Japanese sword questions

[Bruv]

Just picked this sword up and am not versed in these very much, so I wondered what this one is exactly. I took the handle off and there are no markings at all on the tang. On one of the metal pieces that slide over the tang, there is a number 225. There are no other numbers anywhere on the sword. The blade has a wide temper line it looks like, not the type close to the edge. Anyway, it was a wartime bring back as there were two rifles that came back with it and I knew the guy that brought it home. So, I guess this has to be a wartime made sword or could it be earlier or were all the earlier ones marked? What branch may have carried it, and anything else you might see that I don't that would be of interest with this piece. Thank you in advance for any help you may give me.
Dave

[Bruv]

a

[Bruv]

b

[Bruv]

c

[Bruv]

d

[Bruv]

e

[Budo45]

to me it looks like a shinshinto blade taken to war.

[Bruv]

f

[Bruv]

last bunch. Thanks,
Dave

[Bruv]

I see the tang picture is a bit blurry. Would a sharp picture help? Is a shinshinto blade old?

[Bruv]

Hope these are a bit better

[Bruv]

last again

[Budo45]

http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/period.htm

it could have a faint mai, i have uncovered them before, very light coat of oil, no hard rubbing but remove some of the red rust...red rust bad ...dark patina good.

[rajko84]

Looks like a very nice sword

[Bob Coleman]

As Budo said, it is Shinshinto meaning new new sword made in the 19th century. It has a standard army officer's scabbard and an older handle and guard. These mixtures of parts and age is often seen. The blade has been shortened as the tang was cut and the cutting edge moved up likely to meet the form of sword technique the owner had.