Every Once In Awhile, You Get Lucky

I picked up this series 34 Toyo Kogyo at my favorite auction yesterday, I really wanted it because the photos displayed a complete mum and the seral numbers on the bolt matched the receiver. I didn't pay attention to the sling that was on it When I got it home, I was very happy! The firing pin, extractor and safety knob all matched the bolt and receiver. The receiver screws were also still staked. I have two other Type 99's, one is a beautiful 1941 mix-master and the other an all-matching series 11 Nagoya, but this is my first Arisaka with a mum. I then looked at the sling and much to my surprise, it looks like it may be an original M1 carbine sling (I'll check with the M1 carbine thread). Some people say milsurp collecting is dead, but it just goes to show that if you keep hunting, treasures like these are still out there. It will take a few days to rehab this rifle (bolt is full of crud, barrel is pretty dark, a little bit of rust on the receiver, etc.), but she will make a great addition to the collection. And if that M1 sling is original, I have a Standard Products that is will be perfect for......

Nice score. How much did it set you back? I’m a firm believer if you look hard enough and with time, deals can be found.

I’m a hound dog when it comes to Japanese rifles and have scored a few good deals in the last two years…and a couple steals. The best one was an all matching, mum’d series 6 Nagoya with staked screws for $250.

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Originally Posted by J-ROD

Nice score. How much did it set you back? I’m a firm believer if you look hard enough and with time, deals can be found.

I’m a hound dog when it comes to Japanese rifles and have scored a few good deals in the last two years…and a couple steals. The best one was an all matching, mum’d series 6 Nagoya with staked screws for $250.

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I can't beat that! Paid 350 but the M1 carbine sling is genuine and those are running 75 to a 100. Along with the history of each piece, I love the hunt.

Yeah, an original M1 carbine sling is an excellent bonus!

Nice addition to your collection!

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Originally Posted by jangle

Nice addition to your collection!

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Thank you. The bore cleaned up nicely but I have a dilemma. The trigger is very stiff and mushy. I can see crud, similar to the crudbi found on the bolt/firing pin, oozing from it. The receiver screws are still stake so I can't take it apart to access that area and clean it out. Any suggestions on how to get the crud out? I've been working it qtips from the gap behind the trigger with minimal results.

Sounds like you're doing about all you can. Maybe one of the old pipe cleaners might let you reach a little higher etc. I wouldn't spray any kind of penetrating oil up in there to loosen the grim either. Sometimes you just have to go with what you got!

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Originally Posted by jangle

Sounds like you're doing about all you can. Maybe one of the old pipe cleaners might let you reach a little higher etc. I wouldn't spray any kind of penetrating oil up in there to loosen the grim either. Sometimes you just have to go with what you got!

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Good thinking reference the pipe cleaner. I was also thinking some compressed air to break it up so I can get at it

Wow! That's the holy grail--matching, mum, original finish, staked. The dried grease just adds to its originality.

There has to be a way to remove it. That's the new challenge!!

Soak it and then use high pressure air , my shop has 250 psi . Find a shop with high pressure .

Will it ooze out with some heat, like Cosmoline will? Sometimes we put them in a greenhouse box or just sit them outside in the summer here, and a lot of it will basically melt off while you're doing something else. Makes for a lot less mechanical and chemical removal later, even when you can get to all the moving bits.

Would a hair dryer be warm enough to soften it without worries of scorching something?

Those are both great ideas. It is still running in the high 90's/low 100's here and if placed in direct sunlight, I imagine that heat might work. Definitely worth a try. I'm also going to try the air pressure idea after some more work with the pipe cleaners and Qtips.

Just wanted to report success with the trigger. I pretty much used everyone's recommendations along with some advice from Don (the Japanese firearm guru) to inject a de-greasing agent. I went ahead and used Qtips to inject a good amount of standard Hoppes (breaks up grease and also contains banana oil). Using pipe cleaners and Qtips, I worked as many angles as possible from the gaps located at the front and back of the trigger. After each scrubbing session, I used a can of keyboard duster to blow out the excess solvent. After a session where the Qtips and the pipe cleaners came out clean, I used a few blasts from my air compressor to finish it off. The trigger functions smoothly and feels similar to my 1941 Toyo Kogyo. Thank you everyone for your help!