Low Buck De-Sporterized Type 99 Rifles

[Salt Flat]

Here are some of my low buck Arisakas that I de-sporterized. I paid from 60 to 100 each for them and had to buy a few bayonet bands. I made the forearms and handguards for all. The top one is a Nagoya series 6 serial 56XX. It has a good MUM but isn’t matching. The middle one is a Nagoya series 6 serial 56XXX. The bolt matches the receiver but the Mum is ground. It has the cylindrical type bolt handle. The bottom one is a Nagoya Series 5 serial 13XXX with a ground Mum and is non matching. What I like is they all have perfect mirror chrome bores. I know that collecting these is not everyone’s cup of tea but I can’t pass them up. I have some others that are matching with mums etc but I do like trying to save these old sporterized rifles. If you pick one up be sure to check the chambering as many were converted to 30-06 and not marked as such. I have encountered this a couple of times. A clue to this is that the feed rails will usually be opened up to accommodate the larger cartridge. Salt Flat

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[WarPig1976]

Outstanding job on the wood, did you stain to match or chose a close species?

[Salt Flat]

Warpig, Thanks, I tried to find wood that matched but really ended up with pieces that didn't match that great for color. I experimented each time with different stains and added more stain if it needed to be darker. I think for most of these stock a light colored walnut works pretty good. Salt Flat

[Midmichigun]

Salt,
If you look at one of my posts that I made a while back, I got a type 99 missing the duffel cut. I believe I made the pc out of padauk wood. I also bought some walnut for the task, but settled with wood that was more of a red color. Machining went well with the African wood.

I salute you, since I enjoy fixing up these old rifles. As you note, it isn't everyone's cut of tea... but once in awhile you do find a gem of a rifle that Bubba worked on. I draw the line on restoration if something major was done to the metal.

When at gunshows I actively seek out Arisaka's to bring home. If the price is right (sporterized or military) I will take 'em!

[Salt Flat]

Midmich, Yes I can see how padauk would work fine especially for the redder type stocks (like some of the Toyo Kogyo's) , Also It's funny how the price of the individual parts for these T99's has escalated yet the price for a mostly complete sporterized rifle has not. A bolt will sell for 75 plus yet you can still find rifles for a song. I have bought several just for the parts when I could get them cheap enough. Believe it or not I picked up a matching with Mum sporterized rifle at a show for $25. The stock was a very wierd, skinny hand made sporter stock and the bolt handle was bent down. I straightened the bolt out and found an original stock for it. For some reason the late war rifles don't show up much around here. Salt Flat

[burb1989]

Those are some good looking rifles! Salt Flat I have the reverse problem to you. Almost all of the arisakas that show up here are mid-late war examples but very few early ones that are in good shape. I'm glad someone's restoring the old sporters but my preference is buying a full military stocked one. Luckily the only mismatched rifle I had I ended up finding the bolt from a friend so I have now three all matching pieces and only one mum.

[WarPig1976]

Luckily the only mismatched rifle I had I ended up finding the bolt from a friend.

Whoa!! What's the story with that?

[Aragorn243]

Whoa!! What's the story with that?

Not as hard as you think. You only have to match three numbers and the manufacturer. One out of every 999 bolts will match your rifle in any manufacturer and if you ignore that mark, it's one out of every 999 period.

[WarPig1976]

never realized that, thanks for broadening my horizons,,

[Midmichigun]

The reason why we settled on $90.00 for mine, was the point that I could go on the 'net and sell it for parts.... So at a level they could also. And yes, a mild sporter can be anywhere on price, but individual partscan be quite $$.
The reason why I grab just about any gun, is that I don't mind taking Years to restore.
Regardless the padauk machines well, but is a little exotic. It is a tossup on that or walnut for me on restoration projects.