Arisaka. howmuch are they worth. does anyone know where to find one
- Thread starter 7.62xfun
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Not all of them were surplussed by Japan. Many other nations had hundreds of thousands of them, in some cases millions of them left behind when the Japanese were thrown out or retreated leaving stores and in some cases factories producing them behind. China, Korea, Viet Nam, Thailand, Malaysia and many others adopted the captures for their own use. Some, like Korea opened the chambers/mag wells up to accept the 30-06 cartridge. The Chinese adapted the factory to produce them in 8x57. They issued the Japanese rifles, often without defacing the crests in its original cartridge until supplies of ammo and barrels ran out.
Thailand and many other East Asian nations have been selling off their warehouses full of arms surplus to their needs for years. The US pays them to destroy them through the UN. Likely other nations do as well.
I would like to be able to trek through some of the old reserve warehouses in Russia and some of the ex Soviet satellite nations. You can bet they still have some as well. No telling what condition they are in though.
When it comes to surplus, never say never. I have heard it over and over again that they aren't making anymore only to find out that they are or did until recently.
Let me give you some examples. Mauser 98 rifles. They are still being imported from all over Europe and South American countries. Mosin Nagants, Lee Enfields. Sadly South Africa recently destroyed thousands of Lee Enfield rifles dating back to the 1890s. This is a desperately poor nation and they destroyed these rifles and other equipment rather than releasing it onto the world market. A few years ago the folks from IMA in the US went through a facility that was destroying thousands of Long Lees that had been FTRed and put in storage in warehouses around Pretoria. The Greeks were destroying thousands of pristine Mannlichers according to John at Marstar around the same time. It was just cheaper to destroy them than what they could possibly get for them on the surplus market.
A few years back, Italy released several thousand Long Branch No4 MkI* rifles on the surplus market. We tried to get some brought into Canada but the people that owned them, even though many of them were North American companies felt there was a better market for them with higher prices in Europe.
Many nations still issue machine guns and sub machine guns from WWII. The most recent revelation came out of Syria, thousands of old new stock Stg44 assault rifles were released to the rebels. Who knows where they came from or how they got to Syria.
Never say never or there won't be any more coming when talking about milsurps becoming available again. It's all about money for the people that have to purchase them, proof them, mark them, market them, distribute them etc.
humahumatriggerfish
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Here's mine, First series Nagoya 1939 matching complete including unmessed Mum
Wow ...ever want to sell that please let me know !!
That is a lovely Arisaka. It's not often we see them that nice. Rifle/bayo combo would definitely be pricey. $650-$750 for the set as long as the bore looks as good as the rest of the rifle. Condition is everything.
Thanks guys, sadly I have seen so few of these in untouched condition in canada I jumped on it when it came up. Looking at this thread I know most everyone would call me very foolish for what I paid for it. But I have yet to find a better cheaper example.
You only overpaid if you have buyers remorse
I believe if you want a shooter, the Type 99 will cause the least amount of headaches. Brass isn't exactly common, but as far as I know 7.7 JAP is essentially an un-rimmed .303 British. Once you have the brass; bullets and powder charge shouldn't provide much trouble if you're a reloader.
6.5 JAP is a wonky semi-rimmed little thing and brass is just super hard to come by, from what I've seen. Bullets are standard 264' and it's light on powder, though. Neither Arisaka will be something one will run thousands of rounds a year out of, but I am still extremely jealous of that Type 99 of yours. I would love a Type 38 for myself, but I'm poor.
I'll live vicariously through you for now - if you do shoot it, I think we'd all love to see range pics!
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.303 British, that's what I understand as well. As for range pics, I suck compared to almost all of you lol. But I would like to hear it go "bang".
Realistically it will surely end up on the ee one day soon, as I look at some of the new mk18 rifles out there, it would be a good basis for a trade for me.
Thanks for all the comments, hope there was no hijack here.
Realistically it will surely end up on the ee one day soon, as I look at some of the new mk18 rifles out there, it would be a good basis for a trade for me.
Thanks for all the comments, hope there was no hijack here.
You may have "seller's remorse" if you sell that beauty.
I'm finally reaching a point where I am able to balance employment with school, so I'll be looking for a job ASAP. I may just start watching the EE for that rifle.
Joe,
It's okay, I've also been told I spent 'over top dollar' on this 'jap surplus'
Strange that the fellows always whining about prices never have any nice firearms to post from their collections -- I guess they're always just waiting to find a deal
-Steve
Typically the rifles brought back from veterans had the mums intact. We don't have many original mum examples in Canada because of where our veterans served during the war.
There's many old dealer rumours about returning soldiers grinding the mums off, or a more ridiculous one is that surrendering Japanese soldiers removed the mums, but in actual fact these ground examples are mostly rifles sold post-war as surplus. This is why the mum-intact examples bring such a premium and are more regarded as war trophies.
Regards,
-Steve
Steve that is a beauty of a pistol! When do you open up your museum btw?????
I have a 38 with intact Mum, got it from the states last year. It's easy to reload and shoots like a dream. I only had to get 20 pieces of brass. I neck size so it should last a long time.
Just got myself a 99 Long, again from the states, scrubbed mum but matching + EXC condtion and since it's a LONG which are quite rare I think I did well. It also shoots amazingly well. You can convert 30-06 to 7.7 Japanese very easily. Lots of info online. I will be cranking those out this winter.
I feel that the Arisaka's are such good shooters, so well built (I lived in Japan - nothing is done half assed there), have so much history, that they are underpriced IMHO.
Waiting for a hidden supply to be found in a cave in the Phillipines, and come on the market is like waiting for the Leafs to win the Stanley Cup. Get one asap.
I have a 38 with intact Mum, got it from the states last year. It's easy to reload and shoots like a dream. I only had to get 20 pieces of brass. I neck size so it should last a long time.
Just got myself a 99 Long, again from the states, scrubbed mum but matching + EXC condtion and since it's a LONG which are quite rare I think I did well. It also shoots amazingly well. You can convert 30-06 to 7.7 Japanese very easily. Lots of info online. I will be cranking those out this winter.
I feel that the Arisaka's are such good shooters, so well built (I lived in Japan - nothing is done half assed there), have so much history, that they are underpriced IMHO.
Waiting for a hidden supply to be found in a cave in the Phillipines, and come on the market is like waiting for the Leafs to win the Stanley Cup. Get one asap.
Sledge - Would you mind telling me a bit about reloading 6.5x50 SR? I am not a reloader, but I think a Type 38 and the components to start loading the ammunition for it are in the cards in the future for me. I know bullets are the standard 264', but could you tell me a bit about powder usage and case life if you don't mind? Where'd you get your brass, what powder do you use?
Thanks.
Andurp - Lee die from Higginson, PRVI cases and bulk bullets available with tradex. I was lucky enough to have found a box of old Norma 6.5 Japanese awhile back and fired those initial for the premium brass. I use H335 for powder but there is a lot of load data online - many powders to choose from. The military load was 139gr at 2500fps and the most common size of bullet for 6.5 just happens to also be 139gr. This is a very easy caliber to reload to actual Japanese military specs.
My bolt guns get dedicated brass. I keep the fired brass for them in a separate box and just neck size. You only need to full size a case for semi's or if you are using it the first time in that particular rifle. The brass for my bolt actions should last a lifetime because I don't load anywhere near the upper pressure limits. I have gone through 5 cycles on this particular Japanese brass and still not even needed to trim. Good brass, like NORMA will likely last more than the PRVI stuff that more readily available. But it will cost more.
The Arisaka's are more popular down south, lots of good forums and experienced loaders - those guys know way more than I ever will.
Cheers,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGwQwXKMuNQ
My bolt guns get dedicated brass. I keep the fired brass for them in a separate box and just neck size. You only need to full size a case for semi's or if you are using it the first time in that particular rifle. The brass for my bolt actions should last a lifetime because I don't load anywhere near the upper pressure limits. I have gone through 5 cycles on this particular Japanese brass and still not even needed to trim. Good brass, like NORMA will likely last more than the PRVI stuff that more readily available. But it will cost more.
The Arisaka's are more popular down south, lots of good forums and experienced loaders - those guys know way more than I ever will.
Cheers,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGwQwXKMuNQ
Over payed
Quote Originally Posted by joe n View Post
Because I've been asked, I spent $1200 approx with the bayonet and 2 boxes of ammo. I think I'm going to be keeping her for a while lol
I made a personal assessment on the value of the rifle you posted pics of. But it was just that.
That is a very nice rifle as is that great Nambu of Steve's. When you come across something that is in excellent condition and difficult to find in that condition you pay what you pay.
I have been known to pay above market value for certain items more often than not.
Just keep in the back of your mind that the piece will always increase in value over time and you are lucky enough to have a unique piece that is in very good condition whereas most of them are beat to hell.
Quote Originally Posted by joe n View Post
Because I've been asked, I spent $1200 approx with the bayonet and 2 boxes of ammo. I think I'm going to be keeping her for a while lol
I made a personal assessment on the value of the rifle you posted pics of. But it was just that.
That is a very nice rifle as is that great Nambu of Steve's. When you come across something that is in excellent condition and difficult to find in that condition you pay what you pay.
I have been known to pay above market value for certain items more often than not.
Just keep in the back of your mind that the piece will always increase in value over time and you are lucky enough to have a unique piece that is in very good condition whereas most of them are beat to hell.
