Rare WWII semi-auto Type 5 rifle, aka "The Japanese Garand" (Video)

A rare WWII semi-auto Type 5 rifle, aka "The Japanese Garand". A Treasure Gun from the NRA National Firearms Museum. See more at The National Firearms Museum: Home. Narrated by Allan Cors and Doug Wicklund.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUBvrCACNDQ

I'd like to see it operate. I'll bet it shoots pretty good.

That one is completely new to me and I'd never heard of it. Thanks for posting it Doug.

I have a pic of one I pulled off line that was for sale. I'd be curious how much they would go for. The only other one I saw was minus the stock group and trigger group. It was expensive as was.

How expensive? If it's the same one, they wouldn't quote a price.

I just remember it was thousands for just the receiver and barrel group. I couldn't imagine where you would ever get parts. It would have been very frustrating to purchase because so close...

Back in the early- to mid-eighties there was one for sale at our little gunshow. Stayed on the table for a couple of years. He wanted about $800 for it , twice what a regular mint Garand went for. Loaded with two 5-round strippers of 7.7 ammo. Thought about it every show , but ammo was rare then and expensive when found . You could get two M1s for the price , and the peep was little more than a needle hole . It would have to have been drilled out to use , and the hump it was in was none too big . The last one I'd heard that sold brought $ 32,000 , IIRC . Would have been a good return on an $800 investment over a 20 year period , no?
Chris

That return would have out did the return on two M1's, but who has a crystal ball?.....Frank

Who'd have guessed? It was an almost unheard of rifle that to those in the loop thought of it as a rumour. To actually get one...

I have only heard of one T5 being shot and it came apart. No one will shoot one now. Fellow i know just paid $30K for one. I've been wanting one a long time, guess I just have to want on.

For $30K, I think I could be tempted to whittle out a new one!