Is this worth buying for $250?

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Originally Posted by rondog

So, is that a yes? I know NOTHING about Japanese rifle values.

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Originally Posted by rondog

I'm going to go check it out, but basically, would a WWII Jap rifle in good shape be worth $250?... Don't know that Arisakas were ever imported.

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Originally Posted by rondog

At this point, I don't know WHAT it is. Here's what he said,

Sounds like a carbine of some kind. Did the Japanese have carbines? Or some kind of short rifles?

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Generally, it isn't wise to spend hundreds of dollars on rifles or anything else that you don't really understand.

It's always best to spend money on books before spending money on milsurp rifles, any type of milsurp rifles, even $99 Mosin Nagants.

What's the rush? Do your homework first, shopping second, unless you have money to waste. Even then, waste it on books first, rifles second.

Start with this book Amazon.com: Military Rifles of Japan (9780962320873): Fred L., Jr. Honeycutt, F. Patt Anthony: Books The price might seem high, but if it keeps you from throwing hundreds of dollars away on a piece of junk it will be well worth it.

One of the best books I own about any type of milsurp rifle is the "Type 38 Arisaka" by By Francis C. Allan and Harold W. "Ogesan" Macy BANZAI&copy Special Project #8 - The Type 38 Arisaka

Not as comprehensive as the Type 38 book but still useful is the Type 99 book by Doss White & Don Voigt WTS: T 99 Arisaka Books - sold out! Despite the thread title there might be a few copies left for sale.

You can go on Gunbroker.com and see what Japanese rifles sell for, but unless you know something about the rifles and what makes one more valuable than another the price information won't make much sense. A $250 Arisaka might be laughably overpriced or the deal of the century, but you'll never know if you don't do your homework first! ;)

When looking to buy a type 99 look to see that all serial numbers match. Next look to make sure the rifle has all the correct things on it for the series it is in. Third look for the Mum. Many were defaced or filed off. Some people won't have one without a Mum but a scrubbed or defaced Mum is part of the rifles history and shows that it was there and saw action so dont turn a matching rifle down just because it don't have a Mum. Forth thing is price. Guns with early features , matching, in series 0 to series 4 should all have the long range sights with wings and monopod and cleaning rod. You can find them from $250. to $400. Anything higher is over priced unless it has a nice sling and that is a $100.00 item. Series 5 through series 7 show less of the early items on the gun. Series 8 through 12 are very roughly finished with none of the early features. you can find these matching for $200 to $250. A series 12 you won't find and if you do it will be close to 2 grand. Late rifles with the rope hole stocks can be upwards of $600.00 Get some books and read up on every series. I have collected one of each of the series of the Nagoya type 99's except a series 12.