Arisaka Type 99 Year of Mfg.

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    zebramochaman

    Active Member
    May 3, 2009
    373
    Damascus, MD
    I own an Arisaka Type 99 that my father-in-law brought home from WWII. If I am reading the symbology correctly, I believe that it is a series 20 made in the Kokura arsenal.
    From what I have been able to google, series 20's were made at Kokura from 1939 through 1945. The serial number is 55897. Can anyone tell me based on this information what year this gun was made?
    I know these rifles are not particularly valuable. Its currently detailed stripped. I am refinishing the stock and reblueing the metal (not Bubba-rizing). My goal is to have it look like a cleaned-up version of a field grade weapon.
     
    boule

    boule

    Ultimate Member
    Oct 16, 2008
    1,948
    Galt's Gulch
    Could you shoot a picture of the actual marks and post it here. I will be more than happy to give you all the info I have about these rifles.

    Otherwise re-bluing is not recommended! These are old battle rifles and develop a patina. Unless they are sporterized anyway, you will decrease the value of your rifle.
     
    j8064

    j8064

    Garrett Co Hooligan #1
    Feb 23, 2008
    11,635
    Deep Creek
    When I bought a T99 a while back I did a lot of searching on the net about Arisaka's. I'm certainly no expert on them.

    There are no difinitive records on dates or years of manufacture I've ever found. Considering we were at war and it was 'the enemy's rifle' that's not surprising.

    This site was a nice find. Mine turned out to be a Nagoya Arsenal - series 1 which would put it very early on the time table. It's a terrific and strong shooter with my light reloads.
    http://www.radix.net/~bbrown/japanese_markings.html

    Since there are no accurate records, the series symbols are only one clue as to 'about when' an Arisaka was made. Other clues are type of sights, quality of metal work,furniture, butt plate...lot's of things.

    Generally the later an Arisaka was made, the less likely I'd want to actually shoot it. Metalurgy declined quickly around 1942 and there are plenty of "Last Ditch" rifles around that are collector's items, but unsafe to fire. If I had a genuine WWII bring back, I'd leave it as-is. IMHO, it has more value in that.
     
    Echo Victor

    Echo Victor

    Active Member
    Mar 25, 2009
    879
    Harf Co.
    The Arisakas I’ve seen have an interesting brown tome to the metal as it has aged.
    I would definitely not re-blue it!
     
    boss66tcode

    boss66tcode

    a bit of an Eddie Haskle
    Sep 8, 2008
    2,024
    in 'da hills
    Agreed. Unless its already molested and sporterized, I'd leave it as is. There are other more sporterizable milsurps with more easily available ammo than the 7.7 jap cartridge.
     
    j8064

    j8064

    Garrett Co Hooligan #1
    Feb 23, 2008
    11,635
    Deep Creek
    zebramochaman said:
    I own an Arisaka Type 99 that my father-in-law brought home from WWII. If I am reading the symbology correctly, I believe that it is a series 20 made in the Kokura arsenal.
    From what I have been able to google, series 20's were made at Kokura from 1939 through 1945. The serial number is 55897. Can anyone tell me based on this information what year this gun was made?
    I know these rifles are not particularly valuable. Its currently detailed stripped. I am refinishing the stock and reblueing the metal (not Bubba-rizing). My goal is to have it look like a cleaned-up version of a field grade weapon.
    Click to expand...

    BTW:

    :needpics:

    boss66tcode said:
    Agreed. Unless its already molested and sporterized, I'd leave it as is. There are other more sporterizable milsurps with more easily available ammo than the 7.7 jap cartridge.
    Click to expand...

    +1

    However, since I reload, Prvi makes 7.7 jap cases and T99 Arisaka's shoot .311's just like Mosin's and Enfields...availability of ammo hasn't been an issue for me. :innocent0
     
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