FrankenType30

[Aragorn243]

After studying this rifle and looking at all my books I have no idea what it is. It is not a type 30 unless it is one of the very early experimental types. It has a mum, no Serial number, a safety which I cannot identify possibly, a type 35. It does have characteristics of the school rifles but no school markings. Hand guard has two nails in the back holding it on and bayonet lug is ill fitting. It sold for over $500. Rear sight was of a type only seen on late type 99's as far as I can tell. Barrel appeared to be 6.5 mm,front sight looked like a type 30 sight, stock was one piece with a flat butt plate. Kokura mark on receiver a B on the barrel. I'm stumped.

Here is the auction photo:

http://www.horstauction.com/17maygun/images/027.JPG

Rifle did not have the tang extensions or any reinforcement of the stock. It is a nice looking rifle.

This is the type safety it has:

http://www.collectorebooks.com/james...e4/34094x4.jpg

I believe the early type 30's or 29's did not have the tang extensions, this rifle has a normal tang. Rifling was good but I don't believe it was correct for a type 30. There is another type 30 at the auction and it has fine rifling. I'm not digging mine out to look. It does not match any contract rifle I can find either, and if contract, shouldn't have the mum.

OK, I believe I have identified it, it is an 02/45, a late war conversion of a type 35, kind of a last ditch rifle. Dang, if I knew what it was, I might have bid that high on it. Prices are a bit all over the place though.