Type 99 "Basement Find"...

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Wife's aunt in North Carolina found some old rifle parts in a basement she was cleaning out for a friend, said I could have them. Turned out to be an Arisaka 99 barrel, receiver and stock, which had rust and looked like it had been there for 50+ years, most other parts missing. Started to clean it up and restore it, took 6 months to find all the missing parts on the Internet. This is how it turned out.....

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Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[jmoore]

A worthy project!

[AZPhil]

Great job saving a piece of history from the rust pile!!!
Semper Fi
Phil

[browningautorifle]

Very nice, I better go look in the basement now...

[c1a1]

Nice restoration. Is the bore in good shape?

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Fine work!

[Aragorn243]

Very nice. Bore should be chromed so should be fine.

[Salt Flat]

728, Sometimes you just get lucky! Also your restoration work is impressive. Looks to be a First series Nagoya. Salt Flat

[728shooter]

When I first saw the barrel covered in rust, I didn't think there was much hope for it. However, it all turned out to be just a light surface rust that surprisingly, cleaned up rather nicely with some light oil and a fine wire wheel, and left most of the bluing intact and no pitting whatsoever. Swabbed the bore out a few times to get the dust & crud out and found that the chromed bore was near perfect. All the numbers matched on the parts that were there and the stock (not perfect but in decent shape) still had the original cleaning rod in it. All I had to work with was the barrel/receiver with the aircraft sights and both bands still attached, the complete bolt, and the stock. Everything else was stripped off or missing; all screws, nose cap, hand-guard, trigger guard with mag. and follower, butt plate, rear swivel, tang and receiver screws.

I did some research on the serial number and it does appear to be a 1st series Nagoya arsenal rifle. (Salt Flat, you got a good eye!) My guess is it's probably late '39 or early '40's production. No import marks anywhere so I am assuming it was a war bring-back souvenir. Am going to try to find out who lived in the house and who may have owned it or brought it back. Probably put more time & money into it than she's worth now but I hate to see a piece of history like this go into the trash.

Now looking for some 7.7 Jap ammo to try it out at the range but the only stuff I can find at my local shows is $2.00 a round (which I refuse to pay). Will keep all posted when I take her "out for a spin".....

Thanks to all for your comments & support! --728shooter

[CINDERS]

I have heard the Arisaka 7.7 can fire the British 303 cartridge but not the other way around the Japanese cartridge case being longer so would not chamber in the Lee Enfield from what I also recall the 7.7 round is semi rimmed