Item #68574 : Original period manufacture. Sword and metal scabbard, matching serial numbers. A decent example of a pattern of sword adopted in Meiji 32 (1899), in two styles, Ko, with a 32 3/4 inch blade, and Otsu, with a 30 1/2 inch blade. Our example is the Ko pattern with the longer blade, as issued to Japanese cavalry troops. The blade is clean, showing service sharpening to the cutting edge, light scattered spotting to the surfaces, serial number 12934. Blue steel guard with a deeply checkered wood grip, with a matching design continuing over the grip. Arsenal marks on the guard as shown. Locking bar on the left side of the guard. The blue steel scabbard is clean, retaining most of it's original finish, with some light denting along it's length, with a cut in the steel edge about midway down. Two serial numbers on the drag, 64257 and 12934, showing a reissue or replacement by the Japanese military at some point. Overall a clean example, little more difficult to find that the shorter "Otsu" model.