Arisaka Paratrooper Rifle - thoughts?

[sledge]

I own a 38 in 6.5 and love it. Thinking of getting a type 99 now.

Researching the 99 Arisaka 7.7mm Type 2 - The one that takes down into two separate pieces. Only 22,000 built and issued in late 1943.

What would these be worth here? What if the two halves don't match?

Anybody have one? Fired one?

 

[Steve1987]

I suspect there are a few of them up here, but not many.

I'm not too sure about the value of this rifle in Canada, but here are some thoughts:

It seems average Arisakas with or without mums intact sell for more money in Canada than the U.S. because they are less common here. The same trend also seems to be happening with poor condition matching K98's selling for far more in Canada than they're worth in the U.S. However, the really high dollar top items seems to go for less between Canadian collectors than they would between U.S. collectors.

I thought about importing an Paratrooper Arisaka but was afraid I might not get my investment back if I was to sell in Canada at a later point. I would only go this route if this rifle was something that I absolutely must have and didn't care about investment. I doubt many people here would pay over $2000 for one of these rifles? Add your import fees, tax, shipping, and it might quickly become an expensive venture with little chance of a decent return.

These are just my thoughts on the importing of a Paratrooper Arisaka, for whatever it's worth...

I've never found one of these rifles in the local woodwork yet.

Cheers,
-Steve

 

[bryan.14]

Seen one on Guns America for $2200 http://www.gunsamerica.com/965611425/WW2_ARISAKA_PARATROOPER_RIFLE_VET_BRING_BACK_UNTOUCHE.htm

In Canada It would probably cost $1000 more..... or $2000 more in the EE.

 

[Steve1987]

Seen one on Guns America for $2200 http://www.gunsamerica.com/965611425/WW2_ARISAKA_PARATROOPER_RIFLE_VET_BRING_BACK_UNTOUCHE.htm

In Canada It would probably cost $1000 more..... or $2000 more in the EE.

I'm actually curious if someone would pay $3000 for that rifle in Canada. It certainly wouldn't fall in line with normal collectible firearm prices here.

Traditionally in Canada these sort of things sell for less, because there has been less collector demand.

Trends lately seem to suggest that's changing? Or, at least until the next big political move against firearms?

****The Arisaka in that ad is definitely not a "vet bringback" and nor is it "untouched". The first thing to look at in a collectible Arisaka is the mum and that one has definitely been ground off. I have never heard of the veterans grinding off the mums, that's something that's a sign of surplus despite what some sellers claim.

Here's one I sold on the EE recently that was unquestionably U.S. vet bringback:



-Steve

 

[bryan.14]

Seen this one a few weeks ago:
Scorpio Used a Sporterized Paratrooper Arisaka in the Dirty Harry Movie. Very interesting Conversion, considering the work required to scope an Arisaka. I wonder how many that were captured and brought to North America were Sporterized.

 

[RRCo.]

I remember seeing a pristine one of these on a gunsmith's rack maybe 15 years ago. Customer wanted it made into a truck gun, and so that's what happened to it.

 

[eos]

Scorpio Used a Sporterized Paratrooper Arisaka in the Dirty Harry Movie. Very interesting Conversion, considering the work required to scope an Arisaka. I wonder how many that were captured and brought to North America were Sporterized.

One also used by Laurence Harvey in The Manchurian Candidate.

 

[bryan.14]

I think Hollywood may have bought a crate of them.

Why do they mount little Rimfire Scopes on full sized rifles?

Wouldnt the focus and adjustments be messed up?

Also featured in The Deadly Tower:

 

[sledge]

Never knew Hollywood had such a fascination with it! Then again, I don't know of any other rifle that screws off in two pieces like this. Man this rifle is actually quite famous!

 

[Claven2]

FWIW, most defaced mums are still bringbacks, but they were acquired by the GI's from stacks of captured rifles in mainland Japan AFTEr the war ended, typically in 1945 or 1946, and brought home as souvenirs. The ones with mum intact are typically wartime battlefield pickups sent home BEFORe the war ended.