As a Kid, I remember visits to one my Uncles (Fathers Brother) who had a Den with all sorts of Japanese WW-II items hanging on the wall that he had collected during his Island Hopping campaigns in the Pacific as an Army Soldier. He had multiple rising sun flags, Japanese swords, nambu pistols, and Arisaka rifles. My father was too young for WW-II, but his brothers all served in Pacific and European Theaters during WW-II.
A couple of weeks ago in the Barber Shop, one of the Barbers was talking about a group of rifles his father had given him. He asked me what I knew about a Japanese Arisaka in the group. I had to admit that although I had one “Somewhere in the Safe”; I did not know a lot about them other than the Japanese had used both 6.5mm and 7.7mm rifles. He said he wanted to clean and test fire all the rifles, but was concerned about the Arisaka. He was concerned about it’s safety given age, and from a current practical perspective – no ammunition available.
Growing up; the Japanese rifles were reputed to be absolute junk – made in home shops across Japan with crude castings, file to fit, and poor finish. After years I learned to overcome the prejudicial views shaded by those who I knew had engaged in combat with a bitter enemy, the comparison of last ditch end of war Japanese Arisaka rifles compared to production from earlier years, and USofA service members focusing on European and US service rifles for sporterizing . My Arisaka rifle was apparently produced in the early years of the Japanese war – it’s serial number is 27,6XX. My rifle still has the Chrysanthemum (often referred to as the Mum) on the receiver; many of the Japanese rifles had the Mum filed off by their Japanese owners before surrendering at the end of the war as it was the Japanese Emperors seal. About 3,500,000 Japanese Type 99 Arisaka’s were manufactured by Japan.
The conversation in the Barber Shop refreshed my memory; I had an Arisaka I bought for $30.00 more than 40 years ago located in the back of one of the gun safes. I bought it from a friend in the USMC who did not want it any more. They were dirt cheap back then, but looked it up on the Internet last week and saw process ranging from $800 to $2,500. Wow – talking about inflation. Pics of the rifle from the back of my safe (Click to enlarge Pictures):
As for the ammunition. Not seeing any actually available; although several locations list it – but currently out of stock. Good thing those of us on this Forum are Reloaders, Casters and Swagers – Right?