type 99 with one piece stock

[69 Stang]

I have a type 99 series 5 with a one piece stock...butt stock on most are two pieces. Does anyone else have a 99 with a one piece stock?

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[fernleaf]

I have seen a couple of Type 38s with one piece stocks - their owner told me that they were spare replacement stocks made during the early part of WW2.

[seabot2]

It would help to see a photo of the one piece stock. These days anybody can have one made on a stock duplicating machine. I have made a few duplicate stocks too.

[seabot2]

Just to prove my point. Type 38 above and Type 99 long below. I made these back in 1985, not to fool anybody, but the original stocks were sporterized.

[A. F Medic]

I have type 38. "0" Series #1978156 . Bolt matches gun. Lots of dings and scratches from use. Maker is Kokura.
I would swear that the one piece stock is walnut!

[seabot2]

Medic: Do you mean American black walnut? The Japanese used their indigenous kurumi walnut for some gunstocks although it doesn't look like walnut as we know it. I have also had some T99 stocks that definitely was oak wood ( I must confess to have refinished it).

[A. F Medic]

seabot2

Could be Japanese walnut but I do not have the knowledge to tell the difference. I guess American walnut does not make sense.

My question is,"Why one piece stock?" Early in the war and plenty of wood on hand? Thanks

[Midmichigun]

The supposition of WHY the stocks are two pc, is that it is easier to replace the toe of a stock.... as I have been told these are relatively high replacement items and having such a fit makes repair easier. Vs. the traditional story of "to save wood".

Just a thought... when pondering WHY a 1pc stock......

[seabot2]

There must be an answer to the two piece stock first to answer the one piece anomaly. The decision for using the two piece stocks for front line guns must have been more than an issue of economy. From a woodworkers point of view, the bottom half of the buttstock has the wood grain angled for maximun strenght. It would also help to see the machinery on which the stocks were made.

By the way, have you guys seen the video on the Enfield discussions here, "Wood Goes To War" ? The making of precision gunstocks in mass quanitities is something to behold. I guess this would be true of all the military guns made by the various countries.

[fernleaf]

My question is,"Why one piece stock?" Early in the war and plenty of wood on hand? Thanks

Less wastage. You can make stocks from smaller blanks. Finns use the same method on some Mosin Nagants...