koa isshin & mantetsu

[werner]

Hi,

 

I wonder if somebody can help me here....is there a difference in quality between the koa isshin and mantetsu blades?? As far as I know both came out of the same production line....is this correct?

 

Thanks..

 

Jock

[werner]

...the thing that got me thinking was that a website differentiated between the 2 as follows:

 

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3. Koa-isshin Mantetsu-to. Made from Manchurian steel by a special process. Partly forged, partly engineered, and differentially hardened in the traditional manner using water as a quenching agent. Possesses an active hamon and hada.

 

6. Mantetsu-to. Rolled from Manchurian railway tracks. Differential hardening using oil, may have a fairly inactive hamon, but no hada.

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I always thought that both were the same - from the same production - same company - just an add-on to the name (koa isshin) because of political reasons....yet the information above indicates that the Mantetsu isn't equal to the koa isshin?

 

Thanks for clarifying this....

 

Jock