Arisaka Type 99 Rifle : Japanese Military Forces

Arisaka Type 99 Rifle. Blued steel action and bolt. It has a full wood stock with a wire monopod rest folded underneath and top hand guard. The rear leaf sight has folding extension arms on the sides for aiming at aircraft. It is complete with a cleaning rod and a brown leather sling that has a brass adjuster buckle. The right side of the stock has minor damage near the action. A small canvas tag is attached to the front sling swivel that has four Japanese characters which translate as 'Oba Senior Maintenance Warrant Officer'. The muzzle has a detachable khaki green plastic cover.

The Arisaka Type 99 Rifle evolved from experience in the Sino-Japanese war in Manchuria in the early 1930s where combat experience convinced the Japanese that the standard 6.5 mm cartridge was not sufficiently powerfull enough and that something heavier was needed. In 1932 a 7.7 mm cartridge was developed and by 1939 the Arisaka Type 38 had been rechamberd for the new cartridge. The Type 99 rifle was to become the standard infantry rifle of the Japanese army during the Second World War and also replace the Type 38 rifle, which was never achieved due to the war situation. This rifle was donated by the 2nd Military History Team.