Type 99 year of manufacture?

BadgerDog

BadgerDog

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A December purchase, but just got around to cleaning her up and talking some pics. It's my first Japanese rifle, so I'm still learning what the marks all mean. I have figured out that somewhere in the life of this old girl, the anti-aircraft sight lead wings were put on backwards. Doh!!! :eek:

So, the question is.... can any of you experts tell me more about this rifle, particularly, is there any way to figure out a more exact date of manufacture?

1939-45 Early Type 99 (7.7mm) Japanese Ariska Long Rifle - Series 31 (Mfg by Toyo Kogyo)

(Click PIC to Enlarge)

(Click PIC to Enlarge)


1939-45 Early Type 99 (7.7mm) Japanese Long Rifle (lots more detailed pics ... click here)http://imageevent.com/badgerdog/japaneseservicerifles/type99japaneselongrifle45464

Regards,
Badger
 
Congrats, I've also got a 31st series, they're really cool rifles.

Given that Toyo Kogyo only started with the 30th series, I'd guess it was late 1939 / early 1940. Also, that's not a long rifle, its a short.
 
Toyo Kogyo made rifles from 1939 to 1945 when it was erased from history when the town it was in (Hiroshima) was hit by the first ever agressive deployment of an atomic bomb.

Yours is DEFINITELY a 31st series rifle. Productions started at Series 30 with serisl number 1 and ran to 99,999. Series 31 started over at serial number 1 and your rifle is about 1/2 way through the 31st series. My guess would be 1940. Your rifle left the factory with all early features, including the dust cover which was eliminated early in 32nd series production.

Your rifle has had the mum slightly defaced instead of ground off which is a plus in my opinion. My TK is an early 33rd series but alas my mum is mostly ground away and mine didn't come with the monopod (deleted in 32nd series) and the AA wings were never installed. Same with dust cover. Yours is a really nice example - keeper for sure.

I would suggest picking up McCollum's "Japanese Rifles of World War II" if you want to read some more about it. That's my favorite reference for WW2 era T38's and T99's. It's a small book, but alas - not a whole lot of reference material is out there for Arisakas.

Congrats on a great rifle!

I make my brass out of Lake City .30-06 brass. Sized in Lee dies and trimmed to length, then annealed shoulders. Works pretty good. I use pulled .303 174gr projectiles usually and H4895 powder.

Hope that helps!
Ron
 
Here's my 33rd series Toyo Kogyo. When I got it it was dusty from 40+ years of storage in a Canadian closet. The bore is perfect and chrome lined to boot (chrome was eliminated probably within a thousand rifles of mine early in the 33rd series). It had never been dis-assembled and the mag box had pacific sand and pebbles in it. I suspect it was a bring-back.

serial.jpg

mumclean.jpg

arisaka.jpg

bblband.jpg

cpiece.jpg

actiontop.jpg

butt.jpg


It's not shown in the pic, but I do have the cleaning rod too.
 
Thanks claven2, nyles and koldt ............ :)

Very helpful and interesting feedback......

I've updated the web site to reflect all of your feedback and suppositions......

To be honest, I'm not really a a Japanese collrctor. I kind of backed into the deal for this rifle by accident, not by design. :D

I don't reload, so I can't shoot it either, which I do like to do with the rifles I collect ......

Regards,
Badger
 
BadgerDog said:
I don't reload, so I can't shoot it either, which I do like to do with the rifles I collect ......

Regards,
Badger
Click to expand...

Try calling Epps. Hornady (I think) sells ammo in the states and possibly Fiocchi?

Worth a call if you want to shoot it. I roll my own and don't even bother looking for commercial ammo mosty out of cost and convenience.
 
Claven2 said:
Try calling Epps. Hornady (I think) sells ammo in the states and possibly Fiocchi?

Worth a call if you want to shoot it. I roll my own and don't even bother looking for commercial ammo mosty out of cost and convenience.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I'll do that..... :)

You think these things are safe to shoot then?

Maybe I'll have ~Angel~ test fire it first .......... :D

Regards,
Badger
 
You should get the cleaning rod and dust cover, try to get a matching dust cover if possible (will be stamped with last 2 digits of s/n. Surf e-bay they show up semi-regularly).

As for shooting, unsafe Arisaka T99's are a myth. ALL T-99's produced, even the rough finished "substitute standard" models (often erroneously referred to as "last ditch") were made of ordnance grade heat treated steel. If it checks out mechanically, it's safe.

The myth grew because USGI's after the war didn't read Japanese and therefore couldn't ID rifles for drill purpose. The Japanese often DP'd rifles by grinding the recoil lugs off the bolts and other less than ideal methods - you get the idea.

Also, "last ditch" rifles receivers are actually made of cast iron and were intended only as a last resort weapon. They were issued primarily to Navy ships where they weren't likely to be used and are exceedingly rare these days, most being scrapped at the close of the war. Anyone who's ever seen a real "Last Ditch" rifle would never confuse it with a substitute standard 99. The SS99 is just a regular 99 with a rough finish much like a 1944 made mosin and many smaller parts ommissions. They had a crude bracket rear sight, wooden buttplate, short handguard, crude nosecap and bands, no cleaning rod, no bayonet lug, etc. But are otherwise sound rifles.

PO Ackley tried to blow up T99 receivers in his wildcat testing back in the 60's. They fired proof loads in Arisakas with the bores completely obstructed and the could not make one fail, though they aparently shredded several barrels on the same receiver. Only rifle they were not able to break the receiver on. Should count for something!

EDIT: buy the McCollum book - should answer most of these questions! Arisakas are basically Mausers with an altered cocking piece design.
 
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Yeah, the Arisakas are actually entirely safe to shoot.

Well, from a mechanical perspective anyways, you may want to invest in a slip-on butt pad. I'm by no means a large man, and I end up with a thumb-shaped bruise on my face from shooting mine unless I hold my head at an unnatural angle.
 
I thought I'd just add this post the the thread I already had started on Japanese rifles.

I think I've really gone over to the dark side. :D

I've now got a second Japanese rifle from another CGN member.

I need to find both 7.7mm ammo for the T99 short rifle and now 6.5mm Japanese for the T38..... :eek:

You would have thought these guys would have standardized on one ammo type for all their rifles. No wonder they lost .... :p


Type 38 (6.5mm) Japanese Arisaka Rifle .... Series 27 (Mfg by Nagoya Arsenal)

(Click PIC to Enlarge)

Type 38 (6.5mm) Japanese Arisaka Rifle (lots more detailed pics ... click here)http://imageevent.com/badgerdog/japaneseservicerifles/type38japaneserifle48508

Anyone want to guess at the year this T38 was manufactured?

Regards,
Badger
 
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Doug - you have an illness...

That being said, I know you want to swap my that 1909 of yours for an Arisaka... ;)

PS: I'm just kidding - My Arisaka isn't going anywhere because I lover her!!! Sad, but true.
 
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