Domo Arigato Arisaka...

[awp101]

Stumbled into one today at the show with gunnut1.
http://www.hunt101.com/img/085472-big.jpg
http://www.hunt101.com/img/085460-big.jpg

Stock is unmodified, but someone put a layer of varnish (or something) on it. Outside possibility that the sling is original but the cleaning rod isn't. Non matching, late 23rd series Kokura with a few transitional features (monopod rear band but no sign of a 'pod ever having been on it). Bore appears to have some promise. It's filthy and I've only put one boresnake pass through it. 60-70% blue and even better under the wood.

Gunnut1, who collects these things kept looking at it with me muttering "It's righteous, it's righteous and if you don't buy it I WILL!"

AA sights:
http://www.hunt101.com/img/085457-big.jpg

Did I mention this?
http://www.hunt101.com/img/085467.jpg
:D

And now the deal clincher:
http://www.hunt101.com/img/085459.jpg
It's blurry, but that's a chunk of copper jacket from a FMJ round. Wonder how it got there?;)

[zouavexx]

Full mum! :woot (or should I say domo, domo!)


BTW the copper came courtesty of my Grandfather... ;)

[BDA]

Dang now that's a piece of history. Congrats on finding the gem of the show!

[gewehr44]

Hmmmm, so I suppose it doesn't have any import marks, eh?? ;)

Love to see an undamaged mum!

[Richard Simmons]

Congrats. Is that a hole under the Mum?

[neilwest]

:p

[survivor99]

Man, that's a true prize. How come you haven't translated the writing under the MUM yet?? LOL Did you get it at a fair price?

survivor99

[awp101]

Thanks guys!:D

Richard Simmons - That's the gas vent hole. I once passed on a Type 38 with mum that had two holes because I figured someone had fooled around and drilled and tapped it. No, the T38 has TWO gas vents.:rolleyes:

survivor99 - "99 Type".:p Yeah, I think it was fair...;) I'll post it if I can get a good estimate on it's value.

[Richard Simmons]

In this area I'd expect it to RETAIL in the $150 area give or take.

[Disgruntled Computer Tech]

I saw a couple of these at the gunshow this morning. Both of them had the mums ground off. They wanted I think close to $200 apiece for them. ;)

VERY NICE!

[Schuetzenman]

:cool:

[SBF]

Originally posted by Disgruntled Computer Tech
I saw a couple of these at the gunshow this morning. Both of them had the mums ground off. They wanted I think close to $200 apiece for them. ;)


I came back to check this thread because I saw 1 guy that had three of these for sale but the mums were ground off as well. They seemed to be in decent shape. This guy wanted $150.00 a piece. They are smaller that I thought they were as well. I guess that's for the smaller Japanese soldiers that used them.

[Richard Simmons]

Just saw one at the gunshow today. Cleaning rod, monopod, aircraft sights and dust cover with intact mum for $695.00:eek: Didn't check the bore as I was afraid to touch it.:rolleyes:

[awp101]

Originally posted by Richard Simmons
Just saw one at the gunshow today. Cleaning rod, monopod, aircraft sights and dust cover with intact mum for $695.00:eek: Didn't check the bore as I was afraid to touch it.:rolleyes:
Depending on the series and manufacturer that could be very legit. Especially if it's all matching. ESPECIALLY if the dust cover matches the rifle sn.:eek:

[SalBO]

nice .......:up: :up:

[Prometheus606]

I really want one of those... :) :)

Rusty

[T2K]

Sugoi! Great rifle!

The copper from an FMJ round in the butt is a cool extra. As with all C&R rifles "if these things could only talk..."

While we're on the subject of Japanese rifles, does anyone know how those "aircraft sights" were supposed to be used? I see them referred to all the time, but I can't really visualize how they would be used. Are the little arms used to lead an aircraft that you are aiming at? Good Luck...however they are supposed to work I can see why they were later dropped. A bolt action 7.7mm rifle isn't exactly a prime piece of AAA.

[happyhooligan]

What a shame that we dumped so many of those and other Japanese firearms and ammunition in the ocean after the war. Should've put them on a boat and shipped them back here:D

[Disgruntled Computer Tech]

Originally posted by happyhooligan
What a shame that we dumped so many of those and other Japanese firearms and ammunition in the ocean after the war.


WEAK!!:mad: :(

[awp101]

Originally posted by T2K
Are the little arms used to lead an aircraft that you are aiming at? Good Luck...however they are supposed to work I can see why they were later dropped. A bolt action 7.7mm rifle isn't exactly a prime piece of AAA.

Exactly!:up:

They're marked "1" close to the sight base, "2" close to the middle of the arm (where it's notched) and "3" near the end of the arm. The arms were flipped down and the speed of the a/c estimated (but had to be between 100 and 300 mph. Guess the were SOL against Corsairs and Mustangs:D)

[gunnut1]

BUAWHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Got cha started didn't I? It only gets worse.

The rifles with the mums ground and or defaced are what are commonly refered to as surrender rifles. i.e. turned in at the end of the war. Rifles with the mum intact, and this means NO marks on it at all, are bringbacks. Or capture rifles. Or battle ground pickups.

The hard core collectors consider ANY marks on the mum as defaced. There are MANY, MANY more ground rifles than bringbacks.

No one is absolutly sure why the mums were ground. The going theory is that the Japanese ground the mums to keep from embarrising the Emporer. The mum is the Royal symbol in Japan and all things that bear the mum are considered to belong to the Emporer. So by defacing the mum, the royal family saved face.

Mismatched rifles are also the rule and not the exception. I understand the reason for the mismatched bolt is the fact that when the sailors and soldiers got on board ship, they were required to turn in the bolts. NO attempt was made to match the bolts to rifles. I guess they never dreamed that in 60 years the rifles would be worth something if the bolt matched.

Of course the real prize is a matching dust cover. They were removed by the Jap soldiers and thrown away because the rattled.

Some guys tell me that the Arisakas could be had for about $5.00 to $10.00 after the war. And a LOT of them were sporerized and used as hunting rifles.

And no, you can not shoot a 30-06 in a Jap rifle. It will not chamber. The 7.7 Jap round is basically a Birt .303 with a rimless case. And don't try to shoot a .303 in it. It won't work!

[gunnut1]

I REALLY think the reason you got it cheap is, the guy we were talking to really wanted to get rid of it. I sensed that he thought he had a couple of pigeons! What you didn't tell the guys is he came off the price by $65.00. He had no idea what he had.

[Polish Boy]

I saw one of these at the gun store I think I could get it for 180. What is the caliber on them and how hard is ammo to find for them? Its either this or a yugo mauser or a sks. Also is it a good gun to scope?
Thanks

[gunnut1]

Ammo is out there but it is hard to comeby and danged expensive. It is 7.7x57 I think. I know it is 7.7 not sure about the 57.

Scope an Arisaka? Uh no.

Scope a Yugo Mauser? That would be better. There are enough of them in contry where they really don't have a lot oc collectors value.

Scope a SKS? Sure why not? BUT, I have never found a SKS mount that I like. I suppose you could use the replacement rear site mount and use a LER scope.

But which ever gun you chose to scope remember this. It is your gun. Don't let anybody talk you out of doing something you want to do to it!

[Polish Boy]

Originally posted by gunnut1
Ammo is out there but it is hard to comeby and danged expensive. It is 7.7x57 I think. I know it is 7.7 not sure about the 57.

Scope an Arisaka? Uh no.

Scope a Yugo Mauser? That would be better. There are enough of them in contry where they really don't have a lot oc collectors value.

Scope a SKS? Sure why not? BUT, I have never found a SKS mount that I like. I suppose you could use the replacement rear site mount and use a LER scope.

But which ever gun you chose to scope remember this. It is your gun. Don't let anybody talk you out of doing something you want to do to it!

I was just wondering about the jap one. All sks scope mounts suck. Ive seen the choate scope mount and it looks the best, but never have used it.

[gunnut1]

I don't know if there is a specific scope mount for the Jap rifles. Seeing as how it is basiccaly a Mauser action, it would probably be advisable to have a gun smith install a standard scope mount.

Go to Gunboards. They have a great Jap rifle forum over there. Those guys will know. You might get lambased for even thinking about putting a scope mount on an Arisaka. They tend to be purist.