Located 2 Arisakas...Need Help

[WWIIArmsLover]

A new gunshop opened up near me that specialises in surplus rifles. Anyhow they have 2 Arisakas. My wife wants me to get one as a Father's Day gift. I don't have too many specifics, but I'll tell you what I can.

Both are, I believe, Type 99's. One is a little longer than the other. The longest one has the mum ground off, but has a beautiful stock. The other shorter one has the mum intact, but the stock is pretty crappy, dingy and dirty. That's all I got. Oh, and the bores on both looked servicable, dirty but nice. They are asking $150 for either one. Which one would you go for?

Let me explain where I'm going with my collection. I am trying to collect the main issued weapon for the big 5 involved in WWII, German, U.S., British, Russia, and Japan. It is my understanding that the shorter rifle was the main troop rifle for the Japanese, am I correct?

[Richard Simmons]

The Type 99 rifle is about 5.5" longer than the Type 99 short rifle and is kind of scarce. My Price guide lists the Long Rifle at $500 Excellent to $100 in Fair with a 30% reduction if the Mum is ground. Short rifle is $175-$80 with same deductions. The short rifle was issued in more numbers than other Japanese rifles so would be the most typical. HTH

[neilwest]

:cool: 1. Hell buy them both and I'll get one from you. I love Japanese Weapons.

[aliceinchains]

I am not certain what you were looking at .But go with the longer rifle. Whether it is a Type 99 long rifle or a Type 38.You will be getting a more valuable rifle, for the most part.

[Xelloss]

What aliceinchains said. The Type 38 was issued throughout the war (as the Japanese had huge stockpiles of them, and many units transferred from China were still using them), and the Type 99 Long is just plain more valuable. If you have the money, I'd get them both, though, as rifles with unground mums are getting scarcer... Hope this helps...:D