Original Item: Only One Item Available. This is a rare WWII issue Japanese Model 30 Arisaka rifle bayonet, marked with the "Rocking Star" on the ricasso, indicating manufacture by Toyokawa Naval Arsenal (豊川海軍工廠, Toyokawa kaigun kōshō). These are often described as being issued with the "Special Naval Rifle", however there is not much information available regarding this. The bayonet looks to have seen long service, and was refinished in black paint later in the war, though it originally had a bright steel blade. It comes with the original scabbard, also refinished.

This bayonet is of the first pattern recorded for the Naval Arsenal, typical of the early war designs made by other factories. The hilt has a contoured crossguard with a hooked quillon, and contoured rivet retained grips. The pommel is a contoured bird's head, and the blade is fullered bright steel. Due to removed oxidation on the pommel the serial number can unfortunately not be read anymore. There are two Kanji marked onto the wood grips, however we have not been able to translate them.

Overall condition is very good, but definitely shows wear from service and use. It looks like the bayonet was exposed to the elements, typical of a naval issued bayonet, and had to have rust removed before it was refinished. The blade has been shortened a bit, and looks to have had the edge removed, most likely due to damage. The scabbard also shows past oxidation, now removed and painted to protect it.

A very nice service used and reissued example of a rare Japanese bayonet. Ready to display!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 15"
Blade Style: Single Edge Bayonet
Overall length: 29 1/2“
Crossguard: 3 3/4”
Scabbard Length: 16 1/4"

History of the Type 30 Bayonet-
The Type 30 bayonet (三十年式銃剣 sanjunen-shiki juken) was a bayonet designed for the Imperial Japanese Army to be used with the Arisaka Type 30 Rifle and was later used on the Type 38 and Type 99 rifles. Some 8.4 million were produced, and it remained in front-line use from the Russo-Japanese War to the end of World War II.

Type 30 Bayonet was a single-edged sword bayonet with a 400 millimetres (15.75 in) blade and an overall length of 514 millimetres (20.24 in) with a weight of approximately 700 grams. The Type 30 bayonet is also known as the "Pattern 1897 bayonet". Early Type 30 bayonets usually sported a hooked quillion guard that gave it a distinct look, but later models had a straight hand guard. The design was intended to give the average Japanese infantryman a long enough reach to piece the abdomen of a cavalryman. However, the design had a number of drawbacks, some caused by the poor quality of forgings used, which tended to rust quickly and not hold an edge, and to break when bent.

These bayonets were manufactured from 1897 to 1945 at a number of locations, including the Kokura Arsenal, Koishikawa Arsenal (Tokyo) and Nagoya Arsenal, as well as under contract by private manufacturers including Matsushita, Toyoda Automatic Loom and many others, including Jinsen Arsenal in Occupied Korea.