Cleaning out a WWII Vet's basement.

[gunsmith II]

Nagoya Arsenal 8th series Type 99. 7.7mm Japanese caliber made in late 1944. Nagoya produced series 0-12: 100,000 rifles per series with some serial blocks at random in 4th and 9th series allocated to sub contractors Howa and Izawa. 12th series only a few thousand rifles along when the war ended. Rifles in this configuration are substantially past chrome bore practice due to shortage of materials and simplification of manufacture.

If you decide to take it apart, be sure to use well fitted screw drivers. The metal in the screws is not well hardened, they are staked in place, and will tend to burr. Best to just oil and leave alone. This series has a high survival rate and is fairly common. Bolt is correct type but mismatched. Value is about $200-ish.

Thank you to all who've replied.

I knew nothing about this rifle when it was uncovered on Sunday.
The learning curve has been vertical. The weapon will never be fired and join the cabinet with other period arms.

[jmoore]

If you decide to shoot it, Hornady mades good reasonably priced ammo. Try Grafs.com . Just remember that the rifle will hit 6-10" high at 100 yds if properly zeroed.

[gunsmith II]

I haven't found the adjustment screw on the rear site yet for windage and elevation.....

[jmoore]

Nope, you, like the poor soul that this rifle was intended for, just have to hope the armorer had time to actually select the proper front sight (or break out his file) before the next air raid siren went off or he was drafted and rushed off to the latest conflict! (Not one of the Japanese military's better ideas- by war's end skilled labor had been severly depleted in all industries, further crippling the war effort.)

[gunsmith II]

Nope, you, like the poor soul that this rifle was intended for, just have to hope the armorer had time to actually select the proper front sight (or break out his file) before the next air raid siren went off or he was drafted and rushed off to the latest conflict! (Not one of the Japanese military's better ideas- by war's end skilled labor had been severly depleted in all industries, further crippling the war effort.)

The rifling looks more like a screw thread than a spiral in a rifle barrel.
As the oil is beginning to ease some of the rust off the surface it appears that this weapon has the appearance of a childs "toy rifle", i.e., loose tolerances, rough bolt action, etc.

[Mike D]

I wouldnt shoot it. Factory ammo is way too expensive. And like JMoore said, they were just thrown together at that point in the war! It is a nice conversation piece, though!

[jmoore]

There were training rifles built that were not intended for live ammo, but can't tell from the picture if that's one. If it is, its an unusually late trainer. Scrub the bore out well, if there's no rifling then its pointless to attempt shooting anyway. The rifling was a Metford variant w/ no sharp transition between the lands and grooves, -vaguely- similar to Glock pistol rifling, if you've never seen this rifling style before.

[Arisaka99]

Duplicate

[Arisaka99]

It is a Nagoya 8th series Type 99 from late 1944 as previously stated in this thread. While some early Type 38s were removed from service and marked as school guns, and some Type 30s ("hook safety") were converted to smooth bore trainers, you will not find training rifles with mums, arsenal and series markings. Most trainers are also not serial numbered in the normal manner. As mentioned, rifling is metford style, so edges of lands/grooves more rounded than most folks are used to looking at.

[jmoore]

Thanks, Arisaka99. Plumb forgot it was already ID'ed. That's what I get for not reviewing the entire thread.