My two Type 99s...

I bought these two rifles at a large militaria/firearms auction in September 2010.

Both belonged to my Uncle (the man who got me involved in shooting and firearms) who succumbed to Liver Cancer in February last year. These were the last two rifles he fired, so I thought I had better buy them - for sentimental reasons and I had a heap of his handloads and dies that I tried unsuccessfully to sell on a local internet auction. I paid far too much for them, but it didn't bother me - I wanted them for the family. Type 99s are pretty rare in New Zealand. The Kiwi troops who served in the Pacific must have been in areas where Type 38 rifles were more prevalent - they are fairly common here as bring backs.

1.) Series 1 Nagoya. All matching including dustcover, all original early features intact, Mum intact. This was NZD$1220 (USD$940), but the price was pushed up by a previous owner who wanted it back - I guess I wanted it more...

This rifle was brought back from the Solomons by an RNZAF ground crewman. Upon his death in the early 1990s, his family sold the rifle in a local gunshop where a noted WW2 rifle collector snapped it up. This collector had a few 'addictive issues' and ended up having a holiday courtesy of Her Majesty, and having to sell all of his collection. My Uncle bought this for a song....

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...e99s1BIG-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...pe99s1sn-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...e99s1rec-1.jpg

Oh, and it has some battle damage....

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...s1damage-1.jpg

2.) Series 34 Toyo Kogyo. All matching, Mum ground, all correct 'late-transitional, not quite last ditch' features. Don't know the rifles history prior to my Uncle getting it.... This one was NZD$700 (USD$540). I have since bought an original cleaning rod for this rifle.... This rifle certainly shoots the better of the two and has a wonderful trigger.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...99s34BIG-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...e99s34sn-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...99s34rec-1.jpg

I'll take some better pictures outside in natural light when I get over having a broken foot, and get to the range again.

Certainly be interested in anything you guys can tell me further about my rifles. I need to track down some original slings too....

Fern,
I also am interested in your sling question. I have bought some Repos to fill out my rifle. I have a small bundle of 99's and 38's.
Obviously I am NOT looking to HUMP anything here. IMA had a sling listed as a "WWII Jap" but further investigation (after purchase) I found that it was a Jap contract rifle/ sling for a European nation?!?!?! So buyer beware! Anyway, a nice repo sling really is better than nothing... and I believe it makes a rifle more complete! I would feel bad to take an original sling out for a shooting session!
I have a Type 99 with "battle damage" from Okinawa...
Thanks for posting!

These two rifles came with repro slings attached, but I removed them and sold them as I'm not into anything repro. The sling that was on the Series 34 was one of the 'Czech' style slings with spurious Japanese markings - that was the first to be removed.

I own two original early Type 38 slings (and no Type 38 rifles..), and I am going to see if I can do a trade with someone in the US for a Type 99 sling plus some cash.

Original Type 99 slings appear semi-regularly on eBay, and often go for big bucks. There are also a lot of fakes or Swedish Mauser slings being sold as 'guaranteed original' Type 99 slings..

Some classic examples:

This one is a Swedish Mauser sling modified to 'be' a Type 99 sling by removing the buckle so it isn't sewn in.... USD$352 - someone got REAMED!

WWII JAPANESE ARISAKA RIFLE LEATHER SLING-ORIGINAL - eBay (item 350424411925 end time Dec-30-10 18:48:47 PST)

And most disgustingly - this one is a completely original unmodified Swedish Mauser sling sold as 'guaranteed original' Type 99. USD$275. The seller also listed a Swedish Mauser sling advertised as Swedish that looked exactly like this one, but it had the Swedish 'three crown' mark... I'm surprised he didn't put two and two together...

JAPANESE WW2 ORIGINAL ARISAKA TYPE 99 RIFLE SLING NICE! - eBay (item 170583334280 end time Jan-01-11 21:11:12 PST)

Proper knowledge of what you are bidding on is key to not wasting your money.... I feel sorry for the people who 'won' these slings - USD$50 of books could have saved them a lot of money.