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Arisaka Type 99 S Full Type 99

This is an important point - despite the crude appearance, the IJA accepted this late war rifle into the Emperors service and it was marked and issued as a full Type 99.

In recent months I have heard a GREAT MANY oft-repeated but factually wrong myths perpetuated about the Type 99 rifle and the supposedly dangerously unsafe last ditch Type 99.

Let me start this little edjumacation by stating it clearly: There is no such thing as a last ditch type 99.

This misnomer was begun when American servicemen, many of whom could not read or speak Japanese, did some stupid things when occupying post-war Japan.

Chief among these idiocies was the firing of service ammunition in training rifles that outwardly appeared to be Type 38 or Type 99 rifles, but were actually crudely made training rifles with unrifled barrels.

These were typically not marked as imperial arms and often stated clearly on them that they were drill or training rifles (in Japanese).

The predictable grenading of rifles resulted and the last ditch 99 was born.

This perception was not helped by the crude exterior appearance of real late war type 99 rifles which mirrored the cost and time saving measures implemented in Nazi Germany in the Kriegsmodell.

Today we know better and the Remington 710 essentially copied the Special Naval Rifle action of WW2 in that the bolt locked directly to lugs in the barrel, the receiver serving only to hold the bolt as it was cycled.

Despite a shabby apeparance, these were functionally safe rifles.

But I digress. Even more clearly: The Imperial Japanese Army did not issue unsafe rifles.

Every Type 99 from the first to the last underwent the same proof tests and was built to fire many, many rounds.

Arisaka Type 99 S Series Production Began

For reference, the first Type 99 series production began at Nagoya in August, 1939.

Here is a photo of an early Type 99, a 31st series Toyo Kogyo Type 99 made in 1940 (on top) compared to a 7th Series Nagoya late war rifle made in 1944.

The bayonets shown with each rifle are of the proper vintage for that rifle.

Although not unsheathed, the top blade is fullered and the bottom blade is not.

Right away there are some obvious cosmetic differences, but surprisingly few functional differences.

Both rifles have the same rifling (metford pattern) and are in 7.7 Japanese, though the early rifle enjoyed the excess (for that timeframe) of a chrome-lined bore.

The bolts have the same lug pattern and are functionally identical, though methods of manufacture differ.

Barrel length and overall length is the same and both are battle-sivhted to 300m.

And one rifle incorporated an (ineffective) stabilizing monopod for long-range shooting and anti-aircraft sights that were not oft used in combat.

Factory markings of the Toyo Kogyo: And the Nagoya: Next youll notice the receiver markings.

Arisaka Type 99 Serial Numbers