Type 99 without Serial number

[iron sights]

I have been offered a type 99 that looks like it is early to mid war Kokura production. It has the AA style sights but no "wings" and has the monopod style barrel band but no monopod, The mum has been ground and the gun was apparently re-blued afterwards. There is no series marking or serial number on the receiver, just the Kokura arsenal mark. It doesn't look as if the number was ground it looks like it was not stamped in the first place. The bayonet lug on the front barrel band does not have any marking where the last 3 digits of the receiver number usually appear. The bolt looks like a mismatch the 3 digits at the root of the handle do not match those on the extractor but it is an early type with a chromed bolt face. There is a bayonet with it which is severely rusted (it was stored separately from the rifle). It also doesn't seem to have a makers mark or any serial number but does have a few markings on the handle that I've tried to picture. It is supposedly a veteran bring back but the present owner has no idea which branch of service or even when he served. I'd appreciate any insight on this piece.Attachment 74958Attachment 74957Attachment 74956Attachment 74959Attachment 74960Attachment 74961

Information

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[browningautorifle]

Were the numbers polished off and then it was re-blued?

[burb1989]

That's the way it looks to me. In the picture it looks like some kind of polishing or grinding wheel was taken to the serial number and along the line somewhere it was reblued. Honestly if a gun doesn't have a serial number the main action for most is to run away as you could get in trouble for having one like that.

[browningautorifle]

grinding wheel was taken to the serial number

That's the way I can see it too.

[Aragorn243]

I'd steer clear of it. I can only think of a couple of reasons for the serial number to be missing and none of them are good. I had a guy try to sell me this story with a Trapdoor Springfield. No serial, no sale.

[bulletpeace]

I'd steer clear of it. I can only think of a couple of reasons for the serial number to be missing and none of them are good. I had a guy try to sell me this story with a Trapdoor Springfield. No serial, no sale.

Yeah unfortunately I have to agree here. I love these rifles but as a collector, serial numbers are a must. It's part of the history, part of the soul of the gun if I may.

[Flying10uk]

Have you asked the present owner for an explanation for the apparent lack of a serial number and if you have what was the response, please?

[Aragorn243]

For one thing, it's illegal to remove or alter a serial number in the US.

[fjruple]

Really bad ju-ju with defaced firearm in US. Especially if they can lift the serial number and discover it has been stolen.

--fjruple

[WarPig1976]

Just an interesting fact. A scrubbed serial number can still be retrieved if the scrubbing wasn't done deep enough. The powers that be have a process that can detect the compressed, displaced, whatever, steel under the stamped numbers. I forget if it was X-ray or chemical or what.