My Grandfather's Type 99 Arisaka

[Cpl McCaughey]

Good Afternoon NES,

I wanted to share the story about my grandfather's Arisaka that got passed down to me this past Christmas from an uncle. A little but about me, I'm a junior at the Military College of Vermont (Norwich) and I'm originally from North Attleboro and I'm new to the whole real steel community. I actively airsoft and am a senior member on the Massachusetts Airsoft Forum and a moderator on the Northeast Airsoft Group. My knowledge of firearms is slim beyond what were taught about Army weapons and weapons system which is another reason why I came here seeking knowledge!

Now I don't have a firearms license, I plan on applying for my Class A in North Attleboro when I turn 21 this July. I know that to legally own the gun, I need at least an FID but the more information I can get from you guys the better! I don't plan on firing the gun or have it leave the house/gun case until I can legally transport it.

Now onto pictures:

So I know that this Arisaka needs some serious TLC but I just wanted to get everyone's opinion. Clearly this is a family heirloom that I'd never consider selling but I've heard multiple opinions of what I should do with it. I have been told to keep it as is and just to put it in a case. I've also heard many say get it cleaned up and shoot it. I'm kind off in a bind currently because I've heard stories of Arisaka's being dangerous and finicky. Anyone have anything they can share with me? I know ammo can be a hard find but with the internet or trade shows it wouldn't be hard to get. Of course, I won't be taking any action until I can legally do so!

I know the gun is covered in rust as well, anyone have suggestions for cleaning it up? I've also been told (by a trusted 11Bravo) that all it might take to fire is running a bore snake through a few times and it would probably fire but I'm taking no risk until I can assure it's safe. What do you guys think? I'd love an input or advice you can give me!

Also, my grandfather was a paratrooper in the 11th Airborne, 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment, C Company back in World War 2. He jumped and fought in Leyte, Luzon, and Japan during his time in the service. He was in the lead amtrak that broke down the gates to the Los Banos Internment Camp. By the end of the War he was a Sergeant, with 3 purple hearts, 3 jump stars on his wings, and various awards for valor. It was during his time in Japan, as an occupation force after the war, that he got this rifle while disarming the local populace and had it carved by a Japanese wood worker. After the war, the rifle was passed down to my uncle and wasn't properly stored to say the least. I wasn't till I took a profound interest in my grandfather's military history did I know he had it and that many heirlooms from the war still existed.

Here are a few photo's of him:

Hope you guys enjoyed the pictures! If you guys have any feedback for me that would be great. I know I'm new here to the community so go easy on me. Thanks for taking a look!

 

[Mike-Mike]

Cool gun. When I got mine. It was much worst than that. The bolt wouldn't even work. I just kept hosing it down for a few days with oil then cleaned it up and it shoots great. Whatever you do, get some oil on it so it stops corroding.

 

[enbloc]

chrysanthemum not destroyed, cool rifle.

 

[ColdDayInHell]

Cool story and rifle. I really want to shoot my Type 38.

 

[SevenPointSeven]

Nice piece and great story. Mum intact too. I inherited my Arisaka from my Grandfather many years ago. That's him and my (later to become) Grandmother in my profile pic.

Check out: http://oldmilitarymarkings.com/japanese_markings.html

Confirm the arsenal and date of manufacture. Last ditch guns are sketchy, but earlier productions are rock solid, even with mismatching parts. My Grandfather never fired it after WW2, but it was in great shape mechanically. Tore it down to inspect, cleaned her up, fired one from the hip just in case, and it's been perfect every single shot after. I love that gun and shoot it at least once a month.

Finding ammo can be tough. I haven't looked in a while because I started loading my own. If you plan on shooting it with any frequency, I recommend you go that route. Dies are readily available, and you can get new 7.7 brass from Graf/PRVI, and .303 British bullets are also readily available. Many guys resize from other brass as well.

I'm no expert on the Arisaka's, but I'll be glad to help share my experiences. PM me if you have questions.

Enjoy it!!!

 

[warwickben]

Cool story, the carving being done over like that is pretty cool. I've never seen that on a bring back.
Its a pretty safe gun .
[video=youtube_share;pGwQwXKMuNQ]http://youtu.be/pGwQwXKMuNQ[/video]

 

[mac1911]

Cool story, the carving being done over like that is pretty cool. I've never seen that on a bring back.
Its a pretty safe gun .
[video=youtube_share;pGwQwXKMuNQ]http://youtu.be/pGwQwXKMuNQ[/video]

Beat me to it,
Arisaka 99s are tough as any Garand, Clean it up with CLP give the stock a wipe down to get the dust off and maybe a coat of BLO or 100% pure tung oil. Great gun and a TRUE bring back. Other than checking headspace for good measure. Both my 99s where in rougher shape and the barrels after a few patches where as good as new. They must have had some great chrome back then!

your rifle doesnt appear to be a last ditch by 1st look over ? even still the modern ammo is on the low power side. I love mine and they are accurate as any other battle rifle of the time. I reload mine and use cast bullets.
These guns deserve to be shot if they are safe to do so.





one is mum intact and the other is not matching bolt on both though..... sorry no before shots.

 

[jtnf]

Cool....
As..........
Hell............

Don't know what collector value might be, or whether the carving hurts or helps, but... I side with the "clean it up and shoot it!" crowd. This is living history, no less than an M1 or Mosin-Nagant.
Enjoy it!

 

[Sir_Macadoo]

Wipe it down with Kroil or CLP - if you think you are able, get the barreled action out of the stock and get all the under wood spots. Thats not rust, thats patina. Cherish it.

 

[xero2099]

I second the clean it up and shoot it response

 

[MisterHappy]

It's an heirloom, and, IMO, too much "restoration" removes history.

As noted above, it's in need of stabilization - stop the progress of active rust with oil.

If you want to shoot it, find someone that has some experience with the rifle, and have them give it a once-over. It's seen some hard times ( such as the broken "wings" on the rear sight, a common situation).

Since it does not have a "ground Mum", it was likely a capture, as opposed to a turn-in. The carving is a cool artifact, especially if it was commissioned by your grandfather.

As to safety, if it's not from the last days (it appears to be from earlier) of the war, it should be ok. That said, when I first tried the Type 99 I acquired, a long string was used for the first shot Subsequent shots were in the ususal manner. But not many. Last time we got the ammo, it was $30 for a box of 20

Cool piece.

 

[Cpl McCaughey]

Thanks for the feedback everyone!

I'm glad to see so many interested and knowledgeable about the gun. I think that over break that I'm going to take it apart over Spring Break and start going over the metal functional parts of the weapon with some CLP and steel wool. Anyone have any different techniques or ways to go about touch up and removing the rust that they may want to share?

Like I said, I'm completely new to this. While we've done minor weapons maintenance here at school, never have I had to touch up something like this gun in its current condition. The action/bolt on the gun still functions great and I'm glad to hear this isn't terribly gone. I still wanna bring it to a local gunsmith so they can check out the bore to make sure everything is in order and that it would be safe to fire. To the guys that have had experience with these, how did you go about cleaning the bore? Is it the same process as cleaning the outer parts? CLP and a bore snake?

I'm probably going to be a before and after project with the gun with higher quality pictures and eventually a video of it shooting when that day comes around.

Also, I have great friends. I had one of my friends go to the trade show in Wilmington today and pick me up some of these. I know it's expensive but it's worth every penny to shoot history like this!

-Corporal

 

[enbloc]

I've been wanting to try this:
Website says it's super-safe.
Gonna try it on some milsurp parts.

 

[mac1911]

PLEASE DO NOT USE STEEL WOOL!

PLEASE EXCUSE THE YELLING.
SERIOUSLY BUY A DECENT SET OF ROUND GROUND SCREW TIPS. MAKE SURE THE TIPS FIT WELL IN THE SCREWS. REMOVE ONLY WHAT YOU NEED TO REMOVE WOOD FROM ACTION.
THEN BUY A CAN OF KROIL OR SEVERAL CANS OF CLP. GIVE THE METAL A GOOD COAT OF EITHER AND LET IT SIT FOR A FEW DAYS.
WIPE OFF. SPRAY AND REPEAT..... ALSO REPEAT NO ABRASIVES NOT EVEN 0000 WOOL.
Ok, that rifle is not that bad rust wise. Most of that will wipe off leaving a nice I been there done that look.... clean the bore like any other barrel. Like many said it doesn't take much with those chrome lined barrels.

You just want it clean enough to stop and prevent future rust and to working order. If you make that thing pretty it will loose its cool factor.

 

[40 caliber]

IF you are not sure of a next step, come back to this board. We will help. cleaning the patina off old things ruins the value. i have seen this done many times in many situations (not just guns).

It's yours , do what you wish. but you have a family heirloom. these are far and few between. wouldn't it be better to have a valuable family heirloom, instead of one that was ruined by an overzealous move?

please understand, take it easy. somethings are not reversible if you mess up. get the oil on it, come up with a plan. talk to someone on this board about your plan and go from there. you're young. you have time

and by the way,,, REALLLY COOOL PIECE.......

 

[mac1911]

I've been wanting to try this:
Website says it's super-safe.
Gonna try it on some milsurp parts.

I would be almost certain this will remove the petina and remaining blueing that's left.
the only thing itclaims to be safe for is touching it and flushing it?

Read a little more
http://www.metalrescue.com/usagetips.aspx don't use this stuff.

 

[PATRON]

That is a very nice rifle with a great history,and will clean up real well.You stated that you don't have a FID OR LTC if no one else in the house has one then you should not have that rifle in your home or be stating on this forum that you
do,if you have a dog this is the time to go hide him.

 

[mac1911]

Just to add. Looking at the pictures I don't think the gun is dirty I bet your grandfather cleaned that thing pretty well back in the day. I would also bet it was fired very little since then... heck I bet it would clean up well just wiping it with those rem -oil wipes.

 

[Hardwired]

That is a very nice rifle with a great history,and will clean up real well.You stated that you don't have a FID OR LTC if no one else in the house has one then you should not have that rifle in your home or be stating on this forum that you
do,if you have a dog this is the time to go hide him.

I don't believe any issue in Vermont assuming of age...but likely restricted on a campus.

I'm a junior at the Military College of Vermont (Norwich)

If storing in MA, I agree someone in the residence needs a license or have a properly licensed family/friend store it for you for now. Douse the metal in CLP.

 

[enbloc]

I would be almost certain this will remove the petina and remaining blueing that's left.
the only thing itclaims to be safe for is touching it and flushing it?

Read a little more
http://www.metalrescue.com/usagetips.aspx don't use this stuff.

This may be true. I used a bunch of the stuff below on 175 rusty enbloc clips. They actually came out good and I'm happy with them. If anyone goes this route you will definitely want to try on a sample part. I tried it on a single clip and was very happy.
It did not effect any of the park on the clips except the rusted part, which turned a darker black, but retained the park-like finish. Just darker.

An hierloom Type 99 is nothing like a rusty old en bloc so,

With any rusted firearms, it pays to think before you apply...

 

[Garys]

Several people have mentioned that the "mum" is intact and that it adds to the value. I didn't see where anyone has told you what that means and since you tell us your knew, I thought I'd take a few minutes to explain.

The "mum" is the Chrysanthemum which is shown in the second to the bottom picture of your rifle. The Chrysanthemum was the simple of the Emperor of Japan and all Japanese military personnel were instructed to grind it off before surrendering their weapons at the end of World War II. The vast majority of captured Arisakas had the mum ground off. The relatively few that are left intact have increased collector value. Not that you are interested in selling it, but it might change what you do with.

Several people have given you ideas on how to clean it up and preserve it. There is also a Military Surplus sub forum here and there will be other people there that will help and give advice.

I know I don't have to tell you this, but you grandfather was the real deal. Keeping that rifle is a great way to remember and honor him.

Thanks for sharing the pictures and his story.

 

[Hamtramck]

A lot of collectors use electrolysis to remove rust from their military stuff. Lots of
plans on many of the military websites on how to do it. Removes rust and leaves
the remaining bluing. Also ck out the Japanese collector board on gunboards. Com
lots of answers to your questions there. Great stock on that 99 by the way.

 

[SevenPointSeven]

Keeping that rifle is a great way to remember and honor him.

Shooting it is even better!

There was no way my Grandfather's bring-back was going to be a wall hanger or safe queen!

 

[noddaduma]

Electrolysis tank

Very simple

http://www.surplusrifleforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=80&t=62728


Somewhere in there is my wife's grandfather's Mauser. It looked like your Arisaka before I cleaned it. Notice bluing is intact. Your Arisaka will clean up real nice.

 

[Cpl McCaughey]

Good Morning Everyone,

I wanted to get back to everyone here and thank them for their input. I decided to clean up the gun with CLP and get her in working order, and now SHE SHOOTS! With the help of a few close friends I was able to get her cleaned up and in firing condition. I went with the good friends to the American Firearms School in North Attleboro last Friday and made some history. I got a few good before and after photo's that I link below.

The Before:

The gun when I first received it, in my uncles basement behind some electrical paneling. Not proper storage to say the least!

The During:

A good look at the bore brush when we were cleaning the gun.

The After:

20 rounds at 20-25 yards. For all those wondering, the gun shot like a dream!

Thanks everyone!

 

[mac1911]

you will find the more you wipe it the more it will look better.... As for shooting it mine required hand loads to shoot accurately. With my hand loads in the prone position support i can shoot under 5" groups.
The sight picture on those is not the best and im surprised that both the Germans and the Japanese did not have peep sights ?
one of mine was a shade worse than yours on the rust. It took about a year before the clp really got the "rust" out of it. I left mine out of the stock for almost a year just so I could give it a wipe every few months. good job.

 

[atilla]

very cool, and with a mum!