May 8-10, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/10/2024
The Mantetsu blades were the result of Kusaka Kazuharu successfully developing steel using Manchurian iron at the Mantetsu Experimental Center, which was turned over to Dairen Railway Factory to experiment with making a sword. The steel was used to forge a sword, and the initial sword was mistakenly appraised as a Hizen Tadayoshi, encouraging the factory to begin producing steel blades in September 1937. This sword is signed katana mei "Mantetsu Kitau Tsukuru Kore", while the reverse is dated Spring 1943, using the zodiacal method. Typical Mantetsu construction with a suguha hamon with a gunome bump. In typical gunto mounts with one hanger. CONDITION: Very good, with clear hamon. Some scratches and surface mossing throughout, particularly on the bottom half of the blade. Mounts are very good with some minor handling marks, but complete and attractive. This is a good example of a desirable blade.