Original Item: Only One Item Available. This is an extremely rare mint WWII issue Japanese Model 30 Arisaka rifle bayonet, marked with the "Rocking Star" on the ricasso, indicating manufacture by Toyokawa Naval Arsenal (豊川海軍工廠, Toyokawa kaigun kōshō). These are often described as being issued with the "Special Naval Rifle", however there is not much information available regarding this. It comes complete with a lovely steel scabbard and a solid leather frog.

This bayonet is of the first pattern recorded for the Naval Arsenal, typical of the early war designs made by other factories. The hilt has a contoured crossguard with a hooked quillon, and contoured rivet retained grips. The pommel is a contoured bird's head, and the blade is fullered bright steel. The bayonet is clearly marked on the pommel 10652.

Condition of the bayonet is fantastic with nearly all of the original finish retained. 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 good condition, and the scabbard has a great finish and only light wear. The frog is solid with the retaining strap still present. The body of the scabbard retains nearly all of its paint with only some minor oxidation near the bottom.

We very rarely see examples in this great condition. This would pair perfectly with any excellent condition Arisaka rifle. Comes ready for further research and display!

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" with frog

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.

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.