Here We Have An Early Pattern Imperial Japanese Army Type 98 Shin-gunto With A Signed Shinto (1600/1800) Period Blade. Although, Not Yet Papered, It Is Signed Hoki No Kami Fujiwara Hirotaka On One Side And Resident Of Echizen Which Is The Province Where He Lived And Worked, On The Other. The Tang Has One Hole And Is Unaltered, The Cutting Edge Of This Blade Measures 28 Inches Long. The Overall Polish Is Still Very Good Allowing The Grain And Temper To Be Readily Seen. Where There Is Mild Scuffing, Scratches And A Few Very Light Chips, There Is Nothing About It To Warrant Worry Or True Concern. The Mounts Of This Sword Are Of The Very Early Type Which Includes A Pierced Tsuba. The Menki, Include An Applied Silver Family "Mon" Or Crest Which Was A Practice Of Some Offices To Signify Family Lineage Going Back To The Time Of The Samurai.