Little help guys

GoldenRivet · 04-07-15, 01:11 PM

It is definitely a Japanese Arisaka Bayonet

The circular symbol with the figure 8 represents the Nagoya Arsenal, this is actually the symbol of Nagoya at the time and is derived from the symbol of the two mythical dolphins (the Shachi) symbolized on the roof ends of the Nagoya Castle which is a prominent land mark in Nagoya

The diamond symbol represents the bayonet was manufactured by a company called Riken Kozai under the supervision of Nagoya Arsenal (or under authorization or contract etc)

much like you have the Vought F4U Corsair - while being designed and built by Vought contracts allowed for the aircraft to also be produced by Brewster and Goodyear because of demand - the same is true of Japanese rifles and bayonets - the Arisaka had a couple of variations in the design, but due to the sheer numbers needed for production several companies were authorized to manufacture them... Riken Kozai being one of them. While Riken Kozai's headquarters was located in Gunma Prefecture their primary factory was in Tokyo.

Thus based on the markings on the blade, this bayonet was produced in Tokyo by Riken Kozai under the authorization of Nagoya Arsenal

as for the serial number "59131" - the serial numbers ranging from 50,000 to 99,999 were manufactured by from 1940-1945. the closer the serial number is to 50,000 - the closer to 1940 the production range... 99,999 would be the last Arisaka bayonet produced by this manufacturer prior to the surrender.

the "glyph" preceding the serial number is called a "series marker"

If there was an absence of a series marker it meant that the bayonet was produced for training of soldiers and would have been issued to military schools in Japan or would have been used to train soldiers during their bayonet training - this would also be indicated by the absence of a serial number entirely

because there is a glyph preceding the serial number, one can deduce that this bayonet was produced for issue to a combat ready unit

the series marker preceding the serial number just shows the series of bayonet

EDIT: given the image of the scabbard and the overall length from end to end being 20 inches - it is 100% a Japanese Arisaka Type 30 bayonet. Given that the serial number is pre-60,000 i would estimate the bayonet was constructed prior to the end of 1941 which means it was probably part of the bayonets disseminated for use almost anywhere in the Pacific Theater of Operations during WW2 - there is unfortunately no way to know exactly where each bayonet went or what battles - if any - it participated in. But you can almost guarantee that this one was affixed to the end of a rifle, and given the tenacity of the fighting in the Pacific its likely that it saw combat - even if it never did draw blood.

Sailor Steve · 04-07-15, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldenRivet

Vaught

It's 'Vought'.

Quote:

contracts allowed for the aircraft to also be produced by Brewster and Goodyear because of demand - the same is true of Japanese rifles and bayonets

Building stuff "under license" is an old and time-honored practice. My "03 Springfield" was built by Remington in 1942.

GoldenRivet · 04-07-15, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

It's 'Vought'.

Building stuff "under license" is an old and time-honored practice. My "03 Springfield" was built by Remington in 1942.

Honest mistake made while typing and going back and forth between various windows and tabs... sorry - as a ww2 airplane nut i should have known better

consider it fixed

Tinychai · 04-07-15, 03:24 PM

Hello this is the girlfriend of gargamel who owns the bayonet. GR, the serial number I know is kinda hard to see but that first number is actually a 39131. Thanks for all the information that u had giving me it is pretty cool.

GoldenRivet · 04-07-15, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tinychai

Hello this is the girlfriend of gargamel who owns the bayonet. GR, the serial number I know is kinda hard to see but that first number is actually a 39131. Thanks for all the information that u had giving me it is pretty cool.

no problem

the pre 50,000 serial number would have been produced prior to 1940, probably 1939. In which case it may have spent some time in China or the Philippines (?) prior to US involvement in the war

Sailor Steve · 04-07-15, 04:15 PM

Welcome Aboard, Tinychai!

Some cool toys you have there.

Jimbuna · 04-08-15, 05:39 AM

Welcome to SubSim Tinychai, I like your collection/hobby

04-07-15, 01:11 PM	#1
GoldenRivet Subsim Aviator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 8,726 Downloads: 146 Uploads: 0	It is definitely a Japanese Arisaka Bayonet The circular symbol with the figure 8 represents the Nagoya Arsenal, this is actually the symbol of Nagoya at the time and is derived from the symbol of the two mythical dolphins (the Shachi) symbolized on the roof ends of the Nagoya Castle which is a prominent land mark in Nagoya The diamond symbol represents the bayonet was manufactured by a company called Riken Kozai under the supervision of Nagoya Arsenal (or under authorization or contract etc) much like you have the Vought F4U Corsair - while being designed and built by Vought contracts allowed for the aircraft to also be produced by Brewster and Goodyear because of demand - the same is true of Japanese rifles and bayonets - the Arisaka had a couple of variations in the design, but due to the sheer numbers needed for production several companies were authorized to manufacture them... Riken Kozai being one of them. While Riken Kozai's headquarters was located in Gunma Prefecture their primary factory was in Tokyo. Thus based on the markings on the blade, this bayonet was produced in Tokyo by Riken Kozai under the authorization of Nagoya Arsenal as for the serial number "59131" - the serial numbers ranging from 50,000 to 99,999 were manufactured by from 1940-1945. the closer the serial number is to 50,000 - the closer to 1940 the production range... 99,999 would be the last Arisaka bayonet produced by this manufacturer prior to the surrender. the "glyph" preceding the serial number is called a "series marker" If there was an absence of a series marker it meant that the bayonet was produced for training of soldiers and would have been issued to military schools in Japan or would have been used to train soldiers during their bayonet training - this would also be indicated by the absence of a serial number entirely because there is a glyph preceding the serial number, one can deduce that this bayonet was produced for issue to a combat ready unit the series marker preceding the serial number just shows the series of bayonet EDIT: given the image of the scabbard and the overall length from end to end being 20 inches - it is 100% a Japanese Arisaka Type 30 bayonet. Given that the serial number is pre-60,000 i would estimate the bayonet was constructed prior to the end of 1941 which means it was probably part of the bayonets disseminated for use almost anywhere in the Pacific Theater of Operations during WW2 - there is unfortunately no way to know exactly where each bayonet went or what battles - if any - it participated in. But you can almost guarantee that this one was affixed to the end of a rifle, and given the tenacity of the fighting in the Pacific its likely that it saw combat - even if it never did draw blood. __________________ Last edited by GoldenRivet; 04-07-15 at 01:36 PM.

04-07-15, 04:15 PM	#6
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	Welcome Aboard, Tinychai! Some cool toys you have there. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

04-08-15, 05:39 AM	#7
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,645 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	Welcome to SubSim Tinychai, I like your collection/hobby __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

04-07-15, 03:24 PM	#4
Tinychai Bilge Rat Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 1 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Hello this is the girlfriend of gargamel who owns the bayonet. GR, the serial number I know is kinda hard to see but that first number is actually a 39131. Thanks for all the information that u had giving me it is pretty cool.