Picked up my 2nd type 99 Arisaka rifle (wasn't even looking for one)

[medic2264]

This purchase occurred while I Was @ my local shop checking on the status of my NICS check on a transfer for another rifle. (The people's republic of Jersey no longer take phoned in NICS checks, everything has to be faxed in, and wait times are from 2 - 5 days).

The counter guy and I started talking about the different rifles we owned, and he says they just got in a "Jap" rifle. It wasn't even in the rack yet, and he goes in the back and brings it out for me.

The rifle has the mum intact, cleaning rod is present, bayonet lug is numbers matching to the rifle, bolt is numbers matching, but not to the rifle, and antiaircraft sights are present. Stock is very dirty, but no major dents or gouges. So on a complete impulse buy, I take it.


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[psteinmayer]

Looks like a Nagoya Series 1... which makes it one of the earliest variants. Very nice! Too bad the bolt numbers don't match to the receiver, but that's not a show stopper as far as Arisakas go. I see you have the hinge block for the monopod... Were the rods pulled out or broken off? Monopods can be found if you wanted to replace it. That should also have the Chrome-Lined barrel too! Have you fired it yet? I'm interested in how it shoots!

[medic2264]

I thought it might be a series one, but I wasn't sure. Yeah its to bad it was not a matching bolt, all of the bolt parts are matching #s including the firing pin. I'm not to sure about the hinge for the monopod (I haven't had a chance to take that piece apart yet.) The rifle is apart on my bench right now as I'm doing some stock work on it right now. I found a rather large crack in the stock right where the dovetail is in the buttstock (it's parallel to the dovetail joint), and I found a crack in the hand guard. I've glued up both pieces, and they are holding up well. As of right now I have no 7.7 ammo to shoot. I have powder, primers, projectiles, dies, but no brass.

Here is a picture of the crack in the buttstock prior to gluing and clamping.


post clamping and gluing

[Deano41]

If you have the dies, you can resize 30/06 or 8mm Mauser brass (I think). Graf's has PRVI 7.7 on occasion (sold out now) at the best price.
I noticed you blanked out the first numbers of the serial number. I used to do that also, thinking that's what I was supposed to do. Since 1998, I have yet to hear of anyone accusing someone of stealing a rifle when they saw the serial number on the internet. What does happen is, especially with old weapons, Japanese in particular, the serial number is important to the features on that particular model. As you probably know, the japanese numbered their rifles, to 100,000 in each series. So there will be a duplicate of your rifle's serial number, 13 times for Nagoya Arsenal ("No series" plus 12). For a series one rifle, there wouldn't be any design changes. But for a later war rifle, there were changes even in the same series.
Nice find! Interesting about the missing monopod legs.

[medic2264]

I stripped the stock last night with citrus stripper, and did a light sanding (320grit). I then used some wood dye to match the color found on the inside of the hand guard. I applied one coat of pure tung oil to the stock last night (not sure what the Japanese used, but its what I had on hand.)

Before pic



After pics



I only found what I think are two arsenal stampings in the barrel channel of the stock (appears to be a "W").

[medic2264]

Interesting about the missing monopod legs.

Does it appear the bracket is bent inwards on the monopod bracket?

[psteinmayer]

The monopod bracket and spring clip can only be installed one way... and the tips should bend in slightly. Yours appears to be correct. I suspect that the monopod was broken off the bracket... as there doesn't seem to be any holes in the front of the bracket, at least from the angle of your picture. I have attached a picture of the monopod on my Type 99 (Toyo Kogyo Series 31).



As for the bolt numbers... since the bolt numbers all match, I suspect the bolt was replaced as a whole. Arisaka bolts can easily fall out when the release us pulled, and the bolt could have been lost in the field.

[Deano41]

"As for the bolt numbers... since the bolt numbers all match, I suspect the bolt was replaced as a whole. Arisaka bolts can easily fall out when the release us pulled, and the bolt could have been lost in the field."

Probably the most accepted explanation for mismatched bolts is, on the voyage home, the Navy required the bolts be removed and stored in the arms room, until arrival back in the U.S. . When the ship arrived stateside, the bolts were handed out, with no regard to serial numbers. The Troops were just happy to be home. A matching bolt for their "souvenir rifle" was the least of their concerns.

[psteinmayer]

Amen to that Dean. I agree... I forgot about that!

I was thinking that the monopod may have been purposefully broken off by a Japanese soldier ... just like the action covers were removed in the field because they were noisy. Some soldier may have not liked the monopod. Of course, this is just speculation on my part...

[medic2264]

All finished with the stock work and some metal work on the buttplate. The stock got a total of 4 coats of pure tung oil with 24 hour periods of dry time between coats. A beeswax and turpentine paste was then rubbed in. (I have no idea what the japanese used)





The buttplate was in a bad state of condition with lots of rust with pitting. The rust was removed on a wire wheel, and then using some auto sandpaper it was leveled. The buttplate was then polished on a cloth buffing wheel. Cold blue was then applied.





It was a fun project restoring this rifle.