I don't usually do impulse buys. But today I got a call from a friend, "there's an auction starting in about 15 minutes with a Ariska type
99" he said. I live in a smallish town, the opportunity to buy a milsurp rifle locally is not to be ignored, so off I go - no time for any research. I
get there just as they are starting in on the rifles, and the blasted '99 is the first one they auction. Only had time for a quick peek before the bidding
started, but it looked good enough to bid on, and I got it - for an ok price I think.
First the bad, the dust shield is missing, and the mum is ground - but only slightly. Just has a couple of shallow swipes across it. The numbering on the bolt also doesn't match the rifle, but all the numbers on the bolt match each other.
Now the good. Doesn't look like it's seen much use. Metal finish is very good, hardly any signs of wear at all. The bore needs cleaning, but it is at least bright with plenty of rifling, no signs of frost or pitting on the lands anyway. Wood has original finish in good shape and has only a few minor dings and scrapes. Nothing is damaged, and other than the dust shield everything is there. The rifle it late enough that it was never fitted with the aircraft wings on the sights, or the monopod.
It's a series 33, serial number 752XX, and the arsinal/subcontractor is Toyo/Kogyo. Other than the chrysanthemum there are no marks on the top of the reciever, though I understand that is normal on the later series. That's all I know about it so far, but all of a sudden I'm interested in researching Japanese rifles. For a spur of the moment deal I think I did ok.
Any info welcome.
FYI, the other firearms at the auction weren't interesting, just modern hunting stuff - what use is that
.
--
Xlerb.
First the bad, the dust shield is missing, and the mum is ground - but only slightly. Just has a couple of shallow swipes across it. The numbering on the bolt also doesn't match the rifle, but all the numbers on the bolt match each other.
Now the good. Doesn't look like it's seen much use. Metal finish is very good, hardly any signs of wear at all. The bore needs cleaning, but it is at least bright with plenty of rifling, no signs of frost or pitting on the lands anyway. Wood has original finish in good shape and has only a few minor dings and scrapes. Nothing is damaged, and other than the dust shield everything is there. The rifle it late enough that it was never fitted with the aircraft wings on the sights, or the monopod.
It's a series 33, serial number 752XX, and the arsinal/subcontractor is Toyo/Kogyo. Other than the chrysanthemum there are no marks on the top of the reciever, though I understand that is normal on the later series. That's all I know about it so far, but all of a sudden I'm interested in researching Japanese rifles. For a spur of the moment deal I think I did ok.
Any info welcome.
FYI, the other firearms at the auction weren't interesting, just modern hunting stuff - what use is that
.
--
Xlerb.
