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6.5 Japanese
Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2023 2:42 am
by sakodude
Re: 6.5 Japanese
Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2023 3:02 am
by Diver43
I don't know anything about the rifle, but the bayonet looks more like a sword.
Re: 6.5 Japanese
Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2023 9:40 am
by JunkCollector
Wow that's just like the one my nephew has.
Been in the family at least 40 years.
The markings you can look here.
https://oldmilitarymarkings.com/japanese_markings.html
Re: 6.5 Japanese
Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2023 10:07 am
by Freezer
The Japanese had two basic bolt action rifles, both were Arisaka's. The 6.5x50 Jap is an Arisaka type 38 and the 7.7x58 type 99. Yours was probably a GI bring-back because the chrysanthemum is intact. All Japanese weapons had a mum on them to show it was the property of the emperor. As a show of good will to the emperor, all captured Japanese weapons had the mum removed or defaced.
The type 38 has a strange type of rifling, IIRC it had three lands and the rifling was rounded. I had one that was sporterized and was able to locate years of manufacture and arsenal through an on-line search.
Some had airplane sights. On the rear sight there were two wings that pulled out to help judge lead on an airplane.
These were very strong actions, styled after the Mauser. PO Ackley tried and blew-up Mauser, Springfield, Enfield and others but never an Arisaka. Arisakas were not popular as sporters because of the large palm safety, the strange rifling and our prejudice. Ammo wasn't readily available after the war and some were re-chambered to 6.5x257 Roberts.
Re: 6.5 Japanese
Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2023 6:18 pm
by Gene L
Go to Gunboards forum and look under the Weapons of the Rising Sun topic. There are a lot of knowledgeable people there and along with your excellent photos, you'll get your questions answered. I believe your rifle is worth a great deal, but I don't know.
Re: 6.5 Japanese
Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2023 9:50 pm
by Big Al1
I had a 7.7! It was a really a nice rifle. Impressive round, they just copied the British .303 but made it rimless and made the neck longer! Surprised it still had the dust cover, they usually got tossed away, they rattled and made it difficult to operate the bolt smoothly. Looks like it may have been drilled for sniper scope!
Re: 6.5 Japanese
Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2023 10:58 pm
by Freezer
OK, this is a beautiful specimen, what is the rest of the story? Is it yours? Did it fall from the sky and into your hands?
BTW you suck!
Re: 6.5 Japanese
Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2023 1:09 am
by Gene L
Another post-war re- chambering was the 06...Just ream the chamber for the 06 and leave the bore alone. I think the Arisakas had chrome bores, but that could be a false memory.
Re: 6.5 Japanese
Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2023 1:49 am
by Freezer
6.5-06
Is that where it came from?
Re: 6.5 Japanese
Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2023 2:00 am
by Big Al1
Gene L wrote: ↑Wed Aug 30, 2023 1:09 am
Another post-war re- chambering was the 06...Just ream the chamber for the 06 and leave the bore alone. I think the Arisakas had chrome bores, but that could be a false memory.
The Navy Arisakas had chrome lined bores. A lot got rechambered for .30-06 but the bore is .311 so the probably didn't shoot to good.
Re: 6.5 Japanese
Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2023 2:11 am
by Bigslug
Some history from Othias:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beDlh_1tBHE
And the carbines:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enG6y1oQA8A
Does not look like he's done the 7.7 yet, which makes sense since his big project today has been covering WWI. The 7.7 is more or less a rimless .303 Brit.
Re: 6.5 Japanese
Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2023 4:08 am
by sakodude
Big Al1 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 29, 2023 9:50 pm
I had a 7.7! It was a really a nice rifle. Impressive round, they just copied the British .303 but made it rimless and made the neck longer! Surprised it still had the dust cover, they usually got tossed away, they rattled and made it difficult to operate the bolt smoothly. Looks like it may have been drilled for sniper scope!
What am I missing? you say drilled for a scope. The only holes I see are on top of the receiver and it is my understanding those are gas ports.
Re: 6.5 Japanese
Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2023 4:09 am
by sakodude
Freezer wrote: ↑Tue Aug 29, 2023 10:58 pm
OK, this is a beautiful specimen, what is the rest of the story? Is it yours? Did it fall from the sky and into your hands?
BTW you suck!
Not much story I'm afraid. My brother got it from a guy that owed him some money. I got it from my brother.
Re: 6.5 Japanese
Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2023 4:12 am
by sakodude
So based on info here, it would seem this rifle was removed from service to ether be sold or sent to a school for a training weapon. This based on the fact the Mum is over stamped but I can't identify the characters.
Re: 6.5 Japanese
Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2023 11:54 am
by Freezer
Wow! Thanks guys, this is fun and an interesting rabbit hole to explore.
Re: 6.5 Japanese
Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2023 12:31 pm
by JunkCollector
I know a guy that probably has dies,brass, and bullets for one....
My nephews was quite accurate.
Re: 6.5 Japanese
Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2023 1:34 pm
by Big Al1
sakodude wrote: ↑Wed Aug 30, 2023 4:08 am
Big Al1 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 29, 2023 9:50 pm
I had a 7.7! It was a really a nice rifle. Impressive round, they just copied the British .303 but made it rimless and made the neck longer! Surprised it still had the dust cover, they usually got tossed away, they rattled and made it difficult to operate the bolt smoothly. Looks like it may have been drilled for sniper scope!
What am I missing? you say drilled for a scope. The only holes I see are on top of the receiver and it is my understanding those are gas ports.
That's the way they mounted their scopes, kinda sideways to the way we would drill for one. I couldn't tell if the rear was drilled because of the dust cover. If they are not threaded then probably gas ports.
Re: 6.5 Japanese
Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2023 2:07 pm
by sakodude
Big Al1 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 30, 2023 1:34 pm
sakodude wrote: ↑Wed Aug 30, 2023 4:08 am
Big Al1 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 29, 2023 9:50 pm
I had a 7.7! It was a really a nice rifle. Impressive round, they just copied the British .303 but made it rimless and made the neck longer! Surprised it still had the dust cover, they usually got tossed away, they rattled and made it difficult to operate the bolt smoothly. Looks like it may have been drilled for sniper scope!
What am I missing? you say drilled for a scope. The only holes I see are on top of the receiver and it is my understanding those are gas ports.
That's the way they mounted their scopes, kinda sideways to the way we would drill for one. I couldn't tell if the rear was drilled because of the dust cover. If they are not threaded then probably gas ports.
Just checked, no other holes under the dust cover and the two on the receiver go in at about a 45 degree angle so safe to say gas ports I think.
Re: 6.5 Japanese
Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2023 3:42 pm
by Big Al1
The 7.7 only has one gas hole. I may have confused it with an 09 Argentine scope mount. Scope was a side mount on the 6.5.
Re: 6.5 Japanese
Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2023 2:54 am
by Bigslug