WW II Mantetsu-to

Signature:  Koaisshin Mantetsu Saku Kore.
Year Made:  Showa Kanoto Miharu (spring 1941)
Forging Pattern: Muji. 
Tempering Pattern: Suguha.
Dimensions:  Blade Length:  26.18 inchesNakago: 8.5 inches 8 mm thick and 32 mm wide at Hamachi
Mountings:  '34 pattern shin-gunto mounts with the push button release retention system. The mounts show the ware of heavy use. The saya is dented with missing paint, The samé seems intact but the ito is frayed. The metal fittings are of good quality and in decent condition. There is no sarute. They seem original to the sword
Overall Condition:  Fair, the sword mei indicates one of the better Mantetsu-to which were supposedly made in Japan as opposed to Manchuria. It appears to have been used for cutting and shows the nicks and scratches resulting from such use. There is a tiny piece missing from the tip of the kissaki (about 1 mm). There is some light stabilized rust and shallow pitting. These are known to be quality swords for the practice of martial cutting arts and this sword could be polished for that use or kept as is as an example of a Mantetsu-to.