DISPOSING (SLOWLY) OF A VERY LARGE, LIFELONG COLLECTION OF POCKET. POSTING A COUPLE A DAY SO BOOKMARK ME FOR FUTURE REFERENCE. NOTE – no attempt has been made to polish, clean or otherwise make this knife more attractive for photos. Wiped over with an oily rag! A good WW 2 Japanese Arisaka Type 30 bayonet and original metal scabbard, Variation A, with hooked quillon, fullered blade, wood grips with the screws in escutcheons, and birds head pommel. Made at the Kokura Arsenal between 1935 and 1945, likely between 1940 and 1944 – serial number 2458908. No series kanji marking that I can find. Together with what I believe is either a training bayonet or, more likely, a late war “ersatz” similar item with no arsenal markings or serial number. These latter examples were thrown together towards the end of the war using whatever components were available and with pretty poor quality steel for the blades. If anyone has any better information, please let me know. The Kokura example measures approximately 20 inches long overall, tip to pommel end. Fullered blade measures approximately 15 3/8 inches long, tip to cross guard. Kokura Arsenal stamp to ricasso. Hooked quillon cross guard. Contoured wood grips secured by two screws set into escutcheons. Birds head rounded pommel. Securing/release catch operates as intended with good spring tension. Original blue mostly worn away but some still present. Very minor chips to edge about half way along the blade. Sheath with age wear. Some small dings, but bayonet fits well with no excess tension. Most original paint gone. The second, what I believe to be “ersatz” example measures approximately 19 ¾ inches long overall, tip to pommel end. Fullered blade measures approximately 15 3/8 inches long. Contoured wood grips with one securing screw missing. No blue to blade or quillon. Blade steel appears to be of inferior quality. Bend in blade approximately 1/3 down from tip. Obverse blade with significant staining and pitting. One grip retaining spring missing. Securing catch button may not be original, or is poorly fabricated. Please see the detailed photos which form part of the description. Tried to capture these well – both good and bad points. No need to check out straight away. We only put up a couple of items a day, so bear with us.
