Arisaka questions

Buck Turgidson

Buck Turgidson

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So... next on the list is an Arisaka. I have just a few question about them.

1. Which ammo is more common the T38: 6.5 or T99: 7.7?
I'm trying to decide which to buy..T38/T99 and I think that could help me make my decision.
2. Are the AA sights still common or at least available for replacement?
3. What type of parts ie: bayonets,cleaning rods, screws, any other parts commonly missing?
4. How much of a premium for the mum?
any suggestions on which to buy or other tips when considering one would be excellent. photos, websites, sellers would also be great.

thanks
 
1. I haven't a clue which ammo is more common as I don't have an Arisaka but I have a friend who had a Type 38 long and he said it was getting much harder to reload for as brass was becoming scare for 6.5x50 Jap.
2. I have seen two Type 99s, none with the AA sight. I don't know if there are replicas or originals floating around out there. Check e-bay.
3. Normally, you may find the cleaning rod and dust cover missing but I have seen butt plate screws missing too. Bolts will generally be mismatched as well. Expect to not have everything when you buy one.
4. I have seen Arisakas with mums go for maybe 10-15% more than ones without. One in fair condition with mum usually goes between $250-300 (Type 38 Long).

Since many Arisakas were vet bringbacks, don't expect excellent quality. Every Arisaka I have seen was in poor-fair condition with some part missing, the bore needing a very good cleaning, and the stock badly dinged up. If you do find an excellent condition one, expect to pay a hefty premium.

Dutchie has a Type 99 in fair condition still for sale - Link.
 
I purposely bought a Type 99 Arisaka, over other Japanese WWII rifles due to it's calibre.
Type 99 shoots 7.7 mm uses slugs that are .311 and can use 30.06, 7.62's etc.
It being in the 30 cal family is a big plus!
Also mine has the mum,A sights,chromed barrel, quick detach, it is a great piece of history.
 
thanks for the replies. I thought I asked a poor question there!
I could be wrong, but it seems like dutchie has a last ditch rifle. i'm more interested in the early model 99s. (i still have to look into all the different series)

I agree that 30 cal family is a better choice. I didn't realize that finding one in good condition would be so difficult. i'm ok with fair cond. as long as all the parts are there!

I also looked into the parts thing, numrich has quite a bit for both the 38 and 99. AA sights, monopod, screws, cleaning rods, triggers.....
 
Type 38s in 6.5x50sr are more common here than the 7.7x58 Type 99s. In the US the opposite is true.

Unlike the US, our involvement in the PTO was limited and so "bring backs" are scarce.

Most of the Type 38s here have come from two sources: Thailand and CAI imports from China. Both groups were imported quite a few years ago. Chinese imports included carbines and rifles of standard Type 38 as well as a very few Chinese modified carbines in 7.62x39. All were in pretty rough shape. I expect that there will be the odd Chinese copy of the Type 38 here as some continued to be built after the war from tooling left at Mukden (Hoten) and was a primary arm of the PLA during their early involvement in Korea.

A very small number of Type 99s were also built at Mukden and post war copies in 8x57 were built for the KMT before the PLA drove them out of the area. The Type 99 was not widely used by the IJA in China. Production was instead geared at supplying the front line Island garrisons and the home islands. It was the intention that all Japanese forces would eventually equip with the Type 99 but there were never enough to do so.

Early features such as monopods and AA sights as well as chrome bores and bolt faces begin disappearing by 1943 as material shortages began taking a toll along with the need to speed up production.

When our borders were more open to such things, a lot of Type 99s (which are actually more common) came up from the States.
 
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Here is my Arisaka, Type 99, all matching, mum intact and comes with the momopod, AA sites, bayonet and frog, the previous owner threw in 2 boxes of ammunition. It's a sweet rifle, I will never shoot her, I don't think I could upgrade this one. They are nice rifles for sure.
On a side note, I had Teri Bryant check it out, She gave it a thumbs up and had a bit of a surprise for me. My frog for my scabbard had Chines markings on it. Teri said many of the captured hardware from Japanese stores were utilized by the Chinese during the Korean War. Thanks for looking:)
arisaka1.jpg

arisaka2.jpg

arisaka3.jpg

arisaka4.jpg

arisaka6.jpg
 
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Thanks very much, it filled a hole in my collection nicely. Mostly having German and US firearms, I wanted to have one from each major player but did not know a thing about Arisakas. Teri showed true class, gave an honest opinion and never offered to buy it (she probably has a few anyway).:)
Beater said:
thats about the best type 99 i have ever seen. how in the world did you get away from Teri without her puttin it in her collection??
Click to expand...
 
Nice T99 Joe!

That just re-enforced my decision to get a 99!

I hope one never took a P-38 Lightning out of the sky. that plane is WAY too pretty to go down like that! but i guess all it would take it one well placed round.
 
I only have a type 38 and i was lucky enough to get a bunch of brass for reloading. only complaint i have with arisaka's is the trigger. seems to be a very very stiff trigger but a great rifle overall.
 
Thank you Gentlemen, I was fortunate to aquire this piece, from a very decent fellow CGN'er. They are pretty unique, fits nice in the WW2 collection, and although I have never fired her, I must agree that the trigger does seem pretty stiff.
 
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