Mantetsu-to in "34 Pattern Shin-gunto Mounts (hit in the Fuchi by Bullet)

Signature: Koa Issin Mantetsu Saku.
Year Made: Showa Mizanoto Hitsuji Haru (Spring 1943) 
Forging Pattern: Hard to see through scratching, most likely muji hada
Tempering Pattern: Suguha in nioi. 
Dimensions:  Blade Length:  26.25 inchesNakago: 8.375 inches 7 mm thick and 31 mm wide at Hamachi
Mountings:  Good quality mounts typical of the Japanese made Mantetsu-to. Much wear , paint loss and denting to saya, Wrap on tsuka is intact and tight, fuchi destroyed by bullet strike, other fittings intact. Nice fluted copper habaki typical of these swords. No numbers on seppa but some kanji on one (see photo). Company grade tassel in cord sarute. Some fraying but excellent condition for the age. No signs of blood on the ito, must have been his lucky day.
Overall Condition: Fair. Aside from the damage by the bullet to the koshirae, it is in good condition except for the saya wear. The blade has much scratching and light pitting, along most of its length. Impossible to see any detail in the hamon but swords signed this way typically had a functional hamon and this one will shave brass easily. The bullet left a dent in the nakago mune but that is all. This would make n excellent example of a mantetsu blade and the war damage adds an extra bit of history to the blade. These blades are also known among martial artists as superior cutting blades although we do not recommend cutting with any blade unless it has been inspected by a knowledgeable person and properly mounted in new mounts made to take the strain of cutting. In our opinion, with the bullet damage and tassel, it is better used as an interesting display piece.