Pawn shop find, pls help ID Arisaka 99 and M39(PIC)

[bmwguy]

I don't know why I picked it up, but it is a Japanese Arisaka 99 standard rifle? All numbers match, The MUM has been partially grounded, blueing is about 90%, Serial number is 73xx. There is what looks like a upsidedown 8 with a circle encompassing the 8 right behind the serial number. The stock is a little shiney so I don't know if it comes this way or someone reworked it.

http://home.att.net/~john.t.hsu/jap99a.jpg
http://home.att.net/~john.t.hsu/jap99b.jpg

Third rifle is a Finn M39, SA marked VKT D barreled, stock is excellent, blueing is 97%. Came with a leather sling. Rifling is strong. As for the barrel I'm not sure yet, I'm trying to clean it but there seem to be some residue(caked cosmo?) that I'm having a hard time getting rid of, I'm soaking it in CLP at the moment. What's the signinicant of the SA and D barrel?

http://home.att.net/~john.t.hsu/finnm39a.jpg
http://home.att.net/~john.t.hsu/finnm39b.jpg

[Richard Simmons]

Those are very nice deals you got there. The Araisaka looks like a 99 to me. It also looks like it still has the fold out aircraft sights on the rear sight. Very nice looking rifles and IMO great prices. Glad you found something. Too far for me to drive.

[zouavexx]

Very nice! Enjoy!:)

[awp101]

On the Arisaka:

Kanji on the receiver: 99 Type (if I'm reading it correctly)

circle around upsidedown 8: Nagoya Arsenal
Are there any other markings around the marking just described?

serial number: hard to figure since I don't know what series it is and I can't explain how to determine the series either.

You have a "plum" shaped bolt handle which indicates an earlier series

Does the rear sight have the fold-out "wings" for the AA sights or just the swivels/hinges?

How long is it? Overall length, that is.

Can you describe the safety ( or even better provide pics)? That will give a better idea of the time frame.

Does the stock have a two piece buttstock?

Is the buttplate wood or metal?

Does it have any markings/dents in the wood near the front barrel band to indicate a monpod was ever attached? Usually there will be indications on both sides of the wood up there where the pod clamped around the forend.

More as I remember it...:D

[bmwguy]

The reat sight has just the hinges, I take a better photo this evening.

The length from barrel to butt is 44 inches.

Safety? what safety? Haven't figured it out yet. There is a round "drum" at the back of the bolt but I haven't been able to move it yet.

Butt plate is metal.

2 piece rear stock.

On the serial number there is a "=" with a circle in front of the serial number, and after the "8" with a circle there is a circle with diamond shape around it.

No marking or dents near the front band where the monopod should reside. banet lug has a number matching the last 3 digit of the serial number.

Thanks for the info?

BTW, how come there isn't a Japanese section on the Forum section? :)

[lpspinner]

I think cause only a few of us here have a Japanese weapon.

Can you take close-up pictures of the markings on the left and right sides of the serial number. Also the characters underneath the mum.

[zouavexx]

Originally posted by lpspinner
I think cause only a few of us here have a Japanese weapon.


FYI when I archive the GD threads, I always put the "Arisaka" threads in General Weapons Discussion. So if you are looking for info on them, thats the forum to search...

[neilwest]

1. What is the caliber on the 99? My 38's are 6.5. I am in the process of getting a Type 99 with full Mum from the dealer that is selling me the Maadi, Steyr AK-47. I will post when I get it.

[lpspinner]

Originally posted by neilwest
1. What is the caliber on the 99?

7.7 Jap

[whos2kno]

Originally posted by neilwest
1. What is the caliber on the 99? My 38's are 6.5. I am in the process of getting a Type 99 with full Mum from the dealer that is selling me the Maadi, Steyr AK-47. I will post when I get it.
neil you going Japanese now

[awp101]

OK, from the top:
Originally posted by bmwguy
The reat sight has just the hinges, I take a better photo this evening.
Either a transition sight before they moved away from the AA sights altogether or it had the wings removed at some point. Outside chance that the rifle was one of the last few hundred manuf by your arsenal (more on the arsenal in a moment).


The length from barrel to butt is 44 inches.
Standard Type 99 rifle length


Safety? what safety? Haven't figured it out yet. There is a round "drum" at the back of the bolt but I haven't been able to move it yet.
Yes that is the safety. It should have some kind of patterning but there is a chance it could be completely smooth (relatively speaking)

Butt plate is metal.
Standard for most of the war. Late model "last ditch" Type 99s usually had a wooden buttplate

2 piece rear stock.
Standard for just about all Japanese rifles. Also tells me 99% that the stock is original Japanese manuf. I can't tell you much about the finish since I can't really see it in the flesh.

On the serial number there is a "=" with a circle in front of the serial number
Ah, here we are. This is a 4th series rifle, of which there were 10,000 made by this arsenal. And your arsenal is?

and after the "8" with a circle there is a circle with diamond shape around it.
AHA! Circle 8 followed by diamond circle is the symbol for Izawa Jyuko. Total production from this manuf was 32,000. 10K series 4 and 22K series 9 rifles. Izawa Jyuko was a commercial contractor who manufactured Type 99s from 1940-1945 and were located in Osaka in south central Honshu. They operated under the supervision of the Nagoya Arsenal which explains why the Nagoya Arsenal symbol is there as well (circle 8).

No marking or dents near the front band where the monopod should reside. banet lug has a number matching the last 3 digit of the serial number.
OK, not unusual to find one with no signs of a pod ever having been attached.

Thanks for the info?
Anytime.

All in all a good find I think. $100 for a ground mum is kinda high (for me at least) but the chance to grab one of the smaller contractors would probably override the mum for me. Yeah, I tend to be a mum weenie even though I don't have one (yet).

Also a ground mum indicates a rifle collected after the Japanese surrender rather than a "capture" or bringback weapon.

BTW for those contemplating "turning Japanese" all of the above info came from Japanese Rifles of World War II by Duncan O McCollum. Bought mine at a gunshow for about $20 brand new. Worth every penny IMO.


Turning Japanese
I think I'm turning Japanese
I really think so
Turning Japanese
I think I'm turning Japanese
I really think so
Ah yes, The Vapors...:D

[zouavexx]

Originally posted by awp101
Turning Japanese
I think I'm turning Japanese
I really think so
Turning Japanese
I think I'm turning Japanese
I really think so
Ah yes, The Vapors...:D

That song goes along good with my 'shroom mood tonight ;)

[awp101]

:D:jump::D

[whos2kno]

time for floyd

[aliceinchains]

Originally posted by zouave
That song goes along good with my 'shroom mood tonight ;)



I was thinking of that tune before you posted it zouave.:cool:

[aliceinchains]

bmwguy you got a great buy there.You are lucky to get it at that price.I have two type 99's , one of which is very late war production and it has the wooden but plate.I bought both rifles off the gun auctions .They both cost me about 175.00 for each rifle.They are both in excellent condition.I have one jap bayonet, they should have called them sword's LOL.

I will have to post some pics of my so called last ditch and bayonet.
:cool:

[bmwguy]

More pictures as requested..

The rear sight,
Reciever marking,
Safety:

http://home.att.net/~john.t.hsu/jap99c.jpg
http://home.att.net/~john.t.hsu/jap99d.jpg
http://home.att.net/~john.t.hsu/jap99e.jpg

[awp101]

Here's a copy of the maufacturer's codes (I hope):
http://www.radix.net/~bbrown/japanese_markings.html

I can't make out a diamond/circle on your's unless it was a very light strike that I'm not seeing.

EDIT: OK it came out as an URL. Go down until the table shows up.