|
WWII Japanese Army Arisaka Last Ditch Bayonet -
At the end of WWII, when American soldiers returned home,
they came back with a whole host of war souvenirs. Samurai swords, medals, uniforms, helmets, and many more things were brought home with them. Japanese military collectibles from WWII have gained
popularity over the years.
This style of bayonet is commonly known as the "Last-ditch".
The following is a rare and fine example of a WWII era Japanese wooden scabbard bayonet.
Wooden scabbrds did not come about until late war. As the fighting approached home and the
naval choke hold of the islands was started, the military was running out of raw materials and
was forced to improvise by building equipment from whatever was available. The condition of
the blade of this item indicates that it was possible never was issued.
The scabbard is a two piece construction tied together by tightly wound string. Another
interesting aspect of its construction is the square metal tip. The author has seen a bayonet
of similar construction with the exception of having a pointed tip that closely ressembled the
shape of the blade tip.
|
This page is a recognition and identification guide for Japanese WWII edge weapons.
Multiple detailed photos of a specific sample are provided. Descriptions point
out specific points that should be noted.
One of the most commonly asked questions is "How much is my Japanese edge weapon worth?".
A price guide is included here to address this question. The value of the edge weapon is
reviewed over a period of several years. A trend can be observed. The present worth
of the items in the collector's market is illustrated.
This service is provided free of charge to the visitor/enthusiast courtesy of
MilitaryItems.com,
a company dedicated
to the preservation of military history and to providing quality military antiques and
collectibles to museums, institutions and the general public.
|
|
The picture on the left (below) shows the serial numbering found on the tip of the handle.
While the picture on the right depicts the arsenal marking found at the base of the blade of the
bayonet.
Many WWII Japanese edge weapons are currently
reproduced.
It is becoming more difficult to be able to tell the fake ones from the real ones because
the quality of the reproductions is improving. The collector must become familiarized with
the construction style and materials employed in the manufacturing of this item.
Attention to the details is critical in order to be able to determine the authenticity of
the collectible.
If you have an interest is seeing other WWII Japanese items, you can do so by going
to our WWII Japanese Collectibles
identification guide, where we discussed items from different groups and organizations.
| 
Swat the Shopping Bug to view related military items!
