HELP reading mei on Type 98 shin gunto

[truelotus]

Hi all

 

I am new to this forum, and I need help :D

 

I think it is proper for me to introduce myself, my name is Donny WInardi, and I am from indonesia

we have small group of nihonto enthusiast here, and we are fond of discussing nihonto, especially shingunto left by Japanese troops during WW2 in Indonesia

 

a friend of mine comes with a type 98 shin gunto in average condition, and need help translating the mei

this gunto is his family heirloom and is said to be taken in some sort of execution place in East Java after the officer who owned it fled for his life ... it is not for sale, and kept as family heirloom

 

and now since we have succeeded in disassemble the sword for the very first time in 50 years or so (since 1945's), we have some mei inscribed, that unfortunately I am not good at :D

 

could someone help ?? as I am not good with kanji ...

 

here it is

 

 

 

I tried to take closer pic on the nakago, but still could not make a clear pic, so I use a piece of paper and pencil ...

 

here it is

 

 

my friend wrote it in bahasa Indonesia, so for easier understanding I translated it as follow

1. ATAS = MUNE (mei written in mune section of the nakago)

2. KIRI = left side of the nakago

3. KANAN = right side of the nakago

 

since this shin gunto is only recently taken out of its fitting, since 1945's we can see that the nakago is not smooth, I personally did not know why is this happening, since this is my first time seeing nakago in such condition

 

anyone can explain ??

 

thanks

regards

Donny Winardi (INA)

[Mark]

the mei side says Kao Isshin Mantetsu. maybe you can try to do the date. there is a lot of info on Mantetsu swords available on line

[truelotus]

the mei side says Kao Isshin Mantetsu. maybe you can try to do the date. there is a lot of info on Mantetsu swords available on line

 

woah ... this is a koa isshin ?? In indonesia ?? woah ... never thought of that ... !!

 

any ideas why the nakago is so chipped out ??

 

thanks, Mark

 

anyhow, how do we change our profile name to our real name ?

[k morita]

Hi Donny,

I do not understand why only the tang melted partially.

Because I do not understand the environment where the sword was preserved.

 

see this link.

http://www.home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/koa.htm
 

[truelotus]

Hi Morita-san

 

thank you very much for the help ... really appreciate it :D

 

anyhow, this sword has been stored inside a cabinet since 1945's and never been taken out even from its saya for more than 50 years ... considering the climate here, which is quite humid, the sword itself is in good condition comparing to other gunto I've seen before

 

the tsuka is not in best condition and need to be replaced, as the ito is frayed and the ho is no longer solid.

 

about the nakago, this is exactly the condition when we pulled it out of the tsuka (with great care) ... and since there are no metal chips inside the tsuka, I think it is safe to assume that the nakago is intentionally chipped for some reasons sometimes in 1940 - 1945's

 

this is kinda interesting, since I've never seen nakago in this condition before ... and from what I know, mantetsuto tends to have a well finished blade & nakago ...

 

is it possible that someone tested the integrity of the blade using the nakago as comparison, hence intentionally chipped parts of the nakago ??

 

anyhow, thanks once more, Morita-san