7.7 Jap Arisaka question
Johan Ingvelovitch
while back. It has the caliber ground off, but seems to be in great
condition. It also has a chrome lined barrel. I am very interested in
trying to shoot this rifle, but someone told me that they are dangerous and
can "blow up,"..... while I have read elsewhere that this is a strong
action. Does anyone know about these rifles and if they are safe to shoot.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Johan
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Grsjax
#can "blow up,"..... while I have read elsewhere that this is a strong
#action. Does anyone know about these rifles and if they are safe to shoot.
With the exception of training rifles that were manufactured with cast iron
receivers Arisakas are as strong a rifle as you are going to find. If it is in
good condition go ahead and shoot it.
Dennis Novak
# I have a Japanese 7.7mm (Arisaka?) rifle from W.W.II my uncle gave me a
# while back. It has the caliber ground off, but seems to be in great
# condition. It also has a chrome lined barrel. I am very interested in
# trying to shoot this rifle, but someone told me that they are dangerous and
# can "blow up,"..... while I have read elsewhere that this is a strong
# action. Does anyone know about these rifles and if they are safe to shoot.
# Any help would be greatly appreciated.
If your Arisaka is in good condition, it is eminently safe to shoot.
Ammunition is somewhat pricey, though. I believe Norma still loads 7.7 jap, at
their extraordinary prices.
There were late war "substitute Arisaka's" or some name like that, that are
probably not safe. They are recognized by their conspicuous cheapness. The
stock is a two piece lamination with an obvious joint and a wood butt plate
nailed on. The rear sight, I believe, is a fixed aperture rather then the
ladder type with antiaircraft wings. The bolt handle knob is cylindrical
rather than oval. If it is such a clunker, I'd keep it as a curio, but not
shoot it.
In any event, I'd have a gunsmith check it out and verify the headspace.
-Dennis Novak
Gunner
wrote:
> ...
If it has a chrome lined barrel, it is a shooter. Assuming the weapon
is in good condition, enjoy.
Gunner
learl
Grsjax <grs...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:8149h5$9e7$1...@xring.cs.umd.edu...
# # I am very interested in
# #trying to shoot this rifle, but someone told me that they are dangerous
and
# #can "blow up,"..... while I have read elsewhere that this is a strong
# #action. Does anyone know about these rifles and if they are safe to
shoot.
#
Check the firing pin for cracks, they are made in sections. If it has a kind
of styalized rising sun engraved on the saftey, on the rear of the bolt its
safe. If tis smooth, be carfull, it may be a replacement bolt. If the
center of the safety is brazed into the safety, dont shoot it till you get
one that is engraved.
Mark Crispin
# There were late war "substitute Arisaka's" or some name like that, that are
# probably not safe. They are recognized by their conspicuous cheapness. The
# stock is a two piece lamination with an obvious joint and a wood butt plate
# nailed on. The rear sight, I believe, is a fixed aperture rather then the
# ladder type with antiaircraft wings. The bolt handle knob is cylindrical
# rather than oval. If it is such a clunker, I'd keep it as a curio, but not
# shoot it.
If I may, I'll clarify. There's been a lot of confusion about this topic,
even by major writers who should know better.
All Arisakas should be safe to fire, as long as the firearm is in good
condition and maintains good headspace. They are very rugged firearms.
The so-called "last ditch" Arisakas cut a lot of corners (e.g. an ugly
blob weld at the back of the bolt instead of the previous knurling) and
this tendency increased as time went on. Nonetheless, a "last ditch"
Arisaka is quite safe to fire.
HOWEVER, there *IS* a real danger, which is the underlying source of the
rumors.
Japan also made a number of "trainer" rifles, used by schools, which were
never intended to be fired. They were used for children's military
training. Unlike US drill team rifles, trainers actually have real bolts
and firing pins, and there's nothing that keeps you from putting in
ammunition in one of them. However, it is quite unsafe to do so; they'll
fire...once.
A lot of GIs picked up Arisakas and Nambus as war trophies. Some
unfortunates (generally, guys who weren't in the war) grabbed trainers
(which just looked like unusually crude "last ditch" versions) during the
Occupation, fired their new toy, and came to grief. Thus began the "late
model Arisaka unsafe to fire" rumor.
Compared to an Arisaka, a trainer is quite obvious. The sights are
rudimentary, and when you look at both together the trainer is obviously
slapped together to look like an Arisaka but not to be fired.
It was even more obvious to the Japanese, as most trainers were marked (in
Japanese) on the stock "property of such-and-such school" and/or "do not
fire". If there are Japanese characters on the stock, STOP!!! find
someone who can read Japanese and tell you the meaning. It may not always
say "do not fire", but if it says anything about a school then it is a
trainer!!!!!
No trainer ever had the Imperial chrysanthemum on the top of the receiver
(just behind the chamber). So that's an easy check -- if your rifle has a
flower, it's probably safe to fire.
Many Arisakas had the chrysanthemum filed off after the war. There are at
least two conflicting stories about why this was done. So, a big circular
file mark probably also indicates a safe rifle, but perhaps some sleeze
may have done this to trainers hoping to pass them off as Arisakas.
I'm pretty sure that only Arisakas have the Japanese characters for "type
99" on the top of the receiver (below the chrysanthemum). A trainer
wasn't a type 99, it was something make to look like a rifle.
If you can't read Japanese (I can, which makes things easier for me...),
then either check with an expert or look for a book on Arisakas at a gun
show. There are books which will explain the difference between trainers
and Arisakas. Once you know what to look for, it's pretty easy.
# In any event, I'd have a gunsmith check it out and verify the headspace.
Always a good idea. See if you can find one that knows about Arisakas and
how to distinguish them from trainers.
-- Mark --
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Science does not emerge from voting, party politics, or public debate.
Jeff Bigham
absolutely love the one my dad gave me. It shoots well and is pretty
accurate.
http://www.radix.net/~bbrown/japanese_markings.html
joh...@my-deja.com
most helpful.
Johan
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
lre...@wlu.edu
"Johan Ingvelovitch" <Jo...@aol.com> wrote:
# I have a Japanese 7.7mm (Arisaka?) rifle from W.W.II my uncle gave me
a
# while back. It has the caliber ground off, but seems to be in great
in
# trying to shoot this rifle, but someone told me that they are
dangerous and
# can "blow up,"..... while I have read elsewhere that this is a strong
# action. Does anyone know about these rifles and if they are safe to
shoot.
# Any help would be greatly appreciated.
# Johan
One caution that I didn't see in prior posts concerns ammunition.
It is possible to make 7.7mm cases from 30-06 cases. This is potentially
dangerous due to the slightly larger case head diameter of the Arisaka
case. I had a box of this stuff back in the 60's. During a test firing
session (rifle tied to an automobile tire and fired with a long string),
a number of cases split in the head area.
Is there a safe method of using 06 cases, such as fireforming
before using a full strength load?? I chose the cautious path and kept
it as a wall hanger.
Len