Type 99

[Major Tom]

Not knowing alot about Japanese WW2 rifles I was wondering: a gun shop has a type 99 in 7.7 calibre. The military stock has been cut down and refinished. All the metal seems OK. The rear sight is a solid 1-piece 'L' shape with peep hole. The mum is intact. Gun shop wants $185. Is it worht that? Where can I find original stocks? Thank you

[Deano41]

The rifle you describe is the clasic example of how to turn a $185 collector piece into an $85 sporter. Granted, they were plentiful and cheap thirty years ago, and nobody cared that much about them. The rifle you are describing is a late war model. The original factories have been out of business for 65 years. Original parts are not that plentiful, and have become pricey. For that price you should be able to find an original of that vintage in fairly good shape.
As a side note, look for matching numbers on the bolt, receiver and bayonet lug. The mum is nice, but matching numbers, and un-sanded, original finish stock, is better.

[Guamsst]

Depends on allot. Mostly the area you are in. That is a bit high for anywhere but if the original front sight is there and you live in an area where prices are around $350-$400 for a standard T-99 then you can do alright. Numrich had repro stocks a while back for $100. They do require final fitting but they are a perfect copy and look great.

[Art]

The only way I can think of it would be feasable to restore that rifle would be to find a "Junker" model 99 with a decent stock really cheap and use that one. I have seen a lot of stuff in gun stores, at gun shows, pawn shops and catalogs as well as on line over the years but one thing I don't recall ever seeing is a replacement stock, original or repro for a Japanese World War II rifle.

[starmetal]

The rifle you describes is a "last ditch" model made towards the end of the war. Short cuts were taken to make them faster and cheaper, such as the crude rear sight you mentioned. If it was untouched it would be very collectible.

[Major Tom]

The metal is untouched tho rough. Only the wood has been modified. Where can one find a "last ditch" stock?

[dave]

I think they pretty much said stocks are pretty hard to find. It just a matter of "lucking out", there is no real one place source. And you will have to probably buy a whole rifle to get one. Altho I think an original is worth more then 185, with a new stock it will not be original! But you seem determined despite advise to the contrary!

[starmetal]

Last ditch stocks were different too. You just can't take a stock off of any old Type 99 rifle. One difference is most the last ditch stocks didn't have a metal buttplate....they were just wood.

[Teddydog]

Here are a standard rifle (top) and "last ditch" (bottom) side by side. You can see several points where the last ditch was simplified: sights, nosecap, stock and buttplate, etc.

http://www.teddydog.org/guns/japanese/arisakas-a.jpg

Rob

[Alaska]

I have a Type 99Arisaka last ditch rifle given to me by my mom before she passed. The mum is partially ground off and there is a hole drilled into the top of the receiver. The serial # consists of the letter "i "in a circle the number 432, and 3 overlapping circles, possibly the factory identifier. The number 432, also on the bottom of the bolt. There is no hole for a cleaning rod and a fixed peep rear sight. There is also a wooden butt plate.

[Doug Ford]

Try this web site: http://www.castle-thunder.com/arsenal.htm

[dave]

I am not a Jap rifle collector but I have about 6 examples and a "last ditch" is not one of them! Save the 185 and buy a nice early example that is correct and matching, mum if possible but don't hold out for one. The mum will add 100-150 bucks to the price, here in MI.

[mark36]

Did some looking on flee-bay last Friday and found some decent original wood for a type 99 rifle. It had all of the stock metal and was for an early/mid war production rifle. To rebuild a 185 dollar japanese rifle you are going to have more in it then you would if you bought one outright. Although finding a substitue/last ditch 99 with a MUM is getting hard to come by. I don't even see them at the OGCA shows.