Finely Got it Arisaka Type 99 carbine

After a long wait, my friend finally sold me his Arisaka Type 99 carbine. It needs a good cleaning, and I have to fix something that's going on in the bolt release, looks like he may have tried to mess with it, and not the spring is "not springy," and it looks like he didn't use the right screwdriver to remove it so I will have to deal with that as well. But the rifle is complete less the dust cover, cleaning rod, and bi-pod.
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Nice looking rifle, it’s a series 23, Kokura arsenal. This rifles clean up well with brass wool and a decent oil to remove any rust. Clean the stock with hot soapy water…anything else will decrease the value and collectability. [emoji1303]

Nice little piece Bill, good catch.

And it comes with an intact Mum! Congrats!

Nice one! Sometimes, patience will pay off handsomely.

I was just corrected that this is not a Carbine, it's a Short Rifle SO I guess I will need to keep that in mind. Its sort of like using the proper pro-noun I guess;

carbine
noun
car·?bine ?kär-?b?n -?b?n
Synonyms of carbine
1
: a short-barreled lightweight firearm originally used by cavalry
2
: a light short-barreled repeating rifle that is used as a supplementary military arm or for hunting in dense brush

I've been looking around for a replacement cleaning rod. 72 USMC had told me how to identify a reproduction from a real one a while back. But what I've been trying to determine is the length of the cleaning rod I should be looking for. .... Something interesting, from the prices I have been seeing, is that an original cleaning rod will cost almost as much as I paid for the rifle!

Congratulations on your pick up. Don't sweat the bolt release. It probably has dried grease caked inside and would be sticky.
Your rear sight was not made by the Kokura Arsenal (the AA wings for sure). They are either Nagoya or Toyo-Kogyo production. Would have to see the proofs on the top rear of sight to tell.

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Originally Posted by jangle

Don't sweat the bolt release. It probably has dried grease caked inside and would be sticky.
Your rear sight was not made by the Kokura Arsenal (the AA wings for sure). They are either Nagoya or Toyo-Kogyo production. Would have to see the proofs on the top rear of sight to tell.

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Jangle, it's pretty obvious the bolt release was messed up, it just kind of flops around, But for other reasons as well, back a few months ago I went with my friend to look at this rifle and it was not like this and you can see from the Ejector Screw he tried to remove it and messed it up. But its an easy fix and I'll get to it when I take the rifle down for a thorough cleaning.\

Took a picture of the markings on the top read of the sight. But, it makes me curious; I know where this rifle came from and its history. So I'm pretty sure that nothing has been changed on it since it came to the US in the 40's. Is there a reason why a Nagoya or Toyo-Kogyo production sight would be on this rifle?

One thing about collecting Japanese firearms is, one should never say never, but I have never seen a rear sight on a Kokura manufactured rifle, that wasn't made by Kokura, and visa versa with the other manufacturers as well.
I took a few very quick photos of Kokura, Nagoya and Toyo-Kogyo rear sights, front and back. The most obvious difference is in the font of the numbers. Kokura font has rounded 3's on the AA wings and slightly larger numbers on the ladder. Nagoya and TK font has flat top 3's on the AA wings, with slightly smaller numbers even between these two, on the ladder.
The photos show a Kokura rear sight listed by itself, and the double rear sight photos show TK on the left and Nagoya on the right in both photos.

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Originally Posted by jangle

One thing about collecting Japanese firearms is, one should never say never, but I have never seen a rear sight on a Kokura manufactured rifle,

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Not sure why my picture did not attach to my last post but here it is again. From looking at your pictures I think mine is identified as a TK?


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What book would be the best to buy to better understand and learn about the Arisaka Type 99, I doubt this will be the last one I buy.

Your ladder is a Kokura made sight.
Probably what has happened back through its life, all the "bells & whistles" were removed (mono-pod, cleaning rod, AA wings etc) and someone then found a pair of loose wings to install on the rifle, not knowing the manufacturing differences.

As far as books go, "Military Rifles of Japan" by Fred Honeycutt, 5th edition, first published in the 1970's is still a top notch reference. You can buy it directly from Fred if you frequent the Rising Sun Board on GunBoards.
"The Japanese Type 99 Arisaka Rifle" by Don Voigt is out of print, but sometimes can find a copy on auction sites.
"The Type 38 Arisaka", revised edition, by Francis Allan & Harold Macy, again purchased from Author on GunBoards.

These will cover 99% of anything that you might have an interest in. There are other books that specialize in snipers, early Japanese firearms etc.

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Originally Posted by jangle

Your ladder is a Kokura made sight.
Probably what has happened back through its life, all the "bells & whistles" were removed (mono-pod, cleaning rod, AA wings etc) and someone then found a pair of loose wings to install on the rifle, not knowing the manufacturing differences.
As far as books go

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Thank you, James I appreciate you taking the time to help me. I discussed it with the original owner now in his 80's, and if the wings were changed, it happened before it was shipped to his family during WWII. The rifle was shipped to his father by his uncle who was a Marine serving in the Pacific during World War II. He remembers when the rifle came in the crate soaked in oil, with some other stuff, but it was with the Bayonet (now lost), it did not have the Bi-Pod. He and his brother used to play with the rifle as kids and since his family has had it had only been shot twice. When his father died, he took it, and it was sitting in a closet until my friend bought it. No changes were made to the rifle in the time his family had it. My friend bought it from him in Aug of 2021 and has since put 40 rounds through it and asked if I wanted to buy it (along with a S&W 357 from the same gentleman) which I did. (the Military papers for the rifle are lost in time, I did ask about them).

I contacted Fred Honeycutt on GunBoards :) thanks for the lead and the names of the other books...

I have a Kokura much like this. But for some reason the floorplate/trigger guard is a stainless steel affair. Someone tried to remove the sights[scope attempt I think]. The spring for the ladder sight and the arms are gone. And I assume maybe a front sight hood is gone.

The gun shoots well and is in great condition. The stock is not beat to heck and the blueing is very good. I used the default peep and it does a paper plate at 50 yards. Not bad for a loose ladder sight.

The cleaning rod is gone.

I can confirm that The Type 38 Arisaka, by Francis Allan & Harold Macy is excellent,and at least as of late last year, is still available from the authors. Spiral bound, but beautiful colour photos. That is of course for the type 38, and not the 99, but in for a rifle, in for a carbine! I have had my eyes peeled for a copy of the type 99 book (as well as the Siamese mauser book!) for a little bit.

Now you need a nice type 30 bayonet to go on your rifle! You can find them all over ebay and often at bigger gunshows for between $125-200 for one worth owning with such a nice rifle. Repro slings are widely available, and some are even remotely accurate to originals, but not many. Original slings are out there, but pricey. I managed to score a very solid leather one from a Tulsa show two years ago for right under $100. Good luck! Be sure to send a few rounds down range with it if you haven't already!

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Originally Posted by m4a3sherman

I can confirm that The Type 38 Arisaka, by Francis Allan & Harold Macy is excellent,and at least as of late last year, is still available from the authors. Spiral bound, but beautiful colour photos. That is of course for the type 38, and not the 99, but in for a rifle, in for a carbine! I have had my eyes peeled for a copy of the type 99 book (as well as the Siamese mauser book!) for a little bit.

Now you need a nice type 30 bayonet to go on your rifle! You can find them all over ebay and often at bigger gunshows for between $125-200 for one worth owning with such a nice rifle. Repro slings are widely available, and some are even remotely accurate to originals, but not many. Original slings are out there, but pricey. I managed to score a very solid leather one from a Tulsa show two years ago for right under $100. Good luck! Be sure to send a few rounds down range with it if you haven't already!

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Most of Frank’s books are now electronically available on Amazon…a lot cheaper than printed copies and easier to reference walking around gun shows. Just download the kindle app and presto! Instant references. I keep my paper copies in my mancave now.

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Originally Posted by J-ROD

Most of Frank’s books are now electronically available on Amazon…a lot cheaper than printed copies and easier to reference walking around gun shows. Just download the kindle app and presto! Instant references. I keep my paper copies in my mancave now.

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LEGEND! Holy hell you just made my night.

Thank you!

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Originally Posted by m4a3sherman

LEGEND! Holy hell you just made my night.

Thank you!

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You’re welcome, always willing to hook up a fellow collector. [emoji1303]