All Japanese infantrymen were issued with the Type 30, whether they were armed with a rifle or pistol, or even if they were unarmed.

Early Type 30 bayonets usually sported a J-shaped hooked quillon guard designed to catch and trap the enemy's blade.

[4] By 1942, the quillon was eliminated to save materials and decrease production time, leaving only a straight guard.

The design was intended to give the average Japanese infantryman a long enough reach to pierce the abdomen of a cavalryman.

However, the structure had a number of drawbacks, some caused by the poor quality of forgings used, which tended to rust quickly, not hold an edge, and break when bent.