Oh, one more thing...According to fiction novel writer Stephen Hunter, when the Empire went to war, a call went out to all who possessed swords to turn them in for the war effort.
"The swords were shortened from the rear to bring them to the prescribed length. The tang was cut off, part of the original lower blade was ground off to lengthen the tang, a new hole was drilled in the grip and military mounts were put on"...
