How were swords issued?

[Sporkkaji]

I'm wondering if anyone knows how the army went about issuing swords to officers. Did they have to be purchased or were they simply handed out along with all the other necessary uniforms and equipment? I know that some officers chose to take a family blade to war or to have a custom blade commissioned, but how did they distribute all the arsenal produced swords? Also, with the differences in quality from sword to sword, how was it determined who would get the common gunto and who would get the superior blades such as the ones produced in the RJT program?

[Daniel]

Hi, I think the only swords issued were the type 95 for NCO's, Officers had to purchase their own swords. Regards Daniel