VERY RARE**WW1 Era British Issue Japanese Kokura Arsenal Type 30 Arisaka Rifle Bayonet Regiment Marked ‘8 MAN’ To The 8th Battalion Manchester Regiment & ‘RM’ Royal Marines & U.S. Scabbard With Leather Frog. Sn 23398 Bayonet

**VERY RARE**WW1 Era British Issue Japanese Kokura Arsenal Type 30 Arisaka Rifle Bayonet Regiment Marked ‘8 MAN’ To The 8th Battalion Manchester Regiment & ‘RM’ Royal Marines & U.S. Scabbard With Leather Frog. Sn 23398 - 23398

These very rare bayonets were part of a consignment of 150,000 Type 30 Rifles and bayonets originally bound for France in 1914, which was purchased by the British Government enroute and issued to the Royal Navy and various Army units. The bulk of these weapons, approx.130,000 were later sold to Russia in 1916 (see pages 392 & 393 of Bayonets Of Japan by Labar the author describes these bayonets as very rare & seldom encountered, an Arisaka Type 30 bayonet with British Regiment marks are also illustrated on those pages). A small quantity of these bayonets were issued to Colonel T.E. Lawrence and his Arab forces fighting. the Turkish. It has the correct un-damaged, blued single edged fullered blade and cross guard with muzzle ring & hook quillon. It has the correct wood grips secured by screw bolts and steel pommel with steel bayonet button that works as it should. One wood grip is impressed ‘RM’ to the British Royal Marines & the pommel is stamped ‘8 MAN 377’ to the British 8th Battalion Manchester Regiment weapon number ‘377’. The blade is 15 ¾” length and has Japanese Kokura arsenal mark. At some point in its life this bayonet has been carried in its period USA pattern leather scabbard with steel mounts and wire belt bar. The leather of the scabbard is impressed with maker mark which looks like ‘CJW’. The scabbard is fitted with its period brown leather riveted frog with belt loop. The rear of the belt loop has WD broad arrow 35 mark. All leather & stitching of the scabbard & frog are intact. The price for this very rare bayonet set includes UK delivery. Sn 23398 (Arisaka box 2)

£695.00