Type 99( I think) worth fixing

I picked this unit up a couple years ago for $75. Its rough but I figured if nothing else it would be worth 75 bones in parts. Bought it local and when I first saw the gun it had a nice big nasty social security number scribed into the receiver. I jokingly asked the guy( which was about my age) if that was his serial number and he laughed and said no. Story was that he bought it from a guy( here local as well) that got it from his brother that brought it back. So whoever hacked it up and scratched the SS # in it was either the original owner or his brother.
Im not up on Arisakas. I think It is a 99. Is the gun worth rounding up a stock for?Everything works smooth. Mum is gone and looks like it has been steel wooled once apon a time. If not Ill put it back in the safe and tell the story that goes with it.

It is a Type 99. To restore it you would require a stock set, middle barrel band, front barrel band and that would be it for the most basic restoration. However I believe it is cheaper just to buy the full rifle in the States than to restore one. It was made by Nagoya, and I couldn't see the series number, however if you just want to get it shooting, 7.7x58 brass is available now (or you can buy 30-06 brass and trim and resize), and it just uses a .311 bullet (like a Lee Enfield, or Argentine Mauser).

They are nice little rifles, and tend to be very accurate (plus the bores generally are in great shape thanks to chromelining). I did a restoration of a Type 99 once however I don't think I would do it again.

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Originally Posted by Eaglelord17

It is a Type 99. To restore it you would require a stock set, middle barrel band, front barrel band and that would be it for the most basic restoration. However I believe it is cheaper just to buy the full rifle in the States than to restore one. It was made by Nagoya, and I couldn't see the series number, however if you just want to get it shooting, 7.7x58 brass is available now (or you can buy 30-06 brass and trim and resize), and it just uses a .311 bullet (like a Lee Enfield, or Argentine Mauser).

They are nice little rifles, and tend to be very accurate (plus the bores generally are in great shape thanks to chromelining). I did a restoration of a Type 99 once however I don't think I would do it again.

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I think I agree with you. These Arisakas are like any other milsurp. Few years ago they were cheap, now they are creeping up in price. If it wasnt for the SS# scratched in I would proably restore it. Dont Hornady make some ammo for these? What about PPU?

I have only ever bought 40rds of commercial ammo for the one I had. It was Norma ammo and it cost me 40$ a box (in Canada). Otherwise I just reloaded as it really isn't affordable to shoot pretty much any type of milsurp with commercial ammo.

The brass I was using for reloading was PPU, and the Norma brass though I preferred the PPU brass. I am not 100% sure what the ammo options for you will be as you are in the States, though so it might be a bit better than my options.

If you are careful you could restore it and be OK. Shouldn't be hard to polish the scratched number off it either. Your most economical bet would be to watch for a complete stock that has the metal with it. They are out there. They have been pushing $300 with a scrubbed mum at the shows recently to give you an idea of budget. Stock with the metal might go for around $150. I restored one that needed a heck of a lot more, only had $25 in the rifle which helped. I needed a new barrel, bolt and stock with most of the metal. I came out right at that $300 mark.

How do you recommend getting the number out? It would obviously need new blueing or some other kind of coating when finished wouldn't it? I wouldnt really mind putting some dollars in it as long as it dont come out a loss of what it is worth(I never sell a milsurp so I dont guess it maters). Plus getting to look for parts for a new project is half the fun

Depends on how deep the number is scribed or scratched into the metal. It would need polishing with a buffer wheel or draw filing if it's deep. Then it will need bluing...after you get the wood and metal parts.

If it is just scratched, emory cloth will take it out. If it is on a round surface, tear the emory cloth into strips and set it up so you can hold one end in both hands and then pull up and down. This works great on barrels and round receivers. I usually just cold blue them afterwards, blends better with the old finish. One or two coats of blue, then fine steel wool until the color is about right.

For me anyway a rule of thumb with sportered pieces is unless it is either a particularly rare or uncommon series, if it would be a rare model like a sniper, and is worth the time and additional expense I would need to restore it correctly then I would pass on it. Others just like the challenge of bringing one like this back to its former glory. As stated you will need a correct stock set, a matching bayonet lug, and front barrel band with all the screws for both the bayonet lug and the barrel band. You can still scavenge the butt plate with its screws and the rear sling swivel off of the sportered stock. Great that you picked it up for only $75 but be careful of how much gets spent on the restoration. I have an enfield I have more in than it's worth but it was a rifle given to me by my uncle and it has sentimental value to me.

Yeah, that desire to bring them back to their former glory is going to bite me big time with a KAR98a. My brain keeps saying NO, NO, NO. My heart keeps saying, It's only money, can't take it with you, the kids will just waste it on some trip.