Few months ago, developers added historical knifes for all countries instead of Soviet knife. However, unfortunately, they didn’t seem to know much about Japanese one.
Therefore, they added “Dosu / ドス” for Japanese.
However, it is NOT military equipment. It is mostly known as a blackmail knife of Yakuza (Japanese gang).
Japanese “knife” in game Typical Dosu
The Dosu is crude short sword used by gangs to threaten people. Because of it, the word “Dosu/ドス” is came from the word “Odosu/脅す”, which means to “threaten”.
The most obvious feature of Dosu is grip and grip guard. Different to other Japanese traditional swords it does not have “Tsuba” (Wikipedia), and grip is cheap “Shirosaya”.
What is the Japanese standard melee weapon?
During World War Two, Japanese standard melee weapon was Type 30 Bayonet (三十年式銃剣/30th Year Type Bayonet).
It was single-edge short sword that to be able to mount on rifles, light machine guns and machine pistols. It was adopted in 1897 and used until the end of war. All soldiers equipped this bayonet whether they were armed with a rifle or pistol, or even if they were unarmed.
Different to other country, Japanese never adopted combat knife, and soldiers did not bring knife from house. Therefore, Japanese melee weapon was only Bayonet and Katanas.
A troop charge with bayonet (left)
He equip heavy grenade launcher so he holding bayonet to charge.
A troop who were testing new expandable bipod of LMG.
He is equipping bayonet and scabbard on the belt.
Illustration of Japanese naval paratrooper.
They equipped both Experimental Type 1 bayonet (later Type 2 bayonet) and Type 30 bayonet.
Type 2 bayonet was used by only paratroopers.
Tanto (lit. short sword) is wide category.
I don’t know well about western usage of this word, but in Japan it’s just a Japanese sword that length is 1 shaku (approx.30.3cm) or shorter.
Dosu is a type of short sword and also another name. Although it is vague, it basically has a shape that is easy to hide and has a cheap scabbard and grip without grip guard.
I can’t explain well, but by culturally background, most of Japanese players feels that in-game knife is the Dosu.
Anyway, its not much important. Japanese army never used such type of knife, and officially they used Type 30 bayonet. All troops equipped bayonet for combat instead of dedicated combat knife.
Surely more variety is good. I understand your opinion, but this knife’s problem is different to other weapon’s “historical” problems.
Modern Japanese armed forces (IJA/IJN/NPR/NSF/JSDF etc) never used such type of knife. Its completely fictional equipment.
Lots of Japanese players feel that Japanese army have gang knife, and it is not comfortable…
Especially since edged weapons are deeply embedded in Japanese warrior thus the usage of a bandit knife is greatly shunned upon and unacceptable for warriors.
Yup, and Browning Auto5, Mauser pistols etc. were used by Japanese criminals.
It was used by gang or not is not a large problem.
The problem is Japanese army never used it.
