New Type 99 - Worth Fixing Up?

[cipherk98]

Hi everyone. I recently picked up a Type 99 at a local auction after looking for an original one with an intact mum, AA sight, and matching bolt for awhile. I'd either find ones that were missing one of my requirements or when I did find them they were out of my price range ($400+), so when I saw this series 32 with what I think is a chrome barrel that met all of the above with one exception, I decided to gamble on it to the tune of $115.

So why $115? Well I tend to find at auctions you need to watch for guns being dumped because they have issues. This one is no exception.



The first, obvious issue is the one lip in the mag well is bent/split. The other, less obvious issue, is the follower is completely stuck. It won't budge an inch. Now this gun was actually sold as a"6.5x51" so I'm wondering if there was some misadventure in the past with wrong ammo that possibly lead to this or just a typo in the catalog but that doesn't matter now. Not pictured is the fact the stock was cut down but fortunately no other serious mods were made to the gun like swapped parts (that I can tell) or scope mount holes so that is the second part of this puzzle.

I apologize for not having pictures of the entire gun, I plan to get some tomorrow after cleaning it up further and shooting pictures of my entire collection in one go. What I'm looking to know is if this gun is worth fixing up, or if it's better just hanging onto as it is, just as a conversation piece.

I've done similar rebuilds before - my grandfather had a 98k that had a cut down stock, and 2 years and $200 later I finally got the parts for it to get it somewhat correct again. That gun will never be matching (more to that story) but it had sentimental value that made it worth it so I had little concern about the end value. On the other hand, I have no sentimental value to this rifle, the bluing is only fair at best and I'm figuring on at least $200 to get a new stock, hand guard, and hardware like barrel bands.

If I can fix the issues with the follower and lip in the receiver, is it worth trying to bring it back to original spec, or am I better off just leaving it as-is? Did stuff like stocks, hand guards, and barrel bands get serialized with the rifle like on the 98k, thus impacting the value when they don't match? I realize I won't come out much cheaper if I bought a complete one in the first place, but I figured it's easier to try and find a stock and misc hardware than trying to match a bolt. I do hope this is the right board, as technically this could be considered a restoration, but I'm also looking for general info about it and if it's even worth going that far with it. Thank you!

Information

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[Patrick Chadwick]

If I can fix the issues with the follower and lip in the receiver,

That kind of thing is basically sheet metal work. Should not be a great problem.

is it worth trying to bring it back to original spec,

IMHO only if
a) you want to use it as a shooter in a service rifle competition, or
b) it has a personal/sentimental value to you beyond its market value, or
c) you enjoy the challenge.

[Aragorn243]

With $115 in it, you should be able to easily restore it and come out ahead by a long shot. Stocks are pretty common on ebay in the $100 range and the barrel bands might add another $50. 99's with mums are selling for $400+ these days.

[cipherk98]

Well I love a challenge so I think I'll give it a go. It managed to get the follower out without too much drama, just a wood block and some swift taps. The bent edge I was able to work back fairly closely. It took some work to get it decent but it doesn't look like it will cause feed issues. Got everything together and the only snag is the bolt seems to be catching a bit on one end of the follower. Is it possibly in backwards or perhaps wrong? I've attached a picture at the end of the post along a picture. In having it apart and checking it out it the extractor and firing pin match the bolt which is nice as well. Otherwise, without further ado, here are some pictures.










And here is one of the follower. The left lip, which face the back of the receiver is where it seems to be rubbing.

[Salt Flat]

Cipher, The follower is designed to keep the bolt open after the magazine has been emptyied. (all cartrides have been fired). A stripper clip would then be inserted and the new cartridges pushed into the magazine.. To close the bollt on an empty rifle just push the follower down slightly while moving the bolt forward. Looks like a nice rifle minus the stock. I agree with Aaragorn---It is definately worth a stock and bands replacement. They made so many of these that parts seem to be rather easy to find. Salt flat

[Patrick Chadwick]

So option c) - good for you!

It looks as if there is a weld blob on the bolt end of the follower. Maybe someone wanted to eliminate the hold-open function by removing the step in the follower, and made a bad job of it. Either fill in the space properly, so that the bolt slides freely, or file off the weld blob to restore the hold-open function.

[burb1989]

It looks like a great rifle to restore as long as you can get the correct stock for your series rifle. As to the numbering other than the bolt parts and receiver the Japanese did number their bayonets lugs to match the rifle so sadly yours will be a mismatch unless you get lucky and find a correctly numbered bayonet lug. Also shame about the stock. It has a really nice reddish color to it and if it hadn't been chopped up it would've gone for decent money ($400-$600 for an all matching mummed one in my area). Good luck with it and you'll have fun shooting it.

[cipherk98]

I thought the gun had a factory last shot hold open like my Mauser but wasn't sure so that is good to know that is normal. Unfortunately it is still rubbing on that spot on the magazine follower when using the bolt which I confirmed with a little sharpie mark and working the bolt so that will need work.

I agree the stock is a real shame, it's finished well and despite being two pieces is very well put together to where you can barely tell; the seam appears to be above the sling rather than below it. Otherwise, any suggested books to pick up on these that are like Mauser Military Rifles of the World so I can start trying to learn more about similar examples to try and get it close to original issue beyond more research on this board and the internet?

Look forward to reading and learning more on these. In looking over the rifle I'm really impressed by the design and features so I can't wait to shoot it, though I'll probably pass on trying it out with the stock on it now; my Mauser kicked like a mule with a cut down stock like that and was zero fun.

[burb1989]

I took another look at the pictures of your rifle and ran the numbers up in my head to try and restore this one and honestly you have a lot of good reusable parts to put into a more complete rifle. As it sits with the initial investment it's going to cost you at least what you have in the rifle to get a correct stock plus get all the missing metal bits including the cleaning rod and the end result would be a mismatched put together rifle. However you do have a great parts rifle to scavenge off of. Complete bolt assembly $100-$150, aa wings and assembly $70 at least, screws, trigger guard, tang pieces, it all adds up as a valuable source for parts. Complete rifles like you want are going to be in that $400 range and up though you can get lucky and find one for around $300 from time to time. Either way you have stepped deeper into the world of arisaka collecting and hope you have fun with whatever you decide to do with this rifle.

[cipherk98]

Thanks for the reply, burb. I've certainly considered a few different options. One of which is trying to find a complete series 32 that is missing key stuff like the mum, matching bolt, and AA sights but has the correct stock and other hardware (excluding the cleaning rod as I've never seen one in person) so the gun will at least look right and using that for this gun, and doing something else with that bolt/receiver. Another option that did occur to me is parting out which would be painful given the bolt and components match the receiver but I certainly would not lose money but I don't think I could bring myself to do that though I do need to get it headspaced before buying parts.

Right now I think I'm going to see if I can at least get the correct stock. From looking at pictures online it seems it should have a stock with no drain holes, round cutout behind the bayonet lug instead of a square, no monopod mount, and a three screw bayonet lug which is a transition stock, if I'm reading correctly? There seems to be some conflicting info on if it should have a complete AA sight but I can't imagine someone would just add one onto a hunting rifle like this after the fact and not try to put a new stock on it. The only other oddity I've noticed on this one is the lack of cut outs for hand grips forward of the recoil lug but I'm pretty certain that is due to extremely heavy sanding and plus it was refinished given the recoil lug is coated over.

I am enjoying reading on these, as since they were made for a short time by fewer contractors with seemingly less variant models they are not as overwhelming to try and research as Mauser 98s. As for books pretty I'm sure I'm going to order Military Rifles of Japan first unless Japanese Rifles of World War II happens to have more pictures of the series 32 to study. While the flash obscures it a bit I do believe I am reading it correctly.