Can Someone Please Tell Me What I Have Here?

Hello, I recently purchased this rifle from a local yard sale. After examining it closer to try and figure out what type of rounds i needed i discovered the soldier who brought it home had etched their name and SS# into it. I've been trying to get it back to the soldier but I'm having a hell of a time locating him or his family and I've just about given up. The man I bought it from said it was in the attic when he moved in but didn't belong to the previous home owner.

So anyway, can anyone tell me exactly what I have here? I'm a big military buff and I would love to learn some more about the rifle.

Thanks in advance, very happy to have found this forum!

A sporterized Model 99 Arisaka.

Please excuse my ignorance, what does "sporterized" mean exactly?

After WWII, the idea of carrying a long awkward military rifle didn't have much appeal. The idea of a sporting rifle, as in be a good sport, seemed more marketable. A sport is a British term for a paid guide who might have to shoot a wounded animal for a customer whose shot wasn't true. I know of a fellow who was a sport in New Brunswick and he shot many many deer with a light handy lever or pump. Therefore, to sport-erize a rifle was to make it lighter, faster and handier. Cut down the wood, shorten the barrel, lop off the battle sights and varnish up the stock. Maybe add a scope, but not every working man had that kind of scratch after the war. Lyman sold many aftermarket sights. The NRA published little books on how to do it smartly. Ugly to our eyes today, but a good idea at the time.

Sporterizing is a sin. The 11th commandment scratched on the back of Moses' tablets because he ran out of space on the front.

You will find Arisaka rifles sporterized like yours at almost every gun show. The collector value is completely gone, however with the receiver sight it could be a good shooter or salvaged for parts. The early rifles had chrome bores. Run a patch down the barrrel and take a look at the rifling. I have bought many over the years. Most of them I paid 50 to 75 dollars for. The bolt can be straightened to original or left as is. Richards microfit has very nice stocks for about 70 dollars. It is too bad it was sporterized but it is what is and you can't hurt it anymore by using it. If you plan to shoot it have the headspaced checked and functioning looked at.
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