Japanese Militaria at Castle-Thunder.com

[deleur]

What do the serial numbers on Type 30 bayonets tell us?
Or is it just a serial number without info about date etc.

[gwsiii]

Very early bayonets were said to be numbered to the rifles they were to be issued with. Earliest bayonets were numbered on the crossguard, and later the back strap, with final placement on the back of the pommel. When moved to the back of the pommel (probably about the time that series markings were adopted for rifle production) series marks were added to bayonet serial numbers to save 'space' to keep the serial numbers limited to 5 digits, with a series or hiragana mark indicating the 'prefix digits' much like on rifles. Apparently each manufacturer was allotted a specific range of series/hiragana marks. When production reached 99,999 for a particular run, the next series/hiragana mark was implemented and serializing started over (at 1 or 0, depending upon the reference cited). Someone correct me if I've missed something, or am in error. I'm a rifle guy, to me bayonets are really just for roasting hotdogs in the field. trey
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[deleur]

Haha...

Thank you for the information.
Thought also that they would be using blocks just like the rifles because the serials never extend a certain lenght.

[48marine]

I have a T-38 school rifle that came with a bayonet when I bought it. Never paid much attention to the bayonet before reading this post. It appears to be an 11th series Nagoya bayonet.

The interesting thing is that the serial number is preceeded by 2 sets of what appear to be parenthesis or zeros-- () () 1176.

I know the rifles had two OO's added to the front of the serial number when
taken out of service. I'm curious if they did the same with the bayonets.

[gwsiii]

I don't know much about bayonets, I'm not far from thinking you only need two, a long one, and a short one to have a complete collection. The parenthesis may be portions of the actual series marks, for years, Mukden Type 38 rifles from the 50th series, with an actual series mark, were referred to as 'W 3's, as the series marks resembled a disjointed W followed by a disjointed looking sort of 3. I'm at Japbayoman's house, I'll get his 2% on it a little later. If you can, upload a photo, it would save me having to scour through his collection for something similarly marked. Thanks for posting. Trey
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I didn't pay to much for that old Arisaka, I just bought it a little bit too soon!