Got an Arisaka

[Gavelek]

Did I do good? This is my first, and for 300 I thought I am getting a deal, especially with a bayonet, stock looks refinished, on consignment tag says type 38, 7.7mm, what else you say?

IMG_1838.jpg

[Gavelek]

IMG_1839.jpg

[Gavelek]

IMG_1840.jpg

[Ora Serrata]

Looks nice, especially for the price. Only thing is the Type 38 is a 6.5mm. The 7.7mm is a Type 99.

I have a Type 99 and ammo is not easy to find and expensive when you find it. But it is out there. I believe 6.5mm ammo is much more difficult to find than the 7.7mm.

Does it have the mum?

[Milsurp Collector]

It's a late war Type 99 7.7x58 rifle. It's hard to tell from the picture of the serial number but it's either a Series 25 Kokura or a Series 33 or later Toyo Kogyo .

The 3-digit number on the root of the bolt handle should match the last 3 digits of the serial number.

Even though it is a late war (so-called "last ditch") rifle it was built just as well as the earlier rifles where it counts (the action) and Arisakas have the strongest actions of all military bolt action rifles. Assuming there are no broken parts or other problems it is safe to shoot. Ammo is available from Grafs https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog...roductId/27878 and MidwayUSA https://www.midwayusa.com/product/19...oint-box-of-20

[gun toting monkeyboy]

I don't know if it has been refinished. Some of their stocks look like that. And as a side note, don't try to refinish it. The lacquer they used to finish these stocks is from an Asian variety of Sumac, and the dust from sanding it off can cause a reaction like that caused by poison ivy. Never a good thing. As MC noted above, even late war guns like this are nearly indestructible. Yours has the late war wooden buttplate, but not the Frankenstein-looking bolt handle. So they were cutting some corners at that point, but not any essential ones. The 7.7 is actually a pretty decent cartridge. The Japanese loaded it to about the same level as the British .303. However, most reloaders load it to about the level of .30-06 to get the most they can out of it. The Arisaka can more than handle it.

-Mb

[musketjon]

7.7 Jap brass is a cinch to make from 30-06. Run it into a 7.7 full length resizing die. Trim to proper length, deburr, and load it. It really is that easy. Now 6.5, not so easy. The only commercial brass I am aware of is NORMA and it ain't cheap.
Jon

[jeremyro]

Did you buy that in modesto? I saw a really similar rifle for sake in a lgs there that was a type 38 listed as a 99 in 7.7 jap. I told them it was wrong and nobody cared.

[Enfield47]

Congrats on your Arisaka.

PRVI does make occasional runs on the brass. Keep an eye out at Grafs when it comes back in stock.

[IntoForever]

Nice! Does it have the mum?

[Gavelek]

Just asking... what's a mum?

[Tere_Hanges]

Just asking... what's a mum?

Try this:

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Arisaka+mum

"Mum" is short for Chrysanthemum . The Imperial seal of Japan. Pretty much one of the most important things to look for on an Arisaka since it is supposed to be rare to find one intact.

[Gavelek]

IMG_1843.jpg

[Saigon1965]

I can't see the pictures for some reason -

For 300 - I believe you did well as the bayonet itself is 75-125 range -

I've been looking for a Vietnam bring back Arisaka for awhile now - But cannot find a documented one -

[Terryl]

Before you go out and shoot it get the thing checked out by a good gunsmith, I had one of these, (7.7) it was late war manufacture, the thing was so sloppy it spit back at me through the breach, good thing I was wearing eye protection.

Now this is a story my Dad told me about these late war Arisaka rifles,(he fought in the Philippines during the war) they were done sloppy on purpose, this due to a lack of 7.7 ammo, they were built sloppy to take the British .303 cartridge when they were out of the 7.7, they could on some of the later rifles even shoot the US 30.06, but I would not go out and try this.

Some may say this is a rumor, but it has been tried. (don't try this at home kids)