Patrick L
01-06-2008, 12:49 PM
I have had in my family for as long as I can remember (I'm 41) a 7.7mm Type 99 that was sporterized minimally. Basically top handguard is gone, as with all forward metal. The forestock was cut off to typical sporter forend length. That was how it was when it came to our family, I believe done by the guy who brought it back. I must ashamedly admit that in my teenage years I continued to "improve" it, mainly by cold blueing a few parts and cutting the butt off and adding a walnut extension, with a sporting type butt plate, and of course refinishing it. I'm sorry, it was the 80s, this stuff was still considered junk and I was making it better to deer hunt with. I'm sure all of you did such things.
Anyhow, last spring I picked up one of those reproduction stocks Numrich has, along with all of the missing front metal. My intention was to return the rifle to as close to "as issued" configuration as possible, without going totally nuts. I didn't bother with the monopod, AA wings on the sight, or a dust cover. I'm not into getting it all "correct,' and I'm certainly not looking to sell it . I just wanted to reclaim the basic "military" feel of the gun. As the pics show, I think I did a good job. My 13 year old thinks its the coolest thing now! I generally just shoot cast lead bullets out of it, and its a fun little plinker.
Here it is before
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb157/patrickl_01/Arisaka/IMGP0817.jpg
And here is what it looks like now
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb157/patrickl_01/Arisaka/GunStuff021.jpg
I love the reddish/maroon color of the teakwood stock. It was suprising how much fitting I had to do. Tangs had to be inlet, and most of the screw holes were off a good 1/8th inch or so. It OK though, the stock fit is now very tight. I also could not get the nose cap over the front sight. I know the front sight can come off, but after a solid week of penetrating oil/heat etc. the drift pin still wouldn't budge. I ended up slitting the nose cap along the bottom with my dremel tool, slipping it over, and then the screw closed things up tight. Only a collector would mind the thin slot. The replacement screws were blued, so I guess I should blue the nose cap and front band. Those parts were heavily rusted, and in removing the rust they of course ended up bright. The only thing I really need to find now is a follower. In my own teenage exhuberance, I ground a 45 degree angle on the back of this one so the bolt would close. Numrich and Sarco don't have them, so I'll keep checking gun shows.
This gun is a nice complement to the 1903s, the Garands, and the M1 carbine I usually shoot.
Anyhow, last spring I picked up one of those reproduction stocks Numrich has, along with all of the missing front metal. My intention was to return the rifle to as close to "as issued" configuration as possible, without going totally nuts. I didn't bother with the monopod, AA wings on the sight, or a dust cover. I'm not into getting it all "correct,' and I'm certainly not looking to sell it . I just wanted to reclaim the basic "military" feel of the gun. As the pics show, I think I did a good job. My 13 year old thinks its the coolest thing now! I generally just shoot cast lead bullets out of it, and its a fun little plinker.
Here it is before
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb157/patrickl_01/Arisaka/IMGP0817.jpg
And here is what it looks like now
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb157/patrickl_01/Arisaka/GunStuff021.jpg
I love the reddish/maroon color of the teakwood stock. It was suprising how much fitting I had to do. Tangs had to be inlet, and most of the screw holes were off a good 1/8th inch or so. It OK though, the stock fit is now very tight. I also could not get the nose cap over the front sight. I know the front sight can come off, but after a solid week of penetrating oil/heat etc. the drift pin still wouldn't budge. I ended up slitting the nose cap along the bottom with my dremel tool, slipping it over, and then the screw closed things up tight. Only a collector would mind the thin slot. The replacement screws were blued, so I guess I should blue the nose cap and front band. Those parts were heavily rusted, and in removing the rust they of course ended up bright. The only thing I really need to find now is a follower. In my own teenage exhuberance, I ground a 45 degree angle on the back of this one so the bolt would close. Numrich and Sarco don't have them, so I'll keep checking gun shows.
This gun is a nice complement to the 1903s, the Garands, and the M1 carbine I usually shoot.