When an Arisaka is worth $$$ Jinsen Arsenal Korea - made by slave labor

[Dutchman]

When I lived in northern Indiana one day a friend emailed me and asked that I drive the 90 mile round trip to Fetla's in Valparasio as there was an Arisaka for $50 in the store (I knew the manager of Fetla's at the time). He wanted it but had to work that day. This was the worst piece of junk Arisaka I had ever seen but... I was buying it for him so... little did I know at the time that this was a Jinsen Arsenal Type 99 from Korea and hence was made by slave labor. Pity the poor soldier sent into combat against US Marines armed with this thing.

As we later learned though the biggest *** Arisaka I'd ever seen it's worth in the Arisaka collector's community was pegged at about $400. My friend sold it for $350 inside of two weeks. Knowledge is power but knowledge is also money $$$.

http://images9.fotki.com/v178/photos/4/28344/12582412/aj1-vi.jpg
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http://images61.fotki.com/v666/photos/4/28344/12582412/a4-vi.jpg
http://images16.fotki.com/v363/photos/4/28344/12582412/a2-vi.jpg
http://images9.fotki.com/v178/photos/4/28344/12582412/a6-vi.jpg
http://images15.fotki.com/v1626/photos/4/28344/12582412/a8-vi.jpg

[Dutchman]

http://images14.fotki.com/v384/photos/4/28344/12582412/a5-vi.jpg
http://images9.fotki.com/v178/photos/4/28344/12582412/a9-vi.jpg
http://images9.fotki.com/v1518/photos/4/28344/12582412/a11-vi.jpg
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http://images61.fotki.com/v666/photos/4/28344/12582412/a18-vi.jpg

[MtGun44]

Interesting info. Thanks for the education.

Bill

[Bzcraig]

Continues to prove to me every military rifle tells a story.

[JHeath]

Yes, thanks for taking the time to pass along that story AND the photos. So did your friend send the $300 to Korea to re-pay the "comfort gunsmiths" who made it?

[DCM]

Very interesting thank you.

[mikeym1a]

That is the Japanese 'Last Ditch' rifle. 'Tales of the Gun' has a segment on Japanese Weapons of WWII, and they commented on this particular version of the rifle. As can be seen from the photos, every step that could be eliminated and still have a functional firearm was eliminated. It was crude, but, it did function. They were intended to arm the populace when the Allies invaded the Home Islands. It might have been '...a piece of junk...', but they fill a niche in collections. If I could find one affordable, I'd get one, just for the 'strange' factor. mikey

[swheeler]

Not knowing any better that is one I would leave in the rack for being so fugly! Then after reading this I would be kicking myself, as has happened so many times. Thanks Dutchman

[perotter]

.... They were intended to arm the populace when the Allies invaded the Home Islands. ....

The guns that were to arm the Japanese populace was a series of totally different weapons. The so called last ditch Type 99s were for the armed forces. Only a few of the true last ditch weapons designed to arm the population could chamber 7.7 or 6.5 rounds(meant to use a specially loaded BP round) were made for obvious reasons.

They then only made ones for pistol rounds or were muzzleloaders.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

Back in the 90's I bought a similar Jap rifle, I was told it was a 'last ditch'. But it was no where near as crude the one pictured. Mine had the wooden buttplate, but not the crudely gouged out stock. The non-essential metal surfaces were crudely machined, but it had a different and much better rear site, and the Bolt to receiver fit was much better. The Bore was pitiful...it looked like the surface of the moon.

I still have no idea if that gun was a actual 'last ditch' or not ? But the buyer (in 1999), thought it was worth quite a bit. I traded it and $400 for a real nice Sako L461 that he had priced at $800.

PS, I wish I still had both of those rifles :(

[Japlmg]

The guns that were to arm the Japanese populace was a series of totally different weapons. The so called last ditch Type 99s were for the armed forces. Only a few of the true last ditch weapons designed to arm the population could chamber 7.7 or 6.5 rounds(meant to use a specially loaded BP round) were made for obvious reasons.

They then only made ones for pistol rounds or were muzzleloaders.

I would really love to see some reference citations to back up your statements.

The Japanese never defended the Home Islands from Invasion, so it is difficult to state exactly what they would have used.
Last Ditch is what the Allies call the late production T99 rifles, the correct Japanese term is Substitute Standard.
The Japanese were cutting corners, eliminating things that were not required to build a functional rifle.
The Germans did the same sort of thing in late 1944 and 1945, but admittedly not to the extent the Japanese did.

The reason the rifle in question is valuable, is the fact that few were produced at the Jinsen Arsenal, and fewer still survive in the hands of collectors here in the US.
Most were captured by the Russians and Chinese at the end of WWII.
If the Rifle in question was matching numbers and had a shootable bore, that $350 was on the low end of the value range.
Gregg

[WILCO]

So did your friend send the $300 to Korea to re-pay the "comfort gunsmiths" who made it?

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[pressonregardless]

Quote Originally Posted by JHeath View Post
So did your friend send the $300 to Korea to re-pay the "comfort gunsmiths" who made it?
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Korea used them too? I thought that was a Japanese thing...??

[JHeath]

Jinsen Arsenal was in Japanese-occupied Korea if I understand correctly. Dutchman referenced the workers as being effectively slave-labor, forced to make guns for the Japanese.

That is why I referred to them as "comfort gunsmiths" and asked if his friend returned the profit to Korea. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comfort_women

Dutchman pushed the boundaries of my knowledge with this post (thanks again!) so I nudged the thread a little further into unfamiliar territory . . .

[junkbug]

Is that a Type 38? In 6.5mm? Thanks.

PS: the side sling swivels now make me believe it is a Type 99, in 7.7mm. I had a tough time judging the length of the barrel from the first picture.

[Dutchman]

Is that a Type 38? In 6.5mm? Thanks.

PS: the side sling swivels now make me believe it is a Type 99, in 7.7mm. I had a tough time judging the length of the barrel from the first picture.

Its a Type 99 in 7.7x58mm.

Dutch

[Japlmg]

Is that a Type 38? In 6.5mm? Thanks.

PS: the side sling swivels now make me believe it is a Type 99, in 7.7mm. I had a tough time judging the length of the barrel from the first picture.

There were no Subsitute Standard (aka Last Ditch) T38 rifles/carbines made, as production of T38 rifles and carbines ended well before the end of the war.

Gregg