Any Arisaka Type 99 appraisers in the U.S.?

[freeride45]

Hello everyone,

I am new to milsurp and this is my first post. My grandfather, a WWII veteran, passed away in August 2012 and I was left with several amazing historical items that I've been cherishing since I was a child. An Arisaka Type 99 rifle with bayonet was one of them. I've done some research and it is part of the Series 6 rifles from the Nagoya Arsenal produced between 1939-45. It has an anti-aircraft scope and it looks like the stock was made of two different woods. It would appear that it has seen some action as marks on the wood indicate the rifle has been in the field. As well as an intact Chrysanthemum (well, there is a partial "X" mark on the lower half) which indicates it wasn't sold to a school or confiscated by the Allied Forces. I've read that when the Allies got a hold of these rifles they would scratch off the Chrysanthemum completed. I've included pictures below. I'm curious if there is someone that can appraise the rifle for me, I was thinking about insuring it. I think I'm going to get it mounted in a glass case. It is not something I want to lose and I have no intention of ever selling it. Should I not have a family of my own it will find its way to the National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, TX. Thanks in advance for any help!

Information

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[WarPig1976]

What you have is a "Last Ditch" type 99. Antiaircraft sights were no longer in use when the Japanese where building these toward the end of the war. The sight you have is not complete as its missing its "wings".
Really the rifle isn't worth that much to insure a "regular "99 may fetch $350ish a last ditch 150ish.
The mums where defaced to signify that the emperor no longer "owned" the rifle as a matter of fact every piece of military equipment wore a mum even battleships.
This rifle in all likely hood was not a battle field pickup but bought sometime after the war when captured Japanese rifles where released to the surplus market.
Some people shy away from shooting last ditchers out of quality concerns have yours checked by a gunsmith if you plan on shooting it.
These rifles are a Very interesting chapter in WW2 Japanese weapons, Enjoy.....

[fernleaf]

Series 6 Type 99s are not last ditch rifles - they would be classified as 'early transitional'. Some early Series 6 were identical to Series 0-4 production - AA wings, monopods etc.

Series 6 Type 99s date to 1942 or 1943. I'd agree with Warpig1976s estimation of price - about USD$350 tops.

[Bill Hollinger]

I agree with fernleaf, this is no last ditch albeit it has a last ditch bolt and is most likely a transition rifle.

I would, however, place this rifle at $275.00 to $300.00 max.

Warpig, the last ditch rifles are coming up in value. An unmolested all matching can go way up there.

[WarPig1976]

The bolt and cocking knob throw me, well the stock too it's pretty rough. I stand corrected, wasn't aware they used the AA sight on the "expedient " versions learned something new.
Shame, I passed on one at the last auction I think she went for like $90.00 I wouldn't on the next one.!

[fernleaf]

The bolt and cocking knob throw me....

Cylindrical bolt knobs are known in Series 6, with Honeycutt listing # 54242 as the lowest serial numbered rifle in the Series encountered with a cylindrical bot knob.

freeride45 - is the bolt matching?

I can't tell if the cocking piece is knurled or grooved (a Series 6 should only have those two options) - anything else and the cocking piece at least is from another rifle...

[Aragorn243]

Substitute Standard is a bit more correct than last ditch. Prices are indeed rising with a struck mum such as this probably being worth more than a ground mum. Condition is a bit on the rough side. Auction prices for similar rifles run anywhere from $90 to $300 in my area. Just depends who's there bidding I guess. An all matching substitute standard with full mum and in better condition recently brought $350 which surprised me. A few months ago it was probably a $200 rifle at this auction house.

[WarPig1976]

What is the difference between emergency use T99 and a Last ditch? Or are they one in the same?
The sticky thread "The Japanese collector" has an example but just photos no descriptor.

[seabot2]

There are some Last Ditch rifles I have seen that looked like cast iron receivers. Definitely not something you would want to shoot.

[Aragorn243]

I think there is some confusion between substitute standard and school training rifles. Substitute standard rifles IF they have the MUM are up to full military standards in function but not appearance. They are safe to shoot unless something else is causing a problem.

A cast receiver rifle is probably a school rifle which was never intended to be fired. They were brought home and fired and promptly blew up causing the "last ditch" safety myth.

There is no official "last ditch" Japanese rifle and I've never heard the term emergency use either. These are both probably US terms applied to Japanese rifles simply because of their appearance.

The Substitute standard rifles were standard for the last two years of the war and progressively got a bit rougher and simpler but safety with them was not an issue. They are fully functional to the very end.