Japanese bayonets 1897 - 1945

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jdeleur
Posts: 271
Joined: Thu May 25, 2006 8:29 pm

Japanese bayonets 1897 - 1945

Post by jdeleur »

One of the most feared weapons of the Japanese soldier was his bayonet.
The Japanese did a lot of training with the bayonet because they thought it could be the most important weapon during close quarter battle.
Not only the Samurai background was the cause that they relied so much on the bayonet but also the military training the Japanese army received from the British in the 1800’s

The most widely used bayonet by the Japanese during WW2 was the T30 bayonet. This bayonet designed for the Type 30 rifle (1897) was in use from 1897 till 1945 by the Japanese military.
This model bayonet was produced by the millions in many different variations. Some collectors think that there are more than a few hundred variations produced.

I will use the letter codes as used by Larry Johnson’s book “Japanese bayonets” . Not much info is available on the subject so if you see something that isn’t correct please email me.


The bayonet was manufactured by at least 13 Arsenals.

- 1
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Tokyo Hohei Kosho. 1898-1923 (after the devastating eartquake they moved to the new location)
Tokyo Rikogun Zoheisho. 1923-1935
Kokura Rikogun Zoheisho. 1935-1945

- 2
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Nagoya Rikugun Zoheisho

- 3
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Riken Kozai ?

- 4
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Toyoda Jido Shokki Seissaku-jo KK

- 5
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"Rocking Star"
Yokasuka Kaigun Zoheisho (?)

- 6
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Hoten Zohai-sho KK (Mukden)

- 7
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Matsushita Kinzoku KK (Osaka)

- 8
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Kanashiyo Sakugan-ki

- 9
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Jinsen Rikugun Zoheisho

-10
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Riken Kozei

-11
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Hikari Seiki Seisaku-jo KK


-12
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Matsushita Kinzoku KK


-13
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Matsushita Kinzoku KK (probably late war)



The variations that have a double arsenal mark were made from 1936 till 1945 ?

Most bayonets have serial numbers but those were not assigned to the rifles. Bayonets without serial numbers are mostly late war variations.

In front of some serial numbers there are Hiragana characters. These tell
which series that bayonet is.
Last edited by jdeleur on Wed Jan 03, 2007 10:32 pm, edited 16 times in total.
Looking for T30 bayonet info.
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jdeleur
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Post by jdeleur »

The most common variation is the so called variation “A”
This variation was made from 1897 till 1940/41 before it was replaced by the variation “B”

Image

The variation “A” has a hooked quillion and a blade with fullers. The blade can be found blued or bright.
The pommel has a rounded bird’s head pommel with a round release button.
The grips are contoured and made from wood and are retained by screws in oval washers.

Normally the serial numbers are found on the back of the pommel.
Early models had their serial numbers on the top of the tang (Tokyo) or on the crossguard (kokura).

This variation was made by: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12

Dimensions: OA 512mm, BL 397mm, MR 14.5mm
Looking for T30 bayonet info.
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jdeleur
Posts: 271
Joined: Thu May 25, 2006 8:29 pm

Post by jdeleur »

The variation "B" is almost identical to the variation "A" except for the hooked quillion.

It is unknown why they deleted the hook. Some say it stucks into the bushes other say it is cost / time reduction.
I would prefer the later one because when they introduced this bayonet they were in the middle of the war. And time reduction means more output.

The pommel has a rounded bird’s head pommel with a round release button.
The grips are contoured and made from wood and are retained by screws in oval washers.
Blade can be found blued or bright.

The serial numbers are found on the back of the pommel.

This variation was made by: 1, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10

Period: 1940/41... ?

Dimensions: OA 512mm, BL 397mm, MR 14.5mm
Looking for T30 bayonet info.
Image
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