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Antiquing Adventure: Japanese Type 30 Bayonet (Kokura Hourglass) - Identifying Markings and History, all help is welcome!

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2.3K views 10 replies 4 participants last post by  ColonelKlink1942  
#1 ·
Hey gang,

Next from the haul is the first of three Type 30 bayonets that I have in my collection now. These bayonets were manufactured from 1897 to about the end of the Second World War in 1945 with a handful of arsenals and sub-contractors. They were used with the Type 30 Arisaka bolt-action rifle and were an interchangeable/universal fit with the Type 38 and Type 99 Arisakas, and the Type 100 submachine gun later on, which I think is very neat. It does, however, make it somewhat difficult to pinpoint which firearm used this exact bayonet, and when. I'm used to some knife bayonets having more of a hefty weight to them, and the blade being somewhat larger and wider, so it came as a surprise to me to see just how skinny and light this bayonet and blade is.

The markings on this bayonet consist of a symbol containing "4 stacked cannonballs/one cannonball stacked on top of three", used by the Kokura Arsenal, alongside an "Hourglass", stamped on the Ricasso, this also means that this bayonet was produced sometime after 1936. From what I've been learning, some folks class this as an "unknown sub-contractor under Kokura Supervision" marking, please feel free to confirm or correct this.

On the pommel, there are two katakana(?) characters before the serial number "62238", and what looks like some sort of inspection stamp just below that. This bayonet retains the hooked quillon, which would likely make it an early-war example, as the hooked quillon was straightened and changed as the war progressed and materials became scarcer. There does not appear to be an inspection stamp on the underside of the pommel, so this bayonet should not be refurbished.

Thanks to @monkeyboy for his help with another gentleman's question about a Type 30 bayonet a few years ago on this site, I was able to learn from what he shared. However, I could also be wrong in my own findings, so please feel free to confirm or correct what I've got.

Overall, it's a very beautiful bayonet and in wonderful shape. I am very happy to have it in my collection. Photos below:

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#2 ·
I have always liked these bayonets, and have owned a few, but know very little about them to be honest. I do know that it was this bayonet that was the basis for the design of the British 1907 MK I SMLE bayonet. These rifles and bayonets were also used by the Royal Navy for a time.

Nice bayonet! (y)
 
#4 ·
Nice ones! I see the second one (in the middle of the three) is a Kokura Arsenal piece as well, but pre-1936. Check to see if there is an inspection stamp on the center of the underside of the metal pommel, near the "bird's head." If there is a stamp, it was later refurbished by Kokura sometime after 1936, and if there isn't one, then it's untouched and likely more valuable.
 
#5 · (Edited)
These go back well over 30 years ago when purchased and have forgotten much about them. They were to go with rifles already in hand.
They are labelled as: left - Toyoda Jidoshoki Seisakusho; centre - Tokyo, 1st variation and right - ? Aisan Kogyo/ Kabushiki Kaisha or Riken Kogyo (Nagoyo subcontractor).
Trust the descriptions are correct, advise if otherwise and photos of center bayonet pommel/tang attached.

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#7 ·
Very nice bayonet and thanks for sharing.

Staffy used the word “obsessive”. He’s very correct.

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I have a few more non-quillon Type 30’s that I’ve picked up since those photos were taken. Still need a Tientsin arsenal marked one to complete the collection. Only seen one for sale and it fetched $1500.