A mumei Showato in Shingunto, or similar, koshirae with ashi/obi-tori but lacking both shibabiki and ishizuke; the blade configuration honzukuri/fukura-tsuku with typical long kijimono style nakago and single mekugi-ana; nagasa about 22.5 inches (roughly 1 Shaku/8 Sun/8.600167 bu)The brown textured design of the saya here, together with the style of the circular Obi-tori and Ashi may imply that this is a late 1944 pattern Shingunto (possibly for an Officer), similar to that discussed and illustrated (pages 42-43) by Richard Fuller and Ron Gregory in their 'Military Swords of Japan/1868-1945' [ISBN 0-85368-796-X]. As 1944 progressed, the resources that were on offer to Japan's front line personnel dwindled. Recently graduated pilots, for instance, qualified for action after only 40 Hours flying time, an important contrast to their USAF opposite numbers who held 500, or so, flying hours (Source: Page 167 of 'Mitsubishi Zero' by Peter C. Smith/Pen and Sword Aviation/2014). Please note that some areas of urumu and deterioration to the blade, and areas of wear and/or damage to the koshirae. Thick rust across the nakago.