Japanese Sword Translation

[NickCT]

Hi everyone! I have an old Japanese sword, and I was hoping someone here would be able to translate what it says on the scabbard and blade. I don't know much about this sword other than that it appears to be an older military-type sword. Any help would really be appreciated, especially if you know what kind of sword I have, or the era it's from. Thanks so much!

If the images are too small, here's direct links:

http://imageshack.us/a/img543/7382/sword3.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img818/8886/sword2.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img803/9765/sword1d.jpg

 

[Mike Cash]

From 1938. Cavalry saber that belonged to an officer named Sasaki.

 

[Toritoribe]

It might be 昭和十五年 "1940".
Although I have some doubt about the sword. "Person's name" + "the name of a troop" is rather irregular, and the kanji 昭[shō] seems incorrect.

 

[Mike Cash]

It looked like S.13 on my iphone screen.

 

[Toritoribe]

Yeah, it's hard to decipher which (3 or 5) is correct even on my PC screen.