[Bruce Pennington]

I can only comment on the sword. The end has the classic shape of the leather-covers used on civil swords fitted for the war. The leather covers were found on shingunto too, but the rounded tip wouldn't be seen on a shingunto. So, likely a private sword fitted for military use.

 

[Bruce Pennington]

Your guy could have gotten the sword either way, both ways were quite common. As a priest, I know that shrines often had many swords that had been donated to the gods, sometimes hundreds! Don't know the protocol, as to whether a priest could simply take one for use in the war or not though.