RARE Prototype Japanese Type 30 Bayonet with Scabbard Tokyo Koishikawa Arsenal
Serial # 755 !!!
Bayonet has all the features of an pre-war prototype manufactured bayonet - blued blade, metal scabbard, and hilt; full fullers on blade, \'bird head\' pommel; early screw grip fasteners on the contoured wooden grips, and the early style crossguard.PLUS, \"M\" on pommeland \"99\" on the beautiful Walnut grip scales confirm this is an early prototype.Copper scabbard, inner liner looks like cork/soft wood, or perhaps leather.
* Bayonet does not fully seat inside scabbard due to dirt/obstruction inside the scabbard.* For fear of damaging inner liner, I left it alone.
You will find in both Larry Johnson\'s book \"Japaneseicon Bayonets\" and Ray LaBar\'s book \"Bayonets of Japan\" the two best sources for info and illustrations on the the many variations of the Type 30 family of bayonets:\"All early Type 30 bayonets were made at Tokyo Arsenal in the \"A\" configuration ( rounded bird head pommel, hook crossguard, contoured wrap around grips retained by screws and washers, bright fullered blade).Initial test / pre-production run had a large \"M\" stamped on the pommel, with or without the arsenal logo ( stacked cannonballs ) on the blade, these have a 3 to 4 digit long serial number stamped on the right side of the crossguard.\"
Please study pictures for full details, and ask any questions PRIOR to offerding.Thank you for looking!!!

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