Date or War Cry?

[Cuirassier]

Hi All.

I don't need help with the mei; I have uploaded it here only for reference.

It is a machine made Seki stamped blade; the mei is HideToshi, a very common mei.

But I don't get / can not figure out the inscription on the reverse side; it is not a date, at least not on the date format I know.

I have always just assumed these thihgs are battle cries, but would like to know if I am right and what it actually says please.

Thanks in anticipation

 

 

[Ray Singer]

It's a date. Showa 17.

[Bugyotsuji]

昭和十七年

 

[Cuirassier]

Thanks Ray, Piers. Not in the format I'm used to.

[Kiipu]

Cross-Reference

Very odd gunto tsuba

 

Obverse: 昭和十七年 = 1942.

Reverse: 秀俊 = Hidetoshi.

Edited June 15, 2022 by Kiipu