WW2 Vet bring back Japanese rifle
Hey guys,
My grandfather brought back a Japanese rifle from WW2 along with a bayonet. I am wondering if there are any of you out there that are knowledgable on these rifles? I will post some pics in a little while, I was just wanting to see if there was anybody out there.
My grandfather brought back a Japanese rifle from WW2 along with a bayonet. I am wondering if there are any of you out there that are knowledgable on these rifles? I will post some pics in a little while, I was just wanting to see if there was anybody out there.
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quote:Originally posted by Raupleminze
Hey guys,
My grandfather brought back a Japanese rifle from WW2 along with a bayonet. I am wondering if there are any of you out there that are knowledgable on these rifles? I will post some pics in a little while, I was just wanting to see if there was anybody out there.
Not me ,But I would love to see it,As well as hear the story behind it[:)]0 -
I can have a look in the Guns Digest from 1979 if u post a picture. 0 -
I used to collect them and at one time owned about 30 of them.
Critical info needed:
Is the Mum (flower on top of receiver) intact?
Do all numbers match? All numbers on bolt handle, barrel bands, extractor, safety knob etc should match last 3 of serial on receiver. Depending on Arsenal/Series and Model, there may or may not be numbers on some of these parts. But ANY numbers found should match.
Is it a 6.5 MM or a 7.7MM?
Has it been sporterized, or refinished in ANY way.
Last. Please take very CLEAR photo's of the symbols after the serial number on the reciever. These will tell the Arsenal of Mfg and series.0 -
There's different models, calibers, and varying levels of quality depending on when they were produced. The late War production is way down on quality, though the ones made prior to those may seem a little crude but are very strong, reliable rifles. I had one years ago that had been "sporterized" and rebarreled in .220 Swift. It was a fine shooter and gave me no problems.
Here's a link. These guys will know everything there is to know about Jap rifles
www.milsurpshooter.net
They have a forum on Jap and Asian military weapons.0 -
To add to what Fatstrat said:
Is the dust cover and/or mono pod still present?0 -
Hey guys,
The Mum on the receiver looks like it has been grinded off but you can tell it was there as you can see in the pics. I will have to double check on the numbers on the bolt and etc. I believe it to be a 6.5, it looks close to a .22 and is nowhere near an 8mm mauser round. It has never been refinished it just sat around since my grandfather came back during ww2.
My grandfather was in the Navy as a torpedo man on the USS Charles Hughes, a destroyer. He passed back in 1986 when I was only 8 so I didnt get to ask him many questions. According to my family his was one of the first ships into Tokyo harbor after the bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He stated that the Japanese put up white flags at every gun emplacement when you entered the harbor and said it was pretty clear that during an assault they (the Americans) would have payed a big price to take that harbor. I am assuming the rifle was taken from Tokyo harbor. I have been told that he also found an officers Hare Kari (sp?) knife, the one that they commit sepiku (sp?) with, and that it was a very beautiful dagger. An officer of his found out that he had it and wanted it for himself. My grandfather decided that he would rather let it sink to the bottom of the Pacific. Any help that anybody can give with this rifle would be appreciated. I am not sure why somebody would grind most of the mum off. Thanks in advance gb!!
Photo Sharing - PicTiger0 -
What you have is Type 38 (T-38) 6.5MM rifle. These were made from 1905 until about 1939 when replaced by the 7.7MM T-99.
That the Mum is ground off tells us that the rifle was surrendered, rather than battlefield captured.
The Mum is the symbol of the Emperor who the Japanese believed "devine" (IE: A God). And signified that the rifle was the property of the Emperor. No Japanese soldier would willingly allow a Mumed weapon to fall into enemy hands. As part of the surrender deal, McArthur agreed to allow the Japanese to grind off or deface (chisels marks etc) the Mums on surrendered weapons.
Surrendered Japanese weapons (rifles/pisols/swords/bayonets etc) were placed in huge piles and U.S. servicemen were allowed to pick souveneers from the piles. No machine guns or explosives. About 1947, all remaining Arisaka rifles were loaded on barges and dumped into Tokyo Bay. There are more Arisaka's in the U.S. than anywhere else in the world. (besides the bottom of Tokyo Bay).
I can't see the markings well enough on my Webtv to Id them. (the wife is on the computer).
There are some variations of the T-38 that are rare. But assuming yours is a common arsenal/series, w/ground Mum and matching numbers I'd estimate value at about $250.
Mismatched bolts are VERY common as the bots were usually removed aboard ship during the homebound trip. Upon arriving in the states, it was common to just accept whatever bolt one was given and go home w/it. But some savvy soldiers demaded the CORRECT bolt. A mismatched bolt hurts the value significantly. Probably putting value in the $150. range (even if MUM intact). The Bayo may be valueable as well depending on Arsenalof MFG.0 -
Use this link to decipher the Arsenal (and series if applicable) of your rifle.
http://www.radix.net/~bbrown/japanese_markings.html
BTW: This is VERY important! Ask your grandmother if your GF kept his bringback papers. All rifles legally brought back as souveneers were issued papers that described when/where the rifle was aquired. If these survived, they will add to the value!0
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