Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: NCLawman on January 07, 2007, 05:32:35 PM
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I have recently come into possession of a WWII Japanese Rifle. Until recently it belonged to a friend's Grandfather. It is my understanding that he was on Guadalcanal and took the rifle during combat and managed to get it back to the states. That having been said, I am looking for an idea of what it is worth.
I have managed to do a bit of research and found that rifle is in fairly good shape. It is an Arisaka Type-99 from the Nagoya Arsenal. It is a Series 3 Rifle and the serial number is in the low 24000s. It still has all of the original markings and the Imperial Chrisanthemum (sp?) is still intact. I have read that many of the captured rifles turned over after the war had the chrisanthemum oblitereated to "save face" for the Emporer. It is my understanding, that only a few combat capture rifles still bear the Imperial Insignia.
So, having this in mind, can anyone verify if the information I have is correct? And, two, where can I look to have the rifle appraised and/or sold? I am not in the "collectible" loop and am looking for some advice.
Thanks,
NCLawMan (Jeff)
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http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=63530372
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You've been reading this (http://www.radix.net/~bbrown/japanese_markings.html), I'll wager. This place (http://oldguns.net/cat_fa_old_foreign_long.htm) has a Type 99 series 1 serial number 28986, no chrysanthemum, "above average", for $325, and other Type 99s for slightly less and slightly more.
This (http://www.gunsamerica.com/Search.aspx?SearchText=Chrysanthemum&x=0&y=0) is the search return result from Gunsamerica for the word "Chrysanthemum". It seems that Arisaka rifles with this feature are selling from $350 up to about $700, in the latter case from a company called Collectible Firearms which tends to price things on the high side.
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Thank you both for your replys. Coincidentally, my rifle appears to be in much better condition than most of the ones in the auctions. I am looking forward to digging a little deeper into this.
Thanks again
Jeff
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That rifle was featured on History channel.
"History of the gun" If im not mistaking.
If it still has a Chrisanthemum its early war before the mass production where they left that dynasty's symbol out.
Good luck
a definite score
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Very cool rifle. Most are 7.7 and ammo is available, but not cheap. I reload 7.7 for a friend of my who has a sporterized version of one of those.
Not a bad shooter if it isn't worth a mint.
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Always nice to know the moments in life that make you go "DOH!"
I had one of those rifles inhertitance while in high school. Traded it many years later, plus a .303 British WWII model (not enfield, less stock under the barrel) for a used compound bow, and now I see this thread. Imagine the .303 will be worth something too, then. Figures. :mad:
Also turned two full, uncut, sheets of Philladelphia Flyers entire team, 74 or 75, and Philadelphia Phillies, same era, trading cards into bicycle spoke slappers.
I guess it is a good thing I didn't go into the stock market......
1bob
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Originally posted by volvo744
Always nice to know the moments in life that make you go "DOH!"
I had one of those rifles inhertitance while in high school. Traded it many years later, plus a .303 British WWII model (not enfield, less stock under the barrel) for a used compound bow, and now I see this thread.
Holy Toledo, volvo.
A person could make a fortune by fading your decisions!
;)
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Originally posted by zarkov
Holy Toledo, volvo.
A person could make a fortune by fading your decisions!
;)
:rofl
Sadly, I agree. :cry
Love the name/quote, too. Flash Gordon was a great movie, with a kickass soundtrack.
1bob
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Had a 7.7 mm Arisaka rifle, WWII vintage, Japanese, with matching bayonette...talking about that model?
ROX