first Japanese rifle
Was in local gunshop and saw this honey, and had to have it. Japanese type 99 short with aircraft sights, still in gi shipping crate, covered in cosmoline. Gun is mint under grease, other than defaced mum. What I can tell from markings is a series 31 from Hiroshima district
Last edited by Embalmer; 06-16-2012 at 01:00.
That is a nifty find. Hope that crate didn't cost you too much
I own firearms not to fight against my government, but to ensure I will not have to.
Also, I love the Kanji inside the crate. I would probably clean it up and display it in the crate.
I own firearms not to fight against my government, but to ensure I will not have to.
$500 with crate. Carefully removing braces to get rifle out and clean it. Plan to make a display out of it ultimately.
Well, the crate is worth what you are willing to pay for it. Not sure what the market is where you are but a nice matching rifle often gets an asking price of $500-$750 in some places.......$300 in others. I think $500 is probably right where it ought to be. I might pay that myself. And I am a cheap $#@% when it comes to Jap rifles.
I own firearms not to fight against my government, but to ensure I will not have to.
I'm curious as to why it has never been removed from the crate. The gun made it home, but the owner never did? If somebody has an open Ancestery accountant they may have something under Wilson's name and serial #.
Guy who brought it home left it in his attic and hasn't looked at it since he boxed it up. He passed away, and the son found it in his dads attic a month ago and didn't know what it was. So when my dealer friend for it, he gave me a heads up on it, and I came to snag it.
Story was being part of an ordnance company, they were tasked in disposing thousands of them, and he found one that saw little to no use, and brought it home and forgot about it.
Can see the wood just past first brace where I wiped grease and dust off to show beautiful finish on the wood. when its fully cleaned ill post more detailed pic of it, and the writing in the crate. Maybe someone can translate it.
Last edited by Embalmer; 06-17-2012 at 08:52.
well here she is cleaned up. is about as new as it gets, with some dings on wood from being surrendered. every number matches, and is a early 31 series with a 3500 SN. blue is excellent other than where mum was ground. screws show no signs of ever being taken off, or a screw driver taken to them. Guy who cleaned it up, and modified crate to be able to be taken out, or put back for display few offers for a grand + to buy it.
A beautiful rifle and a wonderful WW-2 collectible piece. Congrats!
Wouldnt it have been great to have a digital recording of the veteran telling his story about the rifle and how he came to it. Something to really complete the rifle.
Ineptocracy (in-ep-toc'-Ra-cy) - a system of government where the least capable to lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a diminishing number of producers.
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