Help Me Identify This Rifle (SOLVED - Type 99)

[cbickle]

Just inherited this rifle. Not home yet, but my girl sent me some pictures. All I know is that it's a Japanese 7.7 Cal Rifle. Any info is appreciated.

 

[mightymouse]

It is a sporterized Arisaka Type 99. Standard Japanese WWII military rifle in a sporterized stock.

 

[Perplexed]

What MM said. It seems to be missing the chrysanthemum symbol, which would have been on the receiver bridge forward of the hole. That was common on Type 99's after the war, when most had that symbol of the Emperor defaced or removed completely since it was considered an insult for an intact symbol to fall into the hands of the enemy. But get this - the Allied occupational army ordered GI's to do a lot of the defacing, to keep the Japanese population appeased. Files and bayonets were commonly used for this.

 

[cbickle]

What MM said. It seems to be missing the chrysanthemum symbol, which would have been on the receiver bridge forward of the hole. That was common on Type 99's after the war, when most had that symbol of the Emperor defaced or removed completely since it was considered an insult for an intact symbol to fall into the hands of the enemy. But get this - the Allied occupational army ordered GI's to do a lot of the defacing, to keep the Japanese population appeased. Files and bayonets were commonly used for this.

Would you say the symbol was certainly filed off, or could the rifle have been made closer to 1945 and simply didn't have it at all?

I've done some research as well. Thank you guys so much! Feel free to keep the info coming.

 

[dennishoddy]

I think it was the 7.7 Mod 99 that Col Jeff Cooper said was the only action he couldn't blow up with proof loads.
I have one that was rebarreled after the war to a .300 Savage and sporterized.

 

[cbickle]

I suppose it's safe to say the Deer and flowers were a post WWII add-on?

Wish I knew who did it.

 

[mightymouse]

I think that would be safe to say, yes.

 

[Perplexed]

Would you say the symbol was certainly filed off, or could the rifle have been made closer to 1945 and simply didn't have it at all?

I've done some research as well. Thank you guys so much! Feel free to keep the info coming.

It depends. What does the back of the bolt look like, and what is the SN range and arsenal mark?