Japanese 6.5 mm
I have a Japanese 6.5 mm that I got 15 years ago for painting a room. Never fired it because I lack bullets. It's been modified (stock cut way back). Would like to know the value and what to look for, safety wise, before firing it. I was in the FA and can tell you when not to fire a 155mm but this one is a little before my time.
Thanks!
Thanks!
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Gblevins;
I am personally not a big fan of Ariska/Jap rifles.
In my opinion they are of the same class as the 6.5mm Italian
Carcano. You should have you're Jap checked over by a gun smith before firing it. Even afterward, CAUTION is the word. Some of the jap rifles where woefully lacking in craftmanship, particularlly those of late war time production. Short cuts where taken that made them IFFY at best. There collector value is limited at best. I have seen some that shot very accurately and a lot that you are doing good to keep 3 shots of 10 on a 9" paper plate at 100 yards. DO check the head space first off, many of these I have seen have greatly excessive headspace. Under no cicumstance, load any where near maximum loads. Start LIGHT and work up slowly, watch for the first sight of a problem. It might also be a good idea to make a cast of the chamber and check it dementionally. As I said before some of these gun where hastelly built, and over/under cut chambers very fairly common.0 -
Thanks for the advice. Sounds very sound.
I should have said that this is a pre 1943 production. There's a bullet hole in the butt of the weapon that apparently killed the owner of the rifle. It's also has the Marine's name, where, and date that it happened carved in it with a knife.
Someone named Guy Judd.0 -
Python is very much so overworrying here.
It is always worth having a gunsmith check out an old rifle. However, the 6.5 Jap action is, proven by tests, the absolute strongest bolt action ever made for a military rifle. If it is 6.5 quality is no concern, it was made well before the end of the war and poor quality set in.
Value probably depends somewhat on arsenal, model, etc., but if it has been sporterized it isn't worth more than $100 even in very nice condition. Assuming it hasn't had the chamber altered or barrel replaced caliber is 6.5X50 Jap Arisaka. Norma loads this stuff. Pricey but ok for the occasional pop shoot. Too bad, that bullet hole sounds neat!
If the metal hasn't been modified it is probably possible to find a complete stock and restore the rifle.
"...hit your enemy in the belly, and kick him when he is down, and boil his prisoners in oil- if you take any- and torture his women and children. Then people will keep clear of you..." -Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fisher, speaking at the Hague Peace Conf0 -
If you can tell me how to add pictures I'll show a pic of the butt of the weapon.
Looks like Guy Judd made his shot count on 11/4/42 in an area called Malaeta. Suppose I should research to have a great story to tell.0 -
GBlev:
Definitely have it checked out before firing. A book on buying used guns would tell you what to look for, but if you don't know it would be wise to have a more knowledgable person check it out until you get a little more experience examining guns. Chamber casting is relatively easy, and the chamber/cartridge specs are available. A chamber casting already made would be a time and money saver at the gunsmith's shop too. But remember, even if it checks out, it may not be very accurate due to bore condition or a number of other wear and tear problems that affect accuracy as opposed to safety.
You didn't say if the gun has the "mum" on the receiver or if it has been ground off, or if numbers match. You say the stock has been cut off quite short, but the bullet hole and notation apparently remain. Even without the mum, and with the chopped stock, the bullet hole and the notation make it a neat relic. I wouldn't mess with it, only shoot it a little if it is safe. If you get interested in Arisakas, decent shooter's are cheap. If you want to shoot it more, I would save the old stock, as Jonk says, you can probably find a replacement without too much trouble.
And Jonk is right about the strength of the Arisaka action. If it checks out, it should be perfectly safe to shoot.
redcedars0 -
Redceders:
The mum is there with some Japanese characters under it. I have a serial number in one location but I'm not sure what you mean by matching numbers. The serial number is a symbol in a circle, 5 numbers, and another symbol. Sound right?0 -
G:
I'm a long way from an Arisaka expert. However, I do know that after the war, the mums were ground off most of the guns surrendered by the Japanese; without the symbol of the emperor, the shame of the surrendering the weapon was diminished. Guns with mums intact, therefore, are more collectible and valuable.
Generally speaking, a rifle's serial number will appear in more than one place, and a "matching" piece will have the numbered parts matching. Often parts other than the receiver and bolt will only have the last three or four digits of the serial. In the armory there is little concern about keeping these parts straight, so a "matching" military gun suggests that it is still in its original configuration, unmolested at the armory. Matching bolt and receiver also suggests that, at least at some point in time, headspace was checked and correct between these parts.
The Japanese used the Imperial calendar when numbering models and indicating year of production. That about exhausts my knowledge of them, without digging out some references. Come on you Arisaka collectors, help us out!
redcedars0 -
Were I not a polite individual, I would make several rather deroggatory statement regarding Python's knowlege of the Arisaka!
The type 38 (6.5) and its variants are perhaps the strongest, safest military BA rifles ever made. Their material and craftsmanship is superb. The type 99 (7.7) is not quite as sturdy, but still stronger than any Mauser or Springfield! Late in WW II they made "substitute" Type 99 with a cast iron receiver. However, the bbl was made so that the bolt locked directly to the bbl, the receiver not sharing in anything except to hold the unit preparatory to firing. It is certainly not a good idea, but even this is safe to fire.
I have been collectinng, shooting, reloading for the Arisakas for 50 years. I have never seen any (in original configuration) that I would be afraid to fire, mismathed bolts and all.
The fact that yours has been altered makes its collector value close to zero. If the metal has not been altered, it might be possible to "restore" it, but that would require a new stock that would not be original. You apparrently have a "shooter". Enjoy it!
Morty
Have fun, be careful!0 -
Kin999:
I do have a shooter. Except for the fact that I also have a story piece with the bullet hole etc. Guy Judd was ahead of his game giving me something to research. I can't believe that I've waited 15 years to do it.0
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