Well I don’t post here often, so I thought I would share one of my recent acquisitions at the show – this Arisaka rifle type 99 (Japanese calendar year 2599, western 1939). The rifle was made by Nagoya Arsenal, hope you enjoy the pictures!
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Also got a bayonet, -
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What size shell does she take? Have you fired it yet? Are you going to sight her in at a local gun range?
I noticed a chunk missing on the barrell just above the chamber.
On some of these old Japanesse rifles the hallmark was the flower of the emperor, the geo-designed crysthanimum(I know I spelled this wrong) usually located there. It was a hated symbol with the allies in that theatre. Perhaps the GI who brought it home took a hammer to it, who knows, huh?
Nice gun! I bet she is loud as hell! Let me know if she kicks like a mule. Ka-BOOOOOOM!
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Hi Gary,
I didn't fire it yet, but it takes 7.7 mm. I hope I can find it easy enough! I hope to get to the range of the South Jersey gun club with Willy one of these days, and I'll take her for a spin there.
The chunk you see missing is (as you stated) where the sign of the emperor should be, but this was ground off by the Japanese as it was considered a great shame to surrender. That means that either this rifle belonged to a Japanese soldier who surrendered alive, or (most likely) it was recovered at a collection depot after the war (where prior to surrendering the weapon the Jap garrison scratched off the symbol). Only battlefields pick-ups have the crest on them, I saw a few at the show but they were in pretty bad condition.
SebaComment
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I had one of those when I was a kid. Traded it later for a Chinese made "SKS".... It also had the crysanthemum filed off. Had a wire bipod.
I wouldn't suggest firing it. Some of those old Jap rifles aren't very reliable, materials being scarce and crude, and manufacturing techniques suspect. Some have been known to burst.
At least, put it in a frame first and pull the trigger with an attached, long string from a safe distance.
-Ralph AbercrombieComment
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General MaCaurther also ordered all souvineer rifles to have the "mum" ground off before they were allowed to leave the Pacific. Ammo can be bought for about 15 to 20 buckes a clip (I think five rounds to a clip). I STRONGLY recommend you have your gun checked by a licensed gun smith before you try shooting it.
I have the identical gun and bayonet as yours ( I don't have the AA "wings") but I will find them somewhere. I have been told these make good deer hunting rifles (sans bayonet of course).
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I thought I read that the order was actually requested and negotiated with the Japanese, because they wanted it ground off. Are you sure it was McArthur that wanted it gone?
I will certainly have it checked!
SebaComment
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Is it $15 to to $20 a clip? ("buckes") Only 5 rounds for clip?
Can't be.
Pretty pricey, better make those hunting shots count!
SebaComment
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Yes he did order it done (though it might have been negotiated). I believe I heard it on the History Channels "Tale of the gun".
The bayonet is overly large due to the fact that people of Samurai or warrior class only would have been allowed to own a sword, so as a recruiting and pride instilling tactic the peasant soldiers bayonet resembled a sword.
Also McArthur having lived half of his life in Asia was educated on the nuances of Japanese face saving etc. Which made him a very good post war administrator of Japan.Comment
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The bolt looks a little bit similar to the Mauser 98 system. Does it operate like that?
How about the sight? There seems to be a peep-sight flanked by two ??? whatever these are.
Before you fire it, let it be checked by a gunsmith! There is too much danger even if you put it in a frame with a sling to the trigger. Remember you could destroy a great piece of history.
Best regards
PS: Does it have a rimmed cartridge like the British .303? It must be very very difficult to get ammo for this rifle.Comment
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The two folding "wings" were for large groups of soldiers to fire a volley shot at enemy planes when the plane met the "wing" I don't know how they figured in the planes altitude. They also had a dust cover over the action that made so much noise that the enemy could hear it cocking some distance away, therefore most were tossed.
I found ammo on some web sites that sell foreign ammo. I believe the bolt action is based on the mauser (who's isn't). The last ditch Arisaka rifles had a two piece stock, a rough site, and a wooden but plate.Comment
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NO WORRY ABOUT THIS VARIATION
When I first started to collect, the Japanese rifles were never priced over $10.00. My first "toy" gun at age six was a Japanese rifle that my father broke the firing pin and I play "war" with the kids in the Coal Camp where I grew up. As I became older, I owned every Japanese long gun except the copy of the Japanese Garand as I was a weapons collector and licened dealer for over 35 years. An old gunsmith used to re-chamber them to shoot the 30.06 U. S. round, and they proved to be one of the most accurate rifles used at the old shooting matches held here in the mountains. The targets were live turkey's and later cured hams and frozen turkeys. Many matches were won with the old Japanese rifles. I have one that I had back then, (just like Seba's) to this day and it is still left in its original 7.7 cal. Hunting ammunition was last made by Norma and was very expensive. I have one box left, but knew a few companies that sold reloaded ammunition for many of the old obsolete rifles. I recalled the myth, that still hold true tday, that most of the Japanese and German rifles were inferior and should not be shot. That was a lot of bunk as the Japanese Type 38 is one of the worlds most accurate rifles and has on of the strongest actions known to military firearms.Originally posted by Sebastian Bianchi
Hi Gary,
I didn't fire it yet, but it takes 7.7 mm. I hope I can find it easy enough! I hope to get to the range of the South Jersey gun club with Willy one of these days, and I'll take her for a spin there.
The chunk you see missing is (as you stated) where the sign of the emperor should be, but this was ground off by the Japanese as it was considered a great shame to surrender. That means that either this rifle belonged to a Japanese soldier who surrendered alive, or (most likely) it was recovered at a collection depot after the war (where prior to surrendering the weapon the Jap garrison scratched off the symbol). Only battlefields pick-ups have the crest on them, I saw a few at the show but they were in pretty bad condition.
SebaComment
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I was just going to state, Bill, that although I am not (by far) an expert in firearms, I was under the impression that this was in fact a solid rifle comparable to the best in World War II.
I'll still have it checked though (just in case
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SebaComment
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