Cleaning out a WWII Vet's basement.

[gunsmith II]

An 86 year old Marine passed away last Summer. He enlisted out of High School and served with the 3rd Marine Division "Amphibious".

( Not in good shape as everything is rusty ). Any help from those who are well read as to what this is?

Information

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[gunner]

For me it looks like a Arisaka 99-shiki 7.7x58mm SR.

But i am not the expert to this rifles

Regards

Gunner

[Badger]

Here you go ....

Well, it was definitely made by Nagoya Arsenal 1923-1945, which is the round circle mark, but I can't quite make out the "series" mark in your pic.

Perhaps if you compare it while holding the rifle against the web page of markings, it will be easier to see.

Markings on Japanese Arisaka Rifles and Bayonets of World War II (click here)

Hope this helps ...

Regards,
Badger

[gunsmith II]

Your list points me in a direction...

I've attached a jpeg that points to the mark... is this the symbol I should compare to the pdf you sent ?

[Badger]

Your list points me in a direction...

I've attached a jpeg that points to the mark... is this the symbol I should compare to the pdf you sent ?

Yes, that's the mark ...

I didn't send you a pdf file though, I posted a link to a site that has all the data you should need.

Click on the link and check the section on "series" ...

Regards,
Badger

[Bob Loughlin]

I believe it to be a very late Last Ditch welded T 99. Your photo shows the MUM, but no stamping of the type, ( T 99 ). The one I have in my collection is as yours. Mine does not have a chrome lined barrel but lots of rifleing. Does yours have a chrome lined barrel ? Thanks for your Post, Bob.

[gunsmith II]

I believe it to be a very late Last Ditch welded T 99. Your photo shows the MUM, but no stamping of the type, ( T 99 ). The one I have in my collection is as yours. Mine does not have a chrome lined barrel but lots of rifleing. Does yours have a chrome lined barrel ? Thanks for your Post, Bob.

Bob this rifle is mostly rust. No chrome barrel, welded bolt.
Badger provided a helpful index and it appears as you stated a very late "last ditch" Type 99.

12 hours ago I was moving boxes in a basement and discovered this rifle in a burlap sack. The Marine who knew the story past last summer and his widow knows little other than his service to our country.

I've started applying oil to the bolt, but have yet to figure out how to remove it. Holding the trigger and pulling back is not working

[jmoore]

Umm, the latch is just to rear of the serial number. Pull the upper forward extention away from the action, whilst removing the bolt rearward...

[Arisaka99]

Nagoya Arsenal 8th series Type 99. 7.7mm Japanese caliber made in late 1944. Nagoya produced series 0-12: 100,000 rifles per series with some serial blocks at random in 4th and 9th series allocated to sub contractors Howa and Izawa. 12th series only a few thousand rifles along when the war ended. Rifles in this configuration are substantially past chrome bore practice due to shortage of materials and simplification of manufacture.

If you decide to take it apart, be sure to use well fitted screw drivers. The metal in the screws is not well hardened, they are staked in place, and will tend to burr. Best to just oil and leave alone. This series has a high survival rate and is fairly common. Bolt is correct type but mismatched. Value is about $200-ish.

[gunsmith II]

Umm, the latch is just to rear of the serial number. Pull the upper forward extention away from the action, whilst removing the bolt rearward...



It was a little stiff but the oil and some kind direction helped....
more the direction than the oil I should say

This is the first Japanese rifle I've ever held.

On the other hand WWII Allied force weapons

The rifling is extreme in this barrel