Arisaka

[Poseiden]

Forgive the newbie here....

After a quick search on the internet (google is my pal) I figured out what you all were talking about when refering to the "MUM" in regards to the Arisaka rifles.

No brainer there a Mum is a Chrysanthemum. I can understand the desire to have the "MUM" stamp intact when purchasing an Arisaka.

Here's my question: Why were they ground off in the first place?

...and another question: Those of you that own them, how do they perform?

-Poseiden

[Poseiden]

answer to question 1

The "MUM" was a mark indicating the rifle was property of the emperor. Prior to capture the soldiers would file off the mark to prevent the enemy from posessing imperial property.

Question 2 still stands.

[awp101]

The mum is/was the symbol of the Japanese Emperor.

For many years all rifles (I don't know about pistols or other weapons) used by the Imperial Japanese Army were stamped with a mum on the top of the receiver.

It appears the Imperial Japanese Navy was not as absolute in their use of the mum. I have a Type "I" (for Italian. The IJN contracted with the Italians for a rifle that was a mix of the 6.5 Carcano and Type 38 Arisaka) and NONE of the 60K or so produced had a mum. Researchers aren't sure if it was due to being a "foreign" designed weapon or the fact the IJN was the exsclusive user.

The mums were ground after the Japanese surrender. What is not clear is if they Japanese were allowed to ground the mum to help the Emperor "save face" or if the US did it to deface the Emperor's symbol (and thereby shame all Japanese).

Some mums were ground completely off and some were just lightly ground (also know as a "struck" or "light strike" mum).

If you find an unground/unstruck mum it is 99.999% sure to be a bringback. There was a huge blowup on gunboards.com about bringbacks and the Japanese collectors have shown that very few if any Arisakas were imported by the wholesalers.

I haven't shot my Type I because I don't want to pony up for 6.5 Japanese right now...:eek:

A buddy has a Type 99 that shoots rather well. The 6.5 is a pussycat recoil wise.

EDIT: Hmmm, looks like I need to type faster...:D and better....:rolleyes:

[lpspinner]

I haven't shot my T-99 either. I have one box of Norma ammo and 2 boxes of brass.

As soon as I reload the brass, then I'll shoot it, saving the Norma for more important matters.

Currently, I think Norma is the only supplier of brass and loaded ammo. I could be wrong.