Czech Gendarmerie Photograph

[SARGE]

Gents,

 

I picked up a nice Czech Gendarmerie (Cet) photograph at a local militaria show over the weekend.  I think this is a wartime photo but perhaps someone will be able to better date it for me.

 

This NCO is wearing the grey-green Czech Rural Police uniform with metal buttons with crossed swords worn by both the Army and the Gendarmerie.  These are the same except for the color which can't be determined from the B/W photograph.  The red scalloped collar patches and metal unit device can be seen along with the peaked cap and insignia.  The insignia is not clear enough for me to make out the composition of the shield though.  The sword is the neat part of the photograph and the shield on the guard cannot be made out either.  Parts of the Czech Army and the entire Gendarmerie were left intact by the Germans under occupation so it is hard to date Czech uniforms.

 

So, what is the time period of this photo?