-574春 N-597春 O-4春	--	V-18春 V-33春	W-23春 W-38春 W-82春	--	None春
I イ(イ) i 　い Ro ロ Ha ハ											Alpha Numeric Missing Kanji
1939 I イ RO ロ HA ハ NI ニ HO ホ	I 132-S I 169-S I 376-S I 466-S	RO 69-S RO 75-S RO 233S RO 270S RO 381S RO 446S	HA 24-A HA 35-A	NI 53-A NI 57-A NI 190-A NI 375-A NI 422-A NI 539-A Ni 657-A NI 679-W Ni 733-A	HO 113-W HO 122-W HO 123-W HO 125-W HO 168-W HO 171-W HO 213-W						NoNmr-W

[Kotetsu1959]

Bruce,     You have that B series in naval mounts that I sent pictures of. Does that fall in 1939 according to your research?

 

      

[Conway S]

Ray, the chart shows that N-Z are 1939 series. Your sword is still 1938. Bruce mentions the B and C series being 1938 on Page 37 of this thread (April 8th). 

[Bruce Pennington]

22 hours ago, Kotetsu1959 said:

Bruce,     You have that B series in naval mounts that I sent pictures of. Does that fall in 1939 according to your research?

 

      

B25 - yes, it's a 1938, like Conway said.

[PNSSHOGUN]

Conway, does your sword have Iriyama Gata Nakagojiri?

[Conway S]

John, 

 

For some reason, the pics I posted above do not display completely unless you double click to open them in another tab. I did not recognize this as a feature of the early Mantetsu until after I read your comment. 

 

[PNSSHOGUN]

This is the first Koa Isshin I can recall seeing with this type of Nakagojiri. Good find, the early Koa Isshin have something a little special about them one way or the other.

[Conway S]

Here's a few pics of the blade with a comparison to a late war in rinji mounts. 39' on the bottom. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Bruce Pennington]

They are big and heavy!

[Bruce Pennington]

I only have full photos of one 1937, and it has this same shape.  Looks like the other '38s went to the rounded shape after this one.

[Dogditcher]

Was Informed this was  Spring of 42

Enjoy

 

[Dogditcher]

Was Informed this was  Spring of 43

Enjoy

 

[Bruce Pennington]

On 5/25/2025 at 4:21 PM, Dogditcher said:

Spring of 43

Thanks for posting these, Steve!  Any chance there is a small stamp above the Koa Isshin mei?

[Dogditcher]

On 5/27/2025 at 12:28 PM, Bruce Pennington said:

Thanks for posting these, Steve!  Any chance there is a small stamp above the Koa Isshin mei?

Not that i can see 

 

 

[Rawa]

Mr @Bruce Pennington Im posting link to auction of mantetsu here. Dunno if you dig everywhere. Its for your database. Its not my auction ofcourse

https://www.ebay.com/itm/306280148929

And another one

https://ebay.us/m/M23rdL

[Bruce Pennington]

4 minutes ago, Rawa said:

link to auction of mantetsu here.

Thank you, I appreciate all the help I can get!  

[Bruce Pennington]

For those that enjoy the SMR Mantetsu world, we just came across this 1941 Koa Isshin that has a number - RA 222.  That series is from the first series of 1942.  My first thought was "Ah, overlap!  They started the RA series in '41 and continued through to '42", but after consulting the chart, it's clear the RA series began in '42.  We have 1942 blades numbered RA 7 and RA 100 already, both with the distinct 1942 mei.  Quoting Thomas, @Kiipu:

"... the mei 満鐵作之 is 1941 but the series ラ would be 1942 and a different mei 満鐵謹作.  If correct, could it be a blade from 1941 that was not finished until 1942?"

 

His hypothesis is the best one I can think of.

 

Photos

 

[Bruce Pennington]

Thus the chart now has "RA" in '41, but with a footnote: (note: Pasting the chart on the NMB site causes spacing distortion)

1941 WA ワ KA カ YO ヨ TA タ RE レ SO ソ TSU ツ NE ネ NA ナ	WA 6 -S WA 134S WA 158S WA 175S WA 231S WA 238S WA 638S	KA 89-S KA 228-S KA 232-S KA 236-S KA 238-S KA 275-S KA 353-S KA 405-S KA 458-S	YO 11 YO 57-S YO 122-S YO 150-S YO 162-S YO 234 YO 320-S YO 349-S YO 350-S YO 352-S	TA 24-S TA 68-S TA 127-S TA 181-S TA 287-S TA 298-S TA 277-S TA 305-S TA 313-S TA 336-S	RE 6-S RE 71-S RE 153-S RE 193-S RE 347-S RE 413-S RE 409-S RE 476-S RE 524-S	SO 25-S SO 66-S SO 185-S SO 216-S SO 219-S SO 231-S SO 257-S SO 308-S SO 453-S SO 482-S SO 564-S SO 574-S SO 620-S SO 630-S SO 718-S	Tsu 29-S Tsu 95-S Tsu556-S Tsu 198S Tsu 254S Tsu 438S Tsu 573S Tsu 575S Tso 601S Tsu 651S	NE 2-S NE 26-S NE 144-S NE 347-S NE 384-S NE 396-S NE 401-S NE 414-S	NA 5-S NA 124-S NA 106-S NA 184-S NA 232-S NA 354-S NA 377-S NA 379-S Na 383-S NA 484-S NA 573-S NA 574-S NA 716-S	RA 222-S#	? 218 ? 283 ?xxx Filed off.Bohi
1942 RAラ MUム U ウ WIヰ NOノ O オ* KUク YAヤ MAマ	RA 7(?)-S RA 100-S RA 341-S RA 495-S RA 768-S RA 820-S RA 823-S RA 858-S RA 934-S RA 984-S RA1027S RA1030S RA1071S RA1162S RA1196S RA1232S RA1256S RA1333S RA1356S	Mu 87-S Mu 89-S Mu213-S Mu528-S Mu555-S Mu595-S Mu637-S Mu705-S	U 20-S U 70-S U 99-S U 255-S U 357-S U 414-S U 481-S U 592-S U 703-S U 704-S U 1593-S	NO 34-S NO 273-S NO 302-S NO 430-S NO 474-S NO 493-S NO 533-S NO 730-A	Ku 33-A Ku 101-A Ku 327-A Ku 452-A Ku 466-A Ku 471-A Ku 560-A Ku 878-A Ku 897-A Ku 947-A Ku1020A Ku1087A Ku1200A Ku1226A Ku1327A	YA 72-A YA 79-A YA 201-A YA 246-W YA 350-A YA 353-A YA 417-A YA 475-A YA 505-A YA 608-A YA 622-A YA 623-A YA 677-A YA 702-A YA 710-A YA 736-A YA 957-A YA1048-A	Ma 77-A Ma 78-A				? 26-S ? 345-S ? 483-S ? 529-S ? 744-S ノ???-A

[John C]

@Bruce Pennington

Another from Showa22, if you don't have it already.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/366030169526?

 

John C.

[Rawa]

You had this one? @Bruce Pennington
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1G1xE8DzW6/?

[Bruce Pennington]

7 hours ago, Rawa said:

You had this one?

Marcin,

No, don't have that one.  Any chance of posting a photo of the date and one overall of the gunto?  I don't have a FB account, so it won't let me see the link.

[Rawa]

1 hour ago, Bruce Pennington said:

Marcin,

No, don't have that one.  Any chance of posting a photo of the date and one overall of the gunto?  I don't have a FB account, so it won't let me see the link.

Here you go

[Rawa]

I found this shorter one 

https://m.olx.pl/d/oferta/miecz-wakizashi-katana-z-okresu-ii-wojny-swiatowej-CID4042-ID17lRNQ.html

more photos

https://www.catawiki.com/pl/l/97934141-katana-japonia

Edited January 8 by Rawa

[Bruce Pennington]

15 hours ago, Rawa said:

I found this shorter one 

https://m.olx.pl/d/oferta/miecz-wakizashi-katana-z-okresu-ii-wojny-swiatowej-CID4042-ID17lRNQ.html

more photos

https://www.catawiki.com/pl/l/97934141-katana-japonia

Marcin, Great find!  At 21.5" it is a waki, and clearly made that way.  That is now the 4th Mantetsu waki I have on file.  Interestingly, they are all close together (not literally in a row, but close):

1939 O4 Spring

1940 O166 Autumn

1940 Wa33 Autumn

1940 Wa 73 Autumn

@Kiipu @BANGBANGSAN

Photos from the links, for when they go dead

[Kiipu]

3 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said:

1939 O4 Spring

 

This one started out as a katana and was later shortened to a wakizashi 脇差.

[Kiipu]

Polish to English Translation

OPIS OSTRZA [BLADE DESCRIPTION]:

Sygnatura [Signature]: Koa Isshin Mantetsu saku kore

興亜一心　鍛錬作之

 

Data [Date]: Showa koshin Aki

1940r. Jesień [1940, Autumn]

昭和庚辰秋

 

Nagasa: 54,5 cm [21.45 inches]

Motohaba: 28 mm [1.10”]

Kasane: 7 mm [0.27”]

Hamon: Suguha

Hada: Nashiji

Nakago: ubu, 1 mekugiana

Sori: 8 mm [0.31”]

 

Ostrze: konstrukcja Shinogi zukura, grzbiet iori mune. Chu kissaki.

Blade: Shinogi zukuri construction, iori mune spine. Chu kissaki tip.

 

Typ miecza: Wakizashi w oprawie katany

Sword type: Wakizashi in a katana mounting.

 

Czas powstania: 1940 wiosna.

Świetnie zachowane ostrze z okresu drugiej wojny światowej. Klinga doskonale odkuta I zahartowana, posiada doskonale proporcje. Klasyczne ostrze w typie miecza wojskowego gunto wykonane w fabryce kolejowej w Mandżurii w Chinach ze stali mandżurskiej (mantetsu). Z tych powodów wymyka się terminowi “nihonto” mimo, że jest wykonana zgodnie ze sztuka. Sygnatura Koa Isshin nie wskazuje na konkretnego kowala, ponieważ wszystkie ostrza z tej wytwórni byly tak sygnowane. Datowana metoda zodiakalną, tu Koshin (lub Kanoe) tatsu – rok smoka, wskazuje na rok 1940. Aki – wiosna. Na mune nakago widnieje sygnatura montażowa Sai 166 [オ一六六]

 

Made in 1940, spring.

A well-preserved blade from the Second World War. The blade is perfectly forged and tempered, and has excellent proportions. This classic gunto-style military sword blade was crafted at a railway factory in Manchuria, China, from Manchurian steel (mantetsu). For these reasons, it defies the term "nihonto," even though it is crafted in accordance with the art. The Koa Isshin signature does not indicate a specific smith, as all blades from this factory were marked in this manner. Dating using the zodiac method, here Koshin (or Kanoe) tatsu – the year of the dragon, indicates 1940. Aki – Spring [Autumn]. The mune nakago bears the assembly mark Sai 166 [オ一六六]*.

 

* It is actually the katakana character オ O and not the kanji character 才 Sai.

[Rawa]

3 hours ago, Kiipu said:

Polish to English Translation

OPIS OSTRZA [BLADE DESCRIPTION]:

Sygnatura [Signature]: Koa Isshin Mantetsu saku kore

Data [Date]: Showa koshin Aki

1940r. Jesień [1940, Autumn]

 

興亜一心　鍛錬作之

昭和庚辰秋

Nagasa: 54,5 cm

Motohaba: 28 mm

Kasane: 7 mm

Hamon: Suguha

Hada: Nashiji

Nakago: ubu, 1 mekugiana

Sori: 8 mm

 

Ostrze: konstrukcja Shinogi zukura, grzbiet iori mune. Chu kissaki.

Blade: Shinogi zukuri construction, iori mune spine. Chu kissaki tip.

 

Typ miecza: Wakizashi w oprawie katany

Sword type: Wakizashi in a katana mounting.

 

Czas powstania: 1940 wiosna.

Świetnie zachowane ostrze z okresu drugiej wojny światowej. Klinga doskonale odkuta I zahartowana, posiada doskonale proporcje. Klasyczne ostrze w typie miecza wojskowego gunto wykonane w fabryce kolejowej w Mandżurii w Chinach ze stali mandżurskiej (mantetsu). Z tych powodów wymyka się terminowi “nihonto” mimo, że jest wykonana zgodnie ze sztuka. Sygnatura Koa Isshin nie wskazuje na konkretnego kowala, ponieważ wszystkie ostrza z tej wytwórni byly tak sygnowane. Datowana metoda zodiakalną, tu Koshin (lub Kanoe) tatsu – rok smoka, wskazuje na rok 1940. Aki – wiosna. Na mune nakago widnieje sygnatura montażowa Sai 166

 

Made in 1940, spring.

A well-preserved blade from the Second World War. The blade is perfectly forged and tempered, and has excellent proportions. This classic gunto-style military sword blade was crafted at a railway factory in Manchuria, China, from Manchurian steel (mantetsu). For these reasons, it defies the term "nihonto," even though it is crafted in accordance with the art. The Koa Isshin signature does not indicate a specific smith, as all blades from this factory were marked in this manner. Dating using the zodiac method, here Koshin (or Kanoe) tatsu – the year of the dragon, indicates 1940. Aki – spring. The mune nakago bears the assembly mark Sai 166.

 

* Kiipu the Menace:  This is a translating error.  The translator mistook the Katakana 片仮名 character O オ for the kanji 漢字 character Sai 才.

Fine translation

[Bruce Pennington]

3 hours ago, Kiipu said:

Aki – spring. The mune nakago bears the assembly mark Sai 166.

 

* Kiipu the Menace:  This is a translating error.  The translator mistook the Katakana 片仮名 character O オ for the kanji 漢字 character Sai 才.

They also got the "spring" wrong, though they had it right, "autumn" at the top.