Jap transitional T-99 find

[Jeff Ashenfelter]

Hello friends,
Just thought I would share my recent find with the forum. Straight out of the woodwork comes a very nice Japanese T-99 transitional rifle.
Maker on this beauty is TOYO KOGYO Series #32. Notice in the photo The original late war canvas sling with metal end clips. This late war rifle also features the smooth safety knob and short stacking rod, in leau of a cleaning rod.
Front sight is also made without the protective ears covering the blade. By this stage in the war the anti aircraft sight wings were also eliminated, as well as the monopod.
Notice the Crysanthemum has a very small grind mark that was done in order to save the honor of the Emperor. I have seen these with many variations of defacing. Some have crossed file marks which look like a cross. These were actually done in the field with bayonets.
Enjoy, Jeff A

[Jeff Ashenfelter]

Hello friends,
Just thought I would share my recent find with the forum. Straight out of the woodwork comes a very nice Japanese T-99 transitional rifle.
Maker on this beauty is TOYO KOGYO Series #32. Notice in the photo The original late war canvas sling with metal end clips. This late war rifle also features the smooth safety knob and short stacking rod, in leau of a cleaning rod.
Front sight is also made without the protective ears covering the blade. By this stage in the war the anti aircraft sight wings were also eliminated, as well as the monopod.
Notice the Crysanthemum has a very small grind mark that was done in order to save the honor of the Emperor. I have seen these with many variations of defacing. Some have crossed file marks which look like a cross. These were actually done in the field with bayonets.
Enjoy, Jeff A

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[Jeff Ashenfelter]

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[Jeff Ashenfelter]

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[Jeff Ashenfelter]

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[Doug See]

Very nice, Jeff. I think Japanese small arms are still under-appreciated both as collectors' pieces and as weapons. Except for the very late war ones, Japanese rifles and pistols are strong, efficient, and simple. (the T94 pistol is an exception). Those canvas slings are very hard to find.

Anyone else have some Japanese weapons they want to share?

[JaimeH]

Nice piece Jeff, I too believe the 38 and 99 were decent rifles, but the pistols I would have second thoughts about firing.

[Tyler Ramsey]

I think Japanese small arms are still under-appreciated both as collectors' pieces and as weapons. Except for the very late war ones, Japanese rifles and pistols are strong, efficient, and simple. (the T94 pistol is an exception).

I also agree, Many Japanese weapons are very under appreciated as good weapons. But, Some of there weapons i don't like, such as the Type 14 pistol. This weapon is a nice piece to have in a collection but I would not want to fight with it, reason being, its caliber is very small (8mm) and puny, and the pistol itself would always jam, even when it wasn't dirty.

With Other Japanese weapons I simply like the idea of it. Take for example, the Type 99 machine gun. The idea was very good, you simply take the clips that a solider uses in his bolt action rifle, take the clip, put it in the hopper, and the ammo that was used for rifles, could now be used for machine guns aswell.

But some of the Japanese weapons are just dam* good weapons. Rifles like the Type 38, and 99, and machine guns like the Type 92 were simply well built, and worked very well in combat.

Anyone else have some Japanese weapons they want to share?

Here is my only Japanese item. The Japanese Type 99 "Substitute". It was manufactured in the last months of the war, and it was very poorly made.









More photos
http://www.tylersmilitarysite.com/images/MVC-698S.JPG
http://www.tylersmilitarysite.com/images/MVC-695S.JPG
http://www.tylersmilitarysite.com/images/MVC-697S.JPG

[Doug See]

You guys are right about the pistols. Fascinating collectors' pieces and not badly made, but pretty weak. A little less effective than even a P-38 (Matt, are you awake? ). I tend to believe they were designed for head shots at two foot ranges, or for suicide. No wonder the officers and non-coms relied on swords more often than pistols in action.

[Jeff Ashenfelter]

Yeah, they are pretty bad. I do think the early Nambu's to include the Papa's and the bayby's and early T-14's are decent enough. Round is a tad on the small size though. But when it came to the type 94, I can't imagine being that desperate for a pistol. I think I too would rather have a sword. I have seen one t-94 that was a very nice early example, the rest have pretty much been junk. Jeff A