Why there aren't Japanese rifles among "favorite WWII rifles"?

[arado]

No romance to them just as the Italian and French. Armies defeated without military mystic. Who wants to use a "losers" rifle. gary

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[whkento]

It may have something to do with the fact that there aren't as many of them out there in shooters' hands. How can you like something you don't know? Also, many of them that I've seen have either been in terrible shape or sporterized.

In addition, as you mentioned, ammo isn't very easy to come by.

Just a couple of thoughts.

[blackcat_attilio]

No romance to them just as the Italian and French. Armies defeated without military mystic. Who wants to use a "losers" rifle. gary

Hi gary,
at first many thanks for your answer. Me want shoot a "losers" rifle, my buddy more than me. He is collecting 1 rifle per Army: he has 1 Mosin , 1 Enfield , 1 Mauser , since last October he is waiting for 1 Garand and now he is interested in a Carcano Mod.91 and in an Arisaka - about the first one there are some troubles with ammo, but asking in the Forums he received enough infos, about the Japanese fireguns... we are looking to know more.
I belive is always interesting collect a gun which have a history in its background and have the opportunity to shoot it. If it coulda be called romance... well! it is so!
Again many thanks for your post

attilio

---------- Post added at 01:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:25 PM ----------

It may have something to do with the fact that there aren't as many of them out there in shooters' hands. How can you like something you don't know? Also, many of them that I've seen have either been in terrible shape or sporterized.

In addition, as you mentioned, ammo isn't very easy to come by.

Just a couple of thoughts.

Good points of view! Both coulda be the right answer, especially the first one.
Many thanks to you too for the answer

attilio

[jeep]

I think after the war they were the most common surplus rifle. We had no love for the japanese and we even threw the American japanese in prison. Now after 6.5 decades many rifles were used up and bubba-a-rized. The ww2 vets are dying off and son,s ,grandson,s are starting to collect them with renewed interest. But the hate and shunned japanese stuff is just starting to go up in value and interest. Its a story we must not forget. A 1940 Life magazine story said,"The typical Jap betrays his aboriginal antecedents in a squat,long-torosed build, a broader more massivey boned head and face,flat,often pugged nose,yellow-ocher skin ,and a heavier Beard." They thought these little brown -yellow men were no match for us and were not like the Germans who made good weapons and could fight. The common thought back then was the Japanese could not see at night and made junky copies of our weapons. The suprise came in Dec. -7 when they brought there fleet in and sank most of the battle wagons and yes there torpedoes worked and ours were not reliable!

[whkento]

I think after the war they were the most common surplus rifle. We had no love for the japanese and we even threw the American japanese in prison. Now after 6.5 decades many rifles were used up and bubba-a-rized. The ww2 vets are dying off and son,s ,grandson,s are starting to collect them with renewed interest. !

Interesting. I was unaware that they were so common. I WAS told that they were quite often sporterized due to their reputation as a very solidly built rifle. I have a Type 38 which was sporterized very nicely (if I may use that phrase here), in addition to unaltered Type 38s and a Type 99. My interest in the Japanese weapons is an offshoot from my father's collection of WW2 rifles, coupled with the fact that I live in Japan.

[mdrim13]

No romance to them just as the Italian and French. Armies defeated without military mystic. Who wants to use a "losers" rifle. gary

I do beieve the Germans lost...Twice.

Their rifles are often considered to be the best. In my opinion this idea is completely irrelavent. Also I seem to remember a pretty damn good shot being made with and old Italian rifle in Dallas TX in November 0f '63, if that is the theroy you do believe...

[blackcat_attilio]

I do beieve the Germans lost...Twice.

Their rifles are often considered to be the best. In my opinion this idea is completely irrelavent. Also I seem to remember a pretty damn good shot being made with and old Italian rifle in Dallas TX in November 0f '63, if that is the theroy you do believe...

As I wrote in one of my posts here, I agree with your words.

BTW, it's odd how the Italians are "always" remembered 'cause any shooting....