Original Item: Only One Item Available. This is an excellent condition, possibly unissued WWII issue Japanese Model 30 Arisaka rifle bayonet manufactured by Matsushita. This was the 2nd most prolific private contractor for these bayonets. It comes complete with its original last ditch wood and wire wrapped scabbard.

Condition of bayonet is excellent, with lots of the original finish and only light wear from storage and the scabbard. There is a bit of runner wear on the blued steel blade, which still has the original factory "blunt" edge. The wooden grip scales are in very good condition, and the scabbard has a great finish and only light wear.

We very rarely see examples in this great condition. This would pair perfectly with any excellent Arisaka rifle.

Approximate Specifications:
Blade Length: 15 3/4"
Blade Style: Single Edge Bayonet
Overall length: 20 1/8“
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.

This bayonet is of the mid war pattern, with a straight contoured cross guard, rivet retained contoured wrap around grips, a flat "bird's head" pommel, and blued steel fullered blade. This 2nd to last pattern, which still has the fullered blade. Matushita National Denki ceased production of these bayonets before the late war period, so they did not make any "last ditch" style bayonets. The base of the bayonet is marked with serial number 19675, interrupted by the series marking.

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.

This bayonet was manufactured between 1935 and 1942 by Matsushita Kinzoku KK, under Kokura Arsenal Supervision. Matsushita Metalworking Corp was part of the Matsushita National Denki (Electric Corp.). Surviving group members now make electronics under the National and Panasonic brands. Sugawa estimates production at 900,000, the second-highest among the subcontractors.