Need some help.

[Kreta1941]

Hello all,

I recently traded for a Arisaka type 99 at a local gun show. The gun had some wear and tear on it, but I figured I need'd a new project. I found out that it was a 1941 Arisaka made by the Kokura Arsenal. So far I have been gathering parts for it, the gun itself has all matching numbers and is only missing a few non-critical parts. I recently (just today actually) restored the anti-aircraft sights on the gun, next is the sand guard and the monopod.

Now that I caught you up, let me ask the question. I have found that there are at least two different types of bayonet for the Arisaka. Since my Arisaka is a 1941 make, would it be issue'd a type 30 or a type 2 bayonet? I believe it would be a type 30 but I just wanted to ask around and get opinions.

Thanks!

[zachb]

Hi, The Type 30 bayonet was the standard. The other you refer to I am assuming is the Test Type 1 bayonet that was intended for paratrooper use (not necessarily for the Type 2 rifle). No problem restoring a Type 99 just know that not all 99s had all of the features like mono-pods and AA winged sights even thought they may have provision for it. As time went on many of these features were abandoned. A picture of the rifle or more details can confirm or deny if all of the parts need to be added.

[beretta1934]

Agree with Zach that there are many variations and features that changed over time and with manufacurer too. Before you spend anymore money the absolute best place forum to find out exactly what you have and what you might need to know about other parts is the

http://forums.gunboards.com/forumdis...ector-s-Boards

Gunboards forum. have to post some pics and serial number, manufacturer ans series. Just a good picture of the markings by the serial number are will actually be sufficient to get a big download of info

[Kreta1941]

Reply back

Thank you for the information, the guy I got the Arisaka from did warn that the gun may not have had the monopod or the AA sights originally. I did some research regarding this, I was told that the Japanese stopped manufacturing Type 99's with AA sights and monopods in the end of 1942 and beginning of 1943. I'll upload some photo's of the manufacturer marking and the serial number. I was able to find out that it was a 1941 Type 99 made by Kokura Arsenal.

I have one more question, now I know that the "Mon" was put on the rifle because it was the Imperial families property and was on loan to the Japanese soldier. I heard some people say that the Japanese soldier wouldn't take off the sand guard or the monopod because that was seen as defacing the property of the Emperor. However, I have heard that some Japanese soldiers did take off these features. I guess it would depend on the belief of the soldier who had the rifle, but was this a fairly common thing?

[beretta1934]

Most Japanese rifles come without the dust cover. As to the exact reason - no one really knows. Some places they fought were dusty as hell (Iwo Jima) other jungle and wet (Guadalcanal, solomons in general, etc). What ever the case the dust cover is numbered to the rifle, so it's hard as hell to find a matching one to go on rifle that did not come with it. But you could find one that was not. However - if you found it without one I'd leave it that way.

[Kreta1941]

Reply

Noted! Thanks!