Type 99 Paratrooper

[cary m2a]

Anybody know anything about these rifles?

Information

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[2K7]

Serial numbers rarely match.

[Jim K]

If yours is marked 99 Type, it should be what is sometimes called the 100 Type or 0 Type, with the buttress threads on the barrel. These were made up from Type 99 short rifles. They also used a modified 38 Type with a folding stock, and made two other 7.7 versions experimentally; these had a lug type arrangement in place of the buttress threads.

Note that in the Type 100 (Type 99) rifles, the parts that allow the rifle to be taken down were given new assembly numbers that match one another, but do not match the serial number of the original Type 99 rifle.

The Japanese formed paratrooper units in the late 1930's with German help, but they were not used extensively partly due to the long distances involved in the Pacific war. Since aircraft suitable for dropping paratroops had a fairly short range and could not fly from aircraft carriers, the Japanese depened more on shipborne attack than on airborne. Two regiments did stage an airborne attack on oil refineries at Palembang, Sumatra, in advance of an amphibious attack. They were sucessful in that Allied forces withdrew, but they suffered heavy casualties.

Jim

[cary m2a]

Well its got a thumb screw on the right side,that allows it to slide apart in two parts. Your right the serial numbers dont match, but it looks really good like new. I must add that it has never been fired since it was picked up as a war prize .

Cary

[DRB]

It is a type 2 then if it uses a wedge to hold it together. They had a assembly number that matched the front and rear section, if those match it is a matched gun. The serial number was used to match the bolt and the front band, Often the bolt is missmatched. They made a little over 21,000 of them and the survival rate is very high since they fit in a duffel bag. That said, they bring really good money because of the paratrooper connection. A doggy one will bring an easy $500 a minty one with the mum will bring over $2000.

[cary m2a]

the mum is defaced, but can be seen and both halfs dont matchBut like I said looks like new an old friend of mine had it 50plus years before I got it after he past so I cant ask where he got it he was in alot of island fighting then ended up in Japan when it was over .So who knows how things show up,But I'm proud to have it.

Thanks

Cary

[rayg]

As DRB said the survival rate is very high since they fit in a duffel bag. At bigger gun shows you usually see more then one for sale.
Probably some where out there, there is the correct half for your rifle. Finding a matching half would increase your value by probably $500 or more. Of course you're talking lottery odds on finding it.

Now having said that, I have two T-2s, a mismatched one and a matching one. Just to play the odds, here is my mismatched one and it's numbers. Wouldn't be nice if they matched yours, Ray

[cary m2a]

Dangit no match.Oh well kinda cool to see other ones out there and to find out some things on it .I was told that it was with the Jap Marines when he picked it up.

Thanks

Cary

[blu 97]

http://www.gunboards.com/sites/banza...sembly_Article

Try these guys, ton of info on the 100 and the type 2

[Jim K]

If the "mum" is defaced, the rifle was almost certainly taken from a depot after the surrender. Paratroops were not used as such on the islands because that was not paratrooper territory for the reasons I mentioned above. The Japanese navy had paratroop units, but AFAIK they were not used in any airborne operations in the Pacific islands. But they might have fought as regular infantry, and might have had paratrooper rifles.

There were no "Jap Marines." The units called that by U.S. troops were Japanese Navy landing parties that performed in somewhat the same way as the U.S. Marines, but they had nowhere the numbers that the USMC did. They were lightly armed and expected only to hold a landing area temporarily. They had the Navy anchor on their helmets instead of the army's red star.

Jim