When I was a teenager, over 50 years ago, I obtained a “last ditch” type 99. My father took me to a gunsmith to make sure the rifle was safe to fire, and the gunsmith, who had been a Marine who served in the Pacific showed me the one that he owned. I remember that it was quite crude, the safety knob at the end of the bolt was just an unfinished blob of weld. There was also a large chunk of wood missing from the stock. I asked him about that and he said that it was made by shrapnel from the grenade he’d used to kill the Japanese soldier whose rifle it was.
I got one by my sister who won it in a raffle. What i could find out it was made in 1938 or 39. It has some wood removed and looks like an American deer rifle. But looks and works well and still has emperors seal on it.
Very good video sir, thanks for the info. I bought my 1941 type 99 for 35.00 with bayonet.7.7mm arisaka is a awesome rifle. The stainless steel bore is crisp and sharp. Thank you
It so crazy, I just picked one of these up, now it has a hunting stock on it, but everything else Is number matching with a full mum. Now I know people don't like the hunting stock, but for $150 I couldn't say no. What's interesting is its a 24 sequence, and I can see the mid point between these two. I have the rounded bolt and flip up rear sights. But no plane wings and the late series squared front site
Although a lack of skilled workers could be plausible id assume most of the drop in craftsmanship was due to last ditch being its the end of the war and it was faster to complete a "last ditch" rifle and get it to the front lines. Just benefited their war effort at that time to produce quantity over quality. You see this a lot with other countries as well like the 1942 mosin nagants for example and the remington "modified" 1903s.. just speed up the process
I’d definitely support that as well. Lacking skill in the workshop is plausible and even likely, but the need to get rifles out the door *NOW* is impossible to argue against considering the logistic behemoth they were up against.
Hey, nice video explaining some of the differences on the various Type 99 Arisaka's as you move through the war. Some points to note is that an additional feature to tell earlier production rifles from later production rifles is that early war and many mid-war rifles had a chrome lined barrel and even a chromed bolt face to help combat degradation from salt water, a historic first for military service weapons. The little hole on the side of the furniture on the earlier production Type 99 was actually a water drainage hole; soldiers would turn the rifle on it's side so the water would drain out the hole if the rifle was wet or still had water inside the receiver or furniture. Another thing to note is the different manufacturers never really standardized on what changes to make in terms of simplification of the rifle; Nagoya would end up swapping over to the simpler, more cylindrical bolts starting in late 1943/early 1944 while Toyo Kogyo would continue to produce rounded bolt handles until the end of the war. For a useful website to help explain differences during production, here's this: type99arisakas.weebly.com/
Very curious on how the type 99 compares to the k98k and other universal short rifles of the time. Obviously hopelessly outdated compared to a Garand but after handling mine I honestly think it’s the best bet for a military bolt action. Those sights, they feel so natural to line up
The hole in the stock isn't a gas relief hole, it's mostly just to allow gunk in the dust cover groove to come out when the bolt is cycled so you don't just jam up the gun. The same reason why the Type 38 had a notch in the same part of the stock. Also, that dust cover is from a Type 38, and not a Type 99. They are slightly longer and sometimes can damage the wood when used on Type 99s.
I’m fairly certain it is a type 99 dust cover, I have a type 38 as well and they are different lengths. The type 38 dust cover doesn’t even fit on this type of 99. Good to know on the notch though 👍🏻 Edit: I just checked the two dust covers and the one equipped to the Type 99 is about 1/2-3/4 inches shorter than the Type 38. So you are correct about the difference, but I do have the correct covers attached to their respective rifles
@@GreatNorthwestWeaponry It's a 38 dust cover. The early Type 38 dust covers have a straight cut on the bolt handle slot, while the later Type 38s and all of the 99s have them offset so it kicks the dust cover back as the bolt is opened. The Type 99 also forgos the guide inside of the cover.
My type 99 is weird. I have a full hand guard on mine. However, the front is late war. The barrel band has a notch cut out, but it doesn't have the attach point for the mono pod. My rear sight is early war but no airplane sights. The back of the bolt is early war. I have a metal butt plate. Maybe I got a an early late war?
That is what a lot of people would call a “mid-war” example, basically it’s just when they started cheapening production but hadn’t fully transitioned to the “last ditch” examples. The airplane sight and monopod were the first features to go 👍🏻
It's my understanding that those sites were designed for the older planes that flew a lot slower than the ones used in WW2. So that site system is kind of a throwback to World war 1 and later was removed because it really had no place for the much faster moving aircraft
Recently got a 99 model which has not had anything done to it send a relative brought home at end of war. The bolt will not open and have not found information about how to correct. If you anyone can help me please comment. Thank you.
The safety is probably on, use your palm to push on the back of the bolt and rotate to the left, notice the the cap looking part at the end will turn. That is the safety, the bolt will not cycle while it is on. Hope this helps!
There is a way to close the bolt with the firing pin released. First push the bolt handle as far forward as it will go without resistance. Then pull the trigger, which will let the bolt move a little bit more forward. You can pull the trigger during the first closing and make these two operations one, if you like. Finally, release the trigger and then give a firm smack to the bolt handle with the palm of your hand to close it.
That works with the majority of cock on close rifles, but in my experience (and I just tested it on both Type 99s and my Type 38) it doesn’t work with the Arisaka. It locks solid if you slide the bold forward in the manner suggested and you will literally break your hand before you get that bolt to turn. That said, this method does work on all other cock on close rifles that I have experience with
@@GreatNorthwestWeaponry It does work on most of my Arisakas, but you are correct it doesn't work on all of them (apparently including all of yours). I have seen people suggest it SHOULD work on any bolt-matching rifle, but I've not taken the time to seek statistics on that.
are you sure that the headspace is not the reason your last ditch won't fire ? seems like if you put a powerful enough spring in there and checked the firing pins in both guns then you have a another problem .
My arisaka is a Nagoya rifle it isn’t a series rifle intact mum and aa sights but as usual mismatching bolt no dust cover or monopod would you know how they are dated
Thanks Thomas . I’m a little late at watching the vid . Can’t remember seeing notification. I have the bell on and suggest all subscribers do so ! GREAT Channel ✊
I have a Arisaka rifle but don't know much about it it was my father's. Is there an email I can send you pictures of it and perhaps you would know more about it? Thank You
When I was a teenager, over 50 years ago, I obtained a “last ditch” type 99. My father took me to a gunsmith to make sure the rifle was safe to fire, and the gunsmith, who had been a Marine who served in the Pacific showed me the one that he owned. I remember that it was quite crude, the safety knob at the end of the bolt was just an unfinished blob of weld. There was also a large chunk of wood missing from the stock. I asked him about that and he said that it was made by shrapnel from the grenade he’d used to kill the Japanese soldier whose rifle it was.
Glad I’m still on night shift to watch this fresh upload. 🙌
I got one by my sister who won it in a raffle. What i could find out it was made in 1938 or 39. It has some wood removed and looks like an American deer rifle. But looks and works well and still has emperors seal on it.
Very good video sir, thanks for the info. I bought my 1941 type 99 for 35.00 with bayonet.7.7mm arisaka is a awesome rifle. The stainless steel bore is crisp and sharp.
Thank you
Thanks for watching!
It so crazy, I just picked one of these up, now it has a hunting stock on it, but everything else Is number matching with a full mum. Now I know people don't like the hunting stock, but for $150 I couldn't say no. What's interesting is its a 24 sequence, and I can see the mid point between these two. I have the rounded bolt and flip up rear sights. But no plane wings and the late series squared front site
Although a lack of skilled workers could be plausible id assume most of the drop in craftsmanship was due to last ditch being its the end of the war and it was faster to complete a "last ditch" rifle and get it to the front lines. Just benefited their war effort at that time to produce quantity over quality. You see this a lot with other countries as well like the 1942 mosin nagants for example and the remington "modified" 1903s.. just speed up the process
I’d definitely support that as well. Lacking skill in the workshop is plausible and even likely, but the need to get rifles out the door *NOW* is impossible to argue against considering the logistic behemoth they were up against.
Hey, nice video explaining some of the differences on the various Type 99 Arisaka's as you move through the war. Some points to note is that an additional feature to tell earlier production rifles from later production rifles is that early war and many mid-war rifles had a chrome lined barrel and even a chromed bolt face to help combat degradation from salt water, a historic first for military service weapons. The little hole on the side of the furniture on the earlier production Type 99 was actually a water drainage hole; soldiers would turn the rifle on it's side so the water would drain out the hole if the rifle was wet or still had water inside the receiver or furniture. Another thing to note is the different manufacturers never really standardized on what changes to make in terms of simplification of the rifle; Nagoya would end up swapping over to the simpler, more cylindrical bolts starting in late 1943/early 1944 while Toyo Kogyo would continue to produce rounded bolt handles until the end of the war.
For a useful website to help explain differences during production, here's this: type99arisakas.weebly.com/
Good info man, thanks!
Very curious on how the type 99 compares to the k98k and other universal short rifles of the time. Obviously hopelessly outdated compared to a Garand but after handling mine I honestly think it’s the best bet for a military bolt action. Those sights, they feel so natural to line up
I’ll definitely be running K98k vs Type 99 in the near future, just gotta find some 8mm Mauser
The hole in the stock isn't a gas relief hole, it's mostly just to allow gunk in the dust cover groove to come out when the bolt is cycled so you don't just jam up the gun. The same reason why the Type 38 had a notch in the same part of the stock.
Also, that dust cover is from a Type 38, and not a Type 99. They are slightly longer and sometimes can damage the wood when used on Type 99s.
I’m fairly certain it is a type 99 dust cover, I have a type 38 as well and they are different lengths. The type 38 dust cover doesn’t even fit on this type of 99. Good to know on the notch though 👍🏻
Edit: I just checked the two dust covers and the one equipped to the Type 99 is about 1/2-3/4 inches shorter than the Type 38. So you are correct about the difference, but I do have the correct covers attached to their respective rifles
@@GreatNorthwestWeaponry It's a 38 dust cover. The early Type 38 dust covers have a straight cut on the bolt handle slot, while the later Type 38s and all of the 99s have them offset so it kicks the dust cover back as the bolt is opened. The Type 99 also forgos the guide inside of the cover.
My type 99 is weird. I have a full hand guard on mine. However, the front is late war. The barrel band has a notch cut out, but it doesn't have the attach point for the mono pod. My rear sight is early war but no airplane sights.
The back of the bolt is early war. I have a metal butt plate. Maybe I got a an early late war?
That is what a lot of people would call a “mid-war” example, basically it’s just when they started cheapening production but hadn’t fully transitioned to the “last ditch” examples. The airplane sight and monopod were the first features to go 👍🏻
It's my understanding that those sites were designed for the older planes that flew a lot slower than the ones used in WW2. So that site system is kind of a throwback to World war 1 and later was removed because it really had no place for the much faster moving aircraft
Recently got a 99 model which has not had anything done to it send a relative brought home at end of war. The bolt will not open and have not found information about how to correct. If you anyone can help me please comment. Thank you.
The safety is probably on, use your palm to push on the back of the bolt and rotate to the left, notice the the cap looking part at the end will turn. That is the safety, the bolt will not cycle while it is on. Hope this helps!
If my explanation isn't enough try looking at a video of how to operate the safety on the type 99 arisaka :)
My farther also gave me the the same he was stationed in Okinawa the 99 and 5 banets
There is a way to close the bolt with the firing pin released. First push the bolt handle as far forward as it will go without resistance. Then pull the trigger, which will let the bolt move a little bit more forward. You can pull the trigger during the first closing and make these two operations one, if you like. Finally, release the trigger and then give a firm smack to the bolt handle with the palm of your hand to close it.
That works with the majority of cock on close rifles, but in my experience (and I just tested it on both Type 99s and my Type 38) it doesn’t work with the Arisaka. It locks solid if you slide the bold forward in the manner suggested and you will literally break your hand before you get that bolt to turn. That said, this method does work on all other cock on close rifles that I have experience with
@@GreatNorthwestWeaponry It does work on most of my Arisakas, but you are correct it doesn't work on all of them (apparently including all of yours). I have seen people suggest it SHOULD work on any bolt-matching rifle, but I've not taken the time to seek statistics on that.
are you sure that the headspace is not the reason your last ditch won't fire ? seems like if you put a powerful enough spring in there and checked the firing pins in both guns then you have a another problem .
My arisaka is a Nagoya rifle it isn’t a series rifle intact mum and aa sights but as usual mismatching bolt no dust cover or monopod would you know how they are dated
It can be tough with the “no series” examples, it’d be an early one though. Probably 1941 or early 1942
Thanks Thomas .
I’m a little late at watching the vid . Can’t remember seeing notification.
I have the bell on and suggest all subscribers do so !
GREAT Channel ✊
Thanks for watching! I’ll take any excuse I can to talk about Arisakas lol
Why does no one ever mention the trap door that springs down under neath the the lock and in front of the trigger ?
the mag dump ?
I have a Arisaka rifle but don't know much about it it was my father's. Is there an email I can send you pictures of it and perhaps you would know more about it? Thank You
Yeah man send it to Greatnorthwestgunsandknives@gmail.com and I’ll see if I van help 👍🏻
Awesome video sir! Btw this is _milsurp_fanatic_ 👌
Much appreciated!