Arisaka Rifle

[W. C. Stump]

YOU ARE CORRECT

Sorry, but I meant to quote the gentlemen who said, "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." These rifles are one of the strongest and more accurate military rifles to come out of W.W.II. One side note, the Japanese pioneered the use of chrome lining the bores to help stop corrosion from the powder and primers used back then that were corrosive.

[Ralph A]

You wouldn't have wanted to fire the one I had!

It was in pretty crummy shape. But Bill is right. I did a little "web searching" and found a consensus that these rifles are indeed considered among the most well manufactured (and accurate, according to some) military rifles to come out of the mid 20th century.

Should make you feel better, Sebastian, and happy shooting after you've had it checked over! Thanks, Bill, for dispelling rumor. I remember paying $25 for mine; got it from a gun dealer in Charlotte (Bill Hyatt) long ago; late 60's. He had a wooden barrel of old rifles, and I picked out a Moisin-Nagant 7.62 mm at the same time.

[W. C. Stump]

ANOTHER EXAMPLE FOR THE NEW COLLECTORS

As I stated some where on one of the threads, I was a major gun dealer starting in 1962 while I was attending the University of Kentucky. I was the only U. K. student raided by the U. S. Secret Service and prohibited to leave my apartment or enter while President Lyndon Johnson was giving a speech on campus.

On ever holiday, summer break, and many times on weekends, my friend and I drove from Lexington, Ky. to the banks of the Potomac, driving all night on Friday, and arriving at the gates of Inter Armco, now Interarms. I would load my broke-down old Chevy station wagon with as man French lebel, Italian Caracono, and Japanese rifles I could, stacking them like cord word until the chassy was setting on the springs I paid $3.00 each and ammunition for each was .01 1/2 per round. I was frineds of Frank Sly, Thomas Nelson and met Sam Cummings many times. (They were the General managers, owner, VP's and President of the world famous firearms company). Stopping only to eat and make sure we left by noon, when they closed on Sat., it was another 8 hour drive back to Lexington and the sales began the next day at $12.00 each with a box of ammo. I traveled back at least every tow weeks.

[Rick Research]

I had a beauty of an Arisaka carbine (made 1938) years ago (long sold, and for peanuts), intact mum, but that took 6.5 ammo which I got from Sweden. Also had a clunker 7.7 rifle--

We tied them to a tire and tried about 10 rounds (cheaper back then! ) before deciding it was OK. The problems are with late war manufactured guns, which were crap. (Some of their pistols from circa 1944 will fire if the grips are squeezed too hard... great for nervous soldiers! ).

The long bayonets are probably because the Japanese back then (like North Koreans now) were simply so short, they needed to compensate for "reach." I've seen photos of soldiers whose fixed bayonets rose up over their heads. This may be hard to remember after two generations of peace and improved diet: I went to college with a Japanese born kid who was six feet tall.