Help identify this Jap please

[flatheadsal]

aquired this last nite, not a Jap rifle guy but thought that stock marking was way cool any help would be appreciated, thanks guys

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[Patrick Chadwick]

I don't think it's a Japanese rifle!
It is definitely a Mauser Gew88 rifle - this can be seen by the style of the bolt catch and the bolt assembly (striker nut).
The bolt number does not match the number on the receiver.
Looks like it was acquired by the Chinese and remarked. Loewe and Steyr both sold Gew88s to the Chinese.
Reading the markings on the receiver/barrel ring from the barrel end back, we have:

double stroke = 2
"stick man" = 6
star = Nanking Arsenal
+ = 10
- = 1

(or, unfortunately, it could be the other way around!)

Please post a pic of the entire rifle, and any other markings you can find!


Patrick

[flatheadsal]

thanks will get some more pics taken

[flatheadsal]

here you go Patrick, what caliber would this be? standard 8MM? any real value??

[flatheadsal]

just looked on google, it's a GEW 88 copy called Hanyang 88 made by the Chinese, you learn something new everyday, Sal

[Patrick Chadwick]

Yup, that seems to be the beastie! Caliber should indeed be the 8x57IS. But check it anyway!

I once scrapped a Chinese G98 rifle - the quality was awful! I would not assume that earlier Chinese rifles were better. So if you are thinking of shooting it, go very, very carefully. You can find enough tips on these forums about checking out old service rifles, but if you have no experience with old, dubious rifles, I suggest you meet up with someone who has that experience, and go through it together.

Patrick

[Patrick Chadwick]

Apparently the Chinese were still producing these rifles when the Japanese invaded and the arsenal had to be dismantled and moved back from the danger zone. Bearing in mind what I found when I scrapped the 98 "Chiang-Kai-Tschek" rifle, I would regard this as a probable wall-hanger.

But since these rifles were used as far back as the Boxer uprising, it could be very interesting to find someone who can read Chinese and decipher the butt markings. Who knows what it might say? "Death to all imperialists!" maybe, or "Make will before pulling trigger"?

Patrick