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If you own a WWII Jap rifle
p3skyking
Member Posts: 25,750 ✭
The following site will allow you to interpret the markings. Japanese rifles (IMO) are up and comming collectables. They are now where Nazi rifles were in the '70''s.
Markings on Japanese Arisaka Rifles and Bayonets of World War II
Address:
http://www.radix.net/~bbrown/japanese_markings.html
Stolen from, and with thanks, to Kiwibird
Markings on Japanese Arisaka Rifles and Bayonets of World War II
Address:
http://www.radix.net/~bbrown/japanese_markings.html
Stolen from, and with thanks, to Kiwibird
Comments
Volenti non fit injuria
Next we can expect Carcano values to skyrocket.
And.....the Arisaka action is probably the strongest military bolt action design ever built.
I've shot many thousands of '06, 173 gr M1 Ball through them and modified them pretty extensively. While they wont readily blow up, they stretch to excess headspace within 500 rounds of military ammo.
The safety breeching is a nice feature but at best they are roughly made,loose toleranced, crude rifles; the best of them in the Carcano class. As souveniers, an uncle captured may be an excuse to own one but otherwise they are JUNK.
At one time when there was a scarcity of centerfire bolt actions some of them were modified to sporters but that time is long past.
Urban legends die hard and The Rifleman started that one.
I've shot many thousands of '06, 173 gr M1 Ball through them and modified them pretty extensively. While they wont readily blow up, they stretch to excess headspace within 500 rounds of military ammo.
The safety breeching is a nice feature but at best they are roughly made,loose toleranced, crude rifles; the best of them in the Carcano class. As souveniers, an uncle captured may be an excuse to own one but otherwise they are JUNK.
At one time when there was a scarcity of centerfire bolt actions some of them were modified to sporters but that time is long past.
I think I will go with American Rifleman and my own observations. Thanks for you imput that adds nothing pertinent to the thread.
Stolen from, and with thanks, to Kiwibird
Wouldn't necessarly consider all japanese rifles as "junk" early rifles were very well made and their actions were as well made as any during the first part of the war. Quality suffered as the war progressed and quality materials as well as time constrants (the need to supply arms to troops in the field.
They were scorned as junk by gun people since they first came in as war trophies and were regularly sold for $15 or so. Today they are available,cheap historical artifacts and nothing more - collected for their markings. Attempts to dignify any of them as a quality rifle are a real stretch.
For a reality check, see what a good 6.5 or 7.7 sporter conversion will bring at your local gun store.
A little perspective on these weapons as rifles is at least as pertinent to a discussion of the rifle as an academic study on their markings, as they are guns not art.
My extensive experience with them was with higher quality 7.7s that were US Arsenal converted to 30-06 for the Korean Service Corps. I cut them down to carbine length, mounted scopes, converted them to cock on opening, mounted muzzle brakes and did trigger and stock work. They made for a light, powerful, accurate rifle for forays into Korean mountains. These rifles were headspaced to minimum 1.946 and went to 1.951 after 500 rounds like clockwork. They were only designed for 43or 45KPSI and the US service cartridge is about 50KPSI.
While these rifles won't blow up with a blue pill they do stretch to unserviceability with the US service 30-06 M1 Ball, NRA kudus notwithstanding.
Stolen from, and with thanks, to Kiwibird
Amazing discovery--anyone ever figure it out to use the correct load? Duhhhhhh.
Volenti non fit injuria