Original U.S. Civil War Era Model 1860 Army Staff and Field Officer Sword with Etched Blade by William Read & Sons Spanish Military Equipment intended to use the same

intended to use the same ammunition as the pistols they were armed with

making reading difficult

and would be read: SHOWA (current reigning emperor) Juu-Roku Nen (16th year of reign - 1941) 12th month (December)

1942 for the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign

The front lid of the case is marked in a small rectangle in painted black letter type:

Original U.S. Civil War Era Model 1860 Army Staff and Field Officer Sword with Etched Blade by William Read & Sons Spanish Military Equipment intended to use the sameOriginal Item: One Of A Kind: This original M1860 Staff and Field officers sword is one of many produced by various manufacturers from the Civil War to the turn of the century. This example was manufactured by William Read & Sons of Boston, Massachusetts as is marked on the ricasso. This officer's sword was adopted on August 28, 1860 acting upon the officer who would rarely if ever be called upon to wield a sword in battle. It was not mandatory until