Original WWII Japanese Army Officer P-1944 Rinji Seikishi Shin-Gunto Katana Sword with Scabbard British Ordnance and would be read: SHOWA

and would be read: SHOWA (current reigning emperor) Juu-Nana Nen (17th year of reign - 1942)

and there is some chipping right at the tip

again showing its age

The talon zipper is a post war replacement

During leave back home before his deployment

Original WWII Japanese Army Officer P-1944 Rinji Seikishi Shin-Gunto Katana Sword with Scabbard British Ordnance and would be read: SHOWAOriginal Item: Only One Available. Purchased recently at a large military auction, this is a very nice late war style mid grade Japanese officer Katana, with an arsenal made blade. It is in the standard 1944 pattern fittings, offically known as the (Rinji Seikishi) or "Special Contingency" version of the Type 98 Shin Gunto ( kyhachi shiki gunt) setting. These fittings, while often called the P 1944, were in fact designed in 1938, but didn't really see