Need help identifying these WWII rifles - Part I - Japanese, Type 99, Arisaka?

[MACVSOGShoebox]

Hello.
This morning, a new friend asked me to check out the rifles his father had brought back from WWII.

Would anyone be able to offer their insight to what they see?

I believe they have both have had the stocks either replaced or made to suit hunting or target shooting.

One rifle is a German K98 (Please see posting Part II - German K98?) and the other is a Japanese Type 99, Arisaka?
I had to break the posting up into two parts, as the maximum number of pictures to upload is 10.

Specifically, he is looking for:
1) Identification of caliber
2) Value
3) Desirability for a collector.
4) Anything special or distinct about these relics?
5) Their application (Sniper, general use, home guard, etc.)

I am attempting to attach pictures to help with identification.

Japanese Type 99 Arisaka? (Please see attached pictures DSC00309-DSC00317):
All numbers appear to match.
I did communicate that the chrysanthemum was defaced on purpose, before surrender, so the soldier would retain honor to the empire of Japan.
And that it is harder to find one that was not defaced (someone please correct me if I'm off here).
The sights and stock appear to have been replaced with American parts.

Thanks for any information anyone offers.

Sincerely,
Dean

 

[somd_mustangs]

That poor Arisaka is totally sporterized and refinished so not much collector value there but it may have some value to a hunter depending on caliber.
The list of indignities includes sights, bolt handle, stock, etc. and wouldn't be surprised if it was rechambered.
The mum is "partly defaced" or "lightly ground" which in reality is not a big deal if the rifle was all stock and matching numbers.

 

[yellowsled]

Value, maybe 150-200 as a shooter. Zero collectibility left due to it being sporterized.

 

[KH195]

It's a Type 38 Arisaka, originally would have been 6.5mm Japanese. It was made at the Mukden Arsenal (in Japanese occupied Manchuria), and it's known as a "5 million" series. Shame it was so heavily modified, Many Mukden T38s I've seen are quite well made and beautiful guns.

 

[Augie]

Unfortunately the sights are worth more than the rifle, bubba'd Arisaka's do not bring much money, 150 tops. Would not be a bad iron sighted deer rifle.

 

[j8064]

Yep, it once was a Type 38 chambered in 6.5...not anymore...
Might be a decent shooter, but no collector value.

 

[MACVSOGShoebox]

Thanks guys!
There were no visible marking to show that the chamber had been changed.
Anyone have any suggestions on how to find out if the chamber was changed...... and if so, what chamber it might be?

 

[KH195]

Thanks guys!
There were no visible marking to show that the chamber had been changed.
Anyone have any suggestions on how to find out if the chamber was changed...... and if so, what chamber it might be?

Best bet might be to take it to a qualified gunsmith that could do an accurate chamber casting to figure it out. A decent number of bringback Arisakas in their original 6.5x50 Japanese were re-chambered after the War due to ammo availability here in the States to take .257 Roberts cartridges and by slightly enlarging the neck to take a 6.5 bullet (commonly called 6.5x257 Roberts). Other caliber conversions were popular too but a good number of sporters can be found with the Roberts re-chambering

 

[KH195]

As a side note, although these may not have much collector value, your buddy should still appreciate them for what they are - trophies his father brought back that represent our victory in the War. The history behind them is still important. Although collectors frown on the sporters now, after the War these were a dime a dozen and the veterans weren't thinking about what they might be worth 75yrs down the road. They were more interested in practicality so it only made sense to make a useful hunting rifle out of them in order to get some meat on the table.

 

[somd_mustangs]

That's an excellent point.
To the owner's family these may (should?) be priceless.

 

[Jim12]

For those with scrubbed mums and surrendered, that might otherwise have ended up in Tokyo Bay with the bargeloads of others, sporterizing for practical use is more understandable. But for those taken in battle, with mum intact, it's harder to imagine.

 

[Laddertowr]

Question guys... On the trigger guard... what is that comming from the guard up front?

 

[toolness1]

Question guys... On the trigger guard... what is that comming from the guard up front?

I'm going to take a wild guess and say it's a latch for the floorplate, but I may be totally wrong.

 

[KH195]

I'm going to take a wild guess and say it's a latch for the floorplate, but I may be totally wrong.

Correct