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**Francis Marion** · 02-07-2009, 10:13 AM

Concur, not a last ditch rifle; it's a main service rifle, Type 99, 7.7 Jap.
Have the rifle checked out by a gunsmith. If the rifle is properly headspaced, and mechanically sound, it will be safe to shoot.

It's likely that you'll have a fine shooter after you clean it up.

Arisakas have robust, well designed (in terms of strength) actions.
If you are willing to reload, and the headspace is unacceptable for factory ammunition dimensions, you may be able to fire form brass to your chamber dimensions, and then neck size the brass subsequently; this ammunition will work in your rifle, but not necessarily chamber in another person's rifle.
I think this is a reasonable approach if the headspace exceeds the max allowance by 0.020" or less, and using modern, high quality brass.

**Spiggy** · 02-07-2009, 1:36 PM

Originally posted by Sampachi

Definately an early Type 99. A closeup of the serial number area will tell what series and arsenal it was made at. The monopod looks a bit mucked-up. Stock appears to be sanded, which will hurt it's value some. Hopefully the bolt matches the serial number. You can reload t using either 8mm Mauser or reformed 30.06 brass and .311 bullets from either a .303 Enfield or 7.62x54R. If you don't reload, Grafs is good and Google up "Mr. Nambu" for fair priced ammo. These are a lot of fun to shoot.
The sling is odd. At first glance, I thought it was a Japanese LMG sling. Not completely sure. All sorts of slings show up on T99 Arisakas... cloth, leather, rubberized cloth, hemp rope, etc. Might be a variation of a cloth sling, but I'm guessing it was added post-war.

the 3 rivet ends with high speed clips would tell it's either a paratrooper sling, LMG sling, or foreign all together. The IJA is well known for using battlefield pickups. Most of the PTO in captured hard anchored areas were supplemented by using foreign armaments and equipment.