Nagoya 5th Series Type 99 w/ mum, all matching numbers, AA sights, and dust cover!

[lthilsdorf]

Just picked this up today at the Hamburg gunshow. Went in looking for an Mosin Nagant M91, but ended up leaving with an Arisaka, ha!

Here are the facts from my brief research i just did. I bought it without knowing much about Japanese rifles, but it looked like a nice piece.

-Nagoya 5th series, serial number 31495
-Dust cover, AA sights, and cleaning rod (no monopod but I believe this is correct for the series)
-Intact mum
-Decent bore with some darkness to it, but I haven't tried to clean it out yet
-All matching I believe (bolt, bayonet lug, firing pin, dust cover)

Only con.........someone messed with the stock. They put some kind of polyurethane coating or something over it. Not sure what I should do about that if anything. Probably will just leave it be for now.

Listed for $325, but I took it for $300. Not sure if that's a deal, but it seemed like a nice piece. On the way out another dealer noticed me and said he happened to by an Arisaka for $325. Didn't catch who the maker was, but it had the monopod and AA sights.

Anyway what do you guys think? I'm pretty excited to finally own a Japanese WWII era rifle!


















My friend had this Rising Sun Japanese flag, so I couldn't resist, ha!

Information

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[Patrick Chadwick]

Only con.........someone messed with the stock. They put some kind of polyurethane coating or something over it. Not sure what I should do about that if anything. Probably will just leave it be for now.

Don't be too quick to strip off that finish. It's very difficult to tell from a photo, but it looks to me as if you might have an example with an original Japanese urushi-lacquer finish in very good condition. The clue is the tiny blisters in the area below the number on the receiver, which would not appear with a polyurethane coat (which has a pretty good oil resistance) and that the dings are in the finish, whereas a new finish would tell to fill up the dings. You are lucky in that the fold-out bars for the AA-sighting have not been removed, and the chrysanthemum seems to be unblemished. If all that is correct, you made a good deal. But this is, of course, AFAICTWAHTOIMH.

[GUTS]

I agree with Mr. Chadwick, that may be simply an outstanding example of a Type 99. I have seen original finishes on Type 99s range from almost yellow to dark orange and reddish hues, but it's hard to make the call without having the rifle in my hands. I think you made a very good deal.

[jmoore]

Looks fairly "unmucked-with" in your photos. Matching WITH mum seems to be harder to find than matching w/o mum. Far better find than a Mosin, I think (in general).

[Patrick Chadwick]

Probably will just leave it be for now

That is the general consensus. You appear to have an excellent specimen. Do not mess it about! I would just wipe over the woodwork with a soft cloth.

- But please, let's see how it shoots!

[lthilsdorf]

Thanks guys. I have no plans to mess with this one at all. The condition is just too nice overall and I have no idea if the finish is original or not. I'll have to find an Arisaka expert in upstate NY to check it out, ha!

I also can't wait to see how it shoots, but even if it doesn't shoot too well I'll still be happy. This one is just too mint to be disappointed, ha!

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Very nice find! Now go to e-bay and find a matching Nagoya bayonet before they go thru the roof. But be careful. I went looking for a type 30bayonet for my Type 38 Arisaka and now addicted to bayonet collecting.

[lthilsdorf]

Ha, so true! There's a gun show in Rochester next weekend and I may try picking one up there. I don't want anything too fancy, but those long Japanese bayonets are just too cool!

[bearhunter]

Thanks for posting those pics. That rifle is similar to mine. Mine has a yellow finish, rather than the reddish finish on yours, but still very similar. The one similarity that comes immediately to light is the round metal lug used to retain the cleaning rod.
I haven't seen this on other Japanese rifles before. The others I've seen are square. I saw hundreds of Arisakas 40 years ago. The vast majority had ground mums. Most were in fair only condition but a few were as new. I didn't pay much attention to them. They were a curiosity and of course, I bought in to the BS about their weakness and poor quality. I've since learned, they are amongst the best and strongest rifles made.

[lee sherman]

I think you did just fine for $300.00 bucks. I think that the important thing is that the rifle is in good condition with numbers matching. The rest of the features and an intact mum certainly add to the find. Many Arisakas out there can be beat up and rusty but I don't buy that way generally speaking. After I bought mine I went to a gun show looking for an M-1 Garand. I found the one I was looking for but also found a T-30 Jinsen bayo, with the hooked quillon, birds head pommel, curved grip handles. It was mint for $95.00 Bucks. Sure I bought it. Go find one, get a good one, pay a bit extra for it. Attach it to the rifle and admire the formidable appearance of your firearm. Awesome comes to mind!!