should this be my first arisaka?

[Bill Hollinger]

Most defacing of the mum I've seen are so deep that re-stamping wouldn't amount to anything and look rather funky. Gosh, what's next? Re-stamping Argentine Mauser crests or 91/30 markings?

[Aragorn243]

Yes but I've seen sporterized Arisakas that the receiver ring was refinished to look like new minus the mum. So conceivably, it could be done.

I've always wondered where the stamps got to after the war. Scrapped probably but what is someone thought it was neat or useful for other things and kept a set here or there. Letter or number stamps could be used for anything.

[NRA]

I would bet yop will see stamps for sale soon on ebay

[Patrick Chadwick]

Re-stamping Argentine Mauser crests ...?

I think that faking rolled stamps, i.e. stamps that follow a curved surface, requires a much higher level of skill.

A faker is likely to go for something simpler, like...

...91/30 markings?

I think they are already on the market. (The faked results, not the stamps)

[Bill Hollinger]

That figures

[Seventh Fleet]

I have a last ditch Arisaka just like the one you posted the pictures of, in equivalent condition. I paid $40.00 out the door for mine about ten years ago at a local gun shop.

7th

[Claven2]

1) Someone has tried to FAKE that rifle. The stamp in the wood is fake. The mum has a botched attempt to re-apply a ground mum. The bolt, front band, and bolt stop, as a minimum, should be serialized. Someone removed those stamps to correct non-matching numbers.

2) Japanese rifle prices are on the rise, driving some of this nonsense. A nice matching last ditch in nice condition is now about a $300 rifle with mum. Without, it's worth more like $200.

3) The exception is the late 7th series nagoya and any "rope hole" last ditch. The former in the right condition is easily $400 and the latter is now puching $1000. Yours is neither.

4) an early 99, matching with mum and all early features is in excess of $800 these days going by complete gunbroker auctions. I'm afraid the days of dirt-cheap arisakas have come and gone

[Aragorn243]

Not in my area they aren't. It's extremely rare to see any Arisaka in any condition going for more than $300. All matching with dust cover sold for about $400 at auction. Most without mums are getting no more than $125.00. I purchased mine for $90.

[Claven2]

If that is the case, then Pennsylvania is a bit of an exception and you have a nice opportunity. Have a search through completed GB auctions and note what the guns which actually sold went for and in what condition and buy a few nice cheapies to flip for fun and profit. Not all locals know the online sales potential of the guns they sell

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Not in my area they aren't. It's extremely rare to see any Arisaka in any condition going for more than $300. All matching with dust cover sold for about $400 at auction. Most without mums are getting no more than $125.00. I purchased mine for $90.

Best slow down adveritizing or you might find you start seeing some garage sale tourism in your lovely part of the country. Never been there but it sure looks like a nice place to live.