Any Arisaka experts here??

[EchoMD]

Hi All, Long time reader, first time poster.
So this is my first Arisaka, based on the marks it's a type 2 99 but has something different with the mum. There seems to be some marks stamped onto the mum. Someone on another board said it was a special mark (s ,r, or t mark) that required special training or command. It looks like to me someone taking a hammer to it and decided against it at the last moment. I question that its a special mark because why would a culture built on honor / Empire disrespect the mark of the Emporer (mum) by stamping over it...any thoughts?

[M. Sage]

Looks like they were defacing the mum... After WWII, they defaced the mums, part of the surrender agreement saying the Emporer isn't considered divine anymore or something.

Usually they just ground them off, though.

I agree with you: I don't think they'd do that as a "special" mark. Seems like it'd be too presumptuous and disrespectful.

ETA: Grain of salt on this one, it's my opinion and I'm definitely not an expert at anything... except fixing cars and maybe driving 'em.

And welcome to Calguns!!

[Dieter]

No Arisaka expert, but it could signify having been removed from military service, not a sign of disrespect to the emperor. Rifles as such were often marked over the chrysanthemum. Question though, is it a Type 2 or Type 99?

If you're interested, I recommend "Japanese Rifles of World War II" by Duncan McCollum, has a lot of good info.

[footdoc]

Or here...

http://www.radix.net/~bbrown/japanese_markings.html

[EchoMD]

[Dieter]

CLASSIC!! That's the same look I get when I'm doing "research" on guns too. He, he.

Yeah, that book helped me out quite a bit in understanding these rifles, and that weblink is handy too, all of that info can be found in the McCollum book as well.

[barnowl]

What other marks are there? Where the serial # is, there should be some other markings that would help ID the rifle.

[Spiggy]

those are defacing marks


Reason they defaced the rifles was because they are considered the Emporer's property, and you're not allowed to just give the Emporer's stuff away if you're a commoner. Defacing it is just an attempt to save face for

[saki302]

That looks like a defacing mark.

I have a type 38 that was removed from service, and they stamped over the mum, but very carefully and orderly- looks like a neat set of 3 interlocking circles- alsmot liek factory stamp, not a random punching fo the mum.

Also, mine has an 'M' or 'W' stamped on the barrel in front of the receiver- I was told this denotes removal from service too.

-Dave

[Jarhead]

Try the Japanese Firearm Forum for more info

http://www.gunboards.com/forums/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=42

[billyjoblack]

arnt the 3 circles school markings?

[Spiggy]

the school rifles and trainers that I've gotten to see at gunshows and reenactments dont have any markings at all, not even the model numbers