Imperial Japanese 1873 Pattern Civil And Diplomat "Shokunin" Grade Court Sword. This Civil And/Or Diplomatic Sword Was Carried By Higher Level Officials And Is Described And Fully Pictured On Pages 428 And 429 Of SWORDS OF THE EMEROP Authored By John E. Plimpton This Example Has A Nickel Plated Steel Blade That Measures 23 Inches In Length. While The Gilded Hilt And Gripe Wire Remain In Tact And Show Little Wear. The Blade Has Shed A Good Percentage Of Its Plating Revealing A Darkly Patinated Steel Blade. This Is Due Simply From Age. There Is No Pitting. The Scabbard Of Tapered, Triangular Shape Is Leather Covered Wood And Is Intact But For One Very Small Missing Chip Of Leather Situated On The Reverse, Just Above The Scabbard Drag. The Gilding Of Both The Throat And The Drag Are Still Quite Nice.