Arisaka Type 99, Input and Advice Requested

[Bobby Ricigliano]

Hallo!

With no intention or preplanning whatsoever, I jumped on a sporterized "Type 99" Arisaka rifle for $79. While I never had much interest in these, the price was right to fill a hole in the WWII collection. The only modification to the rifle per the seller is a cut down stock and missing handguard and barrel bands. I initially thought the receiver was D&T but apparently they all have that hole in the top of the receiver? It was apparently a vet bringback but there is no paperwork.

While the firearm makes its way to me, I have been doing some research and of course I would like to restore it to milsurp condition and shoot it. If anyone has any insight or tips on this type of rifle, please chime in. The cheapest I have seen ammo so far is about $1.50 a round or so. Finding a stock set doesn't seem difficult but it will cost more than the rifle did.

There seems to be a Type 99 "Long" and a "Short" variant. Anyone able to tell if this is the long one, I just want to get the right stock for it.

Anyway, here are some pics provided by the seller.

[emcon5]

That looks like a pretty nice example, except for the stock obviously.

Intact mum, and the anti-aircraft sight wings are still there.

Nice score.

[Mauserguy]

Yeah, that hole is a vent, so it's good. Also it has the intact mum. Most were ground off when surrendered.

If you handload, you can make up your own ammo with 7.62 bullets and 30-06 cases. Read up on the particulars before attempting it, of course.

Getting a new stock may be difficult. I already have an Arisaka as a collector, so I would probably keep it as a sporter, but that's just me. If you convert her back to her original configuration, that would be pretty cool.

For seventy-nine smackers, heck, you did okay. Have fun.
Mauserguy

[emcon5]

Liberty Tree has the stock and handguard, plus some of the metal:

https://www.libertytreecollectors.com/productcart/pc/viewcategories.asp?idCategory=83

[Mustang]

I have both a "Long" (31" barrel) and a short (26" barrel) Type 99. That is the "short" rifle.

While 7.7 x 58 ammo is tough to find, Prvi makes 7.7 x 58 brass, which is available for roughly $.50/case. You will need to use .311 bullets.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

I have both a "Long" (31" barrel) and a short (26" barrel) Type 99. That is the "short" rifle.

While 7.7 x 58 ammo is tough to find, Prvi makes 7.7 x 58 brass, which is available for roughly $.50/case. You will need to use .311 bullets.

You are saying based on the pictures above that mine is the "short rifle"? I appreciate all the leads and links on stocks and ammo. I still haven't taken up reloading, so I will probably buy 2 boxes of ammo, shoot one box, and leave the other box in the safe near the rifle.

I mostly just want to make sure it works!

[Mustang]

You are saying based on the pictures above that mine is the "short rifle"? I appreciate all the leads and links on stocks and ammo. I still haven't taken up reloading, so I will probably buy 2 boxes of ammo, shoot one box, and leave the other box in the safe near the rifle.

I mostly just want to make sure it works!

Your type 99 looks like a series 24 Kokura Arsenal model. AFAIK, the long Type 99's were only made by Nagoya and Toyo Kogyo. My long type 99 is a 35th series TK.

The short rifle is only short by comparison to the earlier Japanese rifles. It is still pretty long with a 26" barrel.

[Armistice]

You know what? In all honesty, I'd leave it alone. It's a tasteful job and all you know, it was prob cut and used to hunt after the war and part of the history now

So you know. It's a Kokura arsenal. Can't see the series mark, so couldn't tell you what series it is

[TMB 1]

Nice Rifle! Keep an eye on ebay, some time you can get the stock with all the metal.

[phungn]

that's awesome. I'd have jump on that too!

[NorcalGSG]

You know what? In all honesty, I'd leave it alone. It's a tasteful job and all you know, it was prob cut and used to hunt after the war and part of the history now

So you know. It's a Kokura arsenal. Can't see the series mark, so couldn't tell you what series it is

I agree. These rifles are kinda crazy to collect. Many different arsenals, and different series, and different variations within the series's. Yours is a substitute standard/last ditch (transitional) meaning it has the late style bolt and rough stock with chatter marks, but still has the a.a. Wings. The stocks had stamped what arsenal, so even if you find an uncut stock, it probably won't be correct. Also, the barrel bands need to have the front sight removed for installation (not easy) which is why many were just cut off the rifles. Also, look in the barrel channel of your stock to see if it's matching numbers to your receiver. Lemme get to my book, and I'll look up the specs on this particular rifle.

[Armistice]

So it's a Kokura Series 24. The site I reference says a total of 591,995 rifles were made series 20-25 years '39- '45. That's 98,665.8333 per year, and 8,222.152777 per month

That said, I'd guess yours was made the beginning of '44ish

[Springfield45]

If it were mine I would go ahead and restore it with a new stock and metal parts. But do not through the original stock away. You have a good rifle to restore sense the barrel is not cut down and it has an intact mum. If you get into reloading the ammo is easy to make. A restore will cast more than it is likely worth right now. But that is not why most of us collect these old guns. If you keep it for a few years it will be worth more than that no matter what.

[Armistice]

Ok, I MIGHT have an answer for your Long Short problem

The bottom one is a T99 Short. Because of the rear band thumb groove, I'd say yours is probably a Long

[Bobby Ricigliano]

If it were mine I would go ahead and restore it with a new stock and metal parts. But do not through the original stock away. You have a good rifle to restore sense the barrel is not cut down and it has an intact mum. If you get into reloading the ammo is easy to make. A restore will cast more than it is likely worth right now. But that is not why most of us collect these old guns. If you keep it for a few years it will be worth more than that no matter what.

First of all, thanks to everyone for providing all the great intel on this thing. I was honestly not even thinking of dollar value, since I sort of fell into this and complete rifles only seem to fetch $300 - $500 or so. I personally do not like sporters whatsoever, and every C&R gun in my collection is in milsurp configuration. I will definitely keep the existing stock, as it has been with the gun for decades and was allegedly cut down by the Vet who brought it back.

It is a bummer to know that the front sight needs to be removed to put the barrel bands on (PITA I am sure). I wonder what engineer thought that was a good idea?

As of now, the plan is to restore it, put one box of $$$$$$$$ ammo through it, and store it for posterity and collector interest. It is neat that these rifles have "anti-aircraft" sights, even if that seemed pretty optimistic to square off with it against a F4U Corsair that is strafing your position with 6 .50 caliber machine guns blazing.