Did you win this Bayonet?

edward tinker said:

Ah, sage advice, now please tell us "why" it is incorrect?

A lesson of why helps me a lot more than a quote from 1587

Click to expand...

Mr. Tinker

My apologies if you were the purchaser of this bayonet, unfortunately I am a cynic, if you? are happy, it was a good deal.

As to the 1587 comment here is a more recent demonstration, mid 1945 or so.

The photos are of a Vet purchased series 111 serial 14574 bayonet and scabbard predating your? series 111 bayonet by 39334 bayonets. Note 14574 is a late war substitute scabbard, no frills, tin throat and tip and only one 5 strand twine wrap mid span of scabbard instead of the earlier double, 10 to 12 strand twine wrap.

Japanese manufacturing being strangled by materials shortage to the point of using only 5 strands of twine. Then your? serial 53908 is made using more (brand new looking?) (jute?) twine than a hundred scabbards would take, must have been the holiday sake party at the factory.

An observation, serial 53908 appears to be unissued both bayonet and scabbard, the small amount of visible wood at the throat appears new or at least recent, 65 years turns wood dark, field used or not.

Caveat Emptor

Having handled the bayonet & scabbard in question I can clarify the following 1) wood at throat is oxidized. Pulling back top few rows of string showed this clearly 2) tip was nicely patinated copper & was held on by a single nail. Interesting that nail head has same waffled pattern as found on late type 99 wood butt plates 3) not shown in the photos was the aging on the twine & high spots that exibited soiling etc. 4) another interesting detail was the rare frog incorporated in the wrapping. As for bayonets scabbards placement within a particular series used to demonstrate "correct" scabbard type numerous anomolies occured. For example unpainted bamboo scabbards, crude steel scabbards etc. To say with any certainty which scabbard is appropriate for what series is going out on a personal limb. TALW have more scabbard variations then any other arsenal. Other arsenals used metal wire to wrap their scabbards. In collecting Japanese military odd things (2nd series type 99 with no arsenal mark etc) are constantly turning up & making us rethink the known givens.