ww2 arisaka
need some help. i have a ww2 arisaka that has mum, serial number, all matching numbers along with arsenal and series stamp. it looks to be a type 99 with plain simplified sights. it also has a wood stock buttplate. all my reasearch has told me its last ditch but the bolt is oval shape and the saftey is knurled. it is a series 25 made by the kokura arsenal. can i get some help on year made or if it safe to shoot and maybe the price of it. its a bring back
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series 25 was pretty late war, but should have the bolt you describe. It was made late in the war, i guess it would be called "last ditch"
only a competent gunsmith familiar with the Arisaka could tell you if your rifle is safe to fire.0 -
Everything sounds correct except the safety knob. The Series 25 was the last series made at Kokura. And all rifles in this series would be either of the Transitional or Last Ditch types. The early knurled safety knobs are not listed as correct for this series. Should have the welded type. But anything is possible w/late war Arisaka's. Which is evidenced by last ditch Kokura rifles having plum shaped bolt handle knob.
The Safety knob is usually a numbered part. And I would suggest removing it to check the numbers. Which should be located on the the end of the shaft inside.
It is impossible to absolutely date Arisaka's. But we can come "horse shoes" close. Being a last ditch would put your rifle in 1944-45 mfg range.
On a safety note. It is my opinion that ALL last ditch rifles should be considered suspect as to being safe to fire. Many people do shoot them, as I have myself. But over the years I've heard too many accounts of LD rifles that the owners had owned and fired for years, unexpectedly blowing up. IMO , why take the chance?
I recently restored a Series 40 Jinsen LD that was missing internal bolt parts. I purposely acquired and installed a broken tipped firing pin so that it would appear to function normally. But could not fire.0 -
yeah onlh thing that ican c as last ditch is the stock is plain with wood plate abd the sights. other then that it has verything else. my gunsmith said he wouldnt fire cuz it could ruin it. it has some ptting but other in that in ok condition. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by brunette63
yeah onlh thing that ican c as last ditch is the stock is plain with wood plate abd the sights. other then that it has verything else. my gunsmith said he wouldnt fire cuz it could ruin it. it has some ptting but other in that in ok condition.
Well a pic is worth a 1k words. From your "plain simplified sights" I assumed you are refering to the Last Ditch non adjustable rear peep sights. What is the "Everything else" you are saying you rifle has? Adjustable sights, cleaning rod, monopod?
As far being unsafe to fire. You have to understand WHY I believe these rifles unsafe to fire.
By Mid War, the war had begun to go badly for the Japanese. The U.S. was bombing their MFG centers. And was in control of the seas and air space around Japan. Not only was Japan not able to get raw materials in. They were quickly losing Manufacturing ability to use them.
Also they had drafted most of their industrial workforce into the military. The result was that they had to resort to using "Cottage industry". Which means they moved their MFG to rural areas not likely to be bombed. In garages and barns. And began using women and school children to perform the machining. Which was done on worn tooling, in primitive conditions, by inexperienced operators. But the biggest problem was sub standard materials. The metalurgy of last ditch weapons IS SUB STANDARD. And firing could indeed ruin it. AND YOUR DAY IF IT BLOWS UP!0 -
well ill post some pic but im kind of new to this so how do i upload them into chat. just put in my reply box? 0 -
http://forums.gunbroker.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=259294
This is how to post pics.0 -
I'm pretty sure Kokura got to series 27. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by bingeebob
I'm pretty sure Kokura got to series 27.
Nope. There is no series 26. And 27 is Tokyo Kogyo.0 -
As fatstrat said...knob seems suspiscios,,, and he is one of the top notch guys here on those rifles. I have several 99s...but none with the knob you described on tha late wa r issues...don't know,,extra part put on at the factory,,unknown... 0 -
quote:Originally posted by mm8nambu
As fatstrat said...knob seems suspiscios,,, and he is one of the top notch guys here on those rifles. I have several 99s...but none with the knob you described on tha late wa r issues...don't know,,extra part put on at the factory,,unknown...
According to Fred Honeycutt's "Military Rifles of Japan", the plum shaped bolt handle is correct for all Series 25 rifles. No mention of the cylindrical LD type.
Note to Brunette63. All threads are locked on this forum after 10 replies. You will need to start another thread to post pics/get more info.0
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