This is a bayonet that I found in my house after we bought it a few years back. The previous owner was a WWII vet. I knew it was Japanese when I first saw it and I did a little researching on my own and I believe it is a Type 30 Bayonet from the Kokura arsenal. The blade was caked in yellowish brown cosmoline or grease and as a result the blade itself is very nice and is blued. The rest of the metal has an even brown patina and the scabbard shows some wear and scratches.
The only markings are the 4 circles on the blade and what I assume is a serial number on the back end (tang? pommel? Not sure of the terminology) preceded by an unknown character with another unknown character below it. I’m mainly curious about the manufacturer (other markings I saw online had an Arsenal and a manufacturer mark on the blade) and when it may have been made. An Arisaka is eventually on my C&R list so I’ve always intended on pairing this with it. Thanks in advance for your help.
Has the ricasso been scrubbed (ground) at some time, presumably to remove markings, because the grinding marks are across the blade in this area and not along the blade?
Sometimes if this has been done the original markings can still be faintly seen by positioning the item in question near a window and looking through a magnifying glass while adjusting the angle of the object in relation to the light and the magnifier.
As far as I can tell there is no grinding on this, other than what was done during manufacturing. I found other information online showing just the Kokura arsenal mark. I was mostly interested in a date.
A little more looking suggests this mark was used for more than just Kokura.
its a type 30 bayonet like you know. Its referred to as the 30th year rifle bayonet because of the 30th year of the reign of Meiji in Japan.
They were used on all standard Jap arms except the type 44.
Yours is an early Koishikawa(Tokyo) arsenal with hooked crossguard likely made before 1936. There would be another symbol following the koishikawa arsenal mark if it was made after 1936. The 4 circle symbol signifies a stacked group of cannon balls.
its a beautiful example you you should definitely feel pleased to have found it
Nice. Thank you very much for the info. I don’t intend on selling it because I’d pair it with an Arisaka when I get one, but do you have any idea on a value. The house was a hoarder’s house we bought at auction. Most anything of value was cleared out by the auction company and I was lucky enough to get what was left over. I found this behind a hamper.
The stacked cannon balls alone were used from 1879-1945
I believe if the pommel contains only serial numbers and no symbols first it is:
Koishikawa Arsenal (Tokyo) 1870-1935
If there’s another symbol present with the serial number it’s Kokura Arsenal 1935-1945
You have a nice example. I know some people have no interest in bayonets, so if you ever want to sell let me know 😉
I have a less pretty version. See attached.
I can’t find the reference I used to determine if it was before or after 1935 based on the symbol and the serial number on the pommel. Does anyone else know if my information is correct?
It's a Kokura made example. The two inspection marks on the pommel and the blued blade scream refurb. Is there a small inspection mark under the pommel?
Where under the pommel are you asking about? Do you mean on the underside like on the contoured handle part or under the wood? I haven’t and wasn’t planning on removing the wood for fear of damaging the screws.
If there's another inspection mark it'll be somewhere in the pictured area. The grips definitely don't need to be touched.
It looks like there might be something there but it’s tiny. I missed it before. Second pic is through a jeweler’s loupe.
Yep, it's the katakana character "se" セ . It's very often found on Kokura refurbished bayonets.
From the circle in front of serial is a 61 series, so in reality it could be older bayonet reworked in Kokura, for this speaks the blued blade.
So I’m hearing it possibly a pre-1936 Koishikawa (Tokyo) that’s been refurbished at Kokura?
It's a Kokura made bayonet that was later refurbished by Kokura, nothing more nothing less. A very common bayonet.
I have the same bayonet but with an extra marking... it has the 3 circles as this one and what looks like an hour glass. My number is US9073. What does that mean?
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