Description

WW2 Aussie War Trophy?

Offered for sale is this Imperial Japanese Arisaka Type 99 chambered in 7.7mm with the MUM still intact!

We obtained this from an Aussie collector & believe it has never left Australia after being bought over by an Imperial Japanese soldier or Marine around around 82 years ago who assumedly didn’t make it home. Everything points to it being a battlefield capture which somehow made it down under, (presumably not a long journey from the battlefields of New Guinea or some island in the Pacific), perhaps brought home by a returning Digger at some time.

There are plenty of anecdotal stories of AIF Units returning from the Pacific campaign by ship after VJ Day & being told as they were sailing into Sydney Harbour to prepare for kit inspections to enforce the ‘no bring back’ policy of the day regarding weapons.

Those with unauthorised Japanese weapons were given the opportunity to ditch any weapons overboard & most did, to the amusement of their mates who had said don’t so it. Clearly not all were chucked overboard, as this is here although of course it could have been bought back by aircraft or motor boat etc.

Imperial Japanese rifles with the MUM are uniformly accepted as being captured & not surrendered post war because all surrendered Japanese rifles had the The Emperor’s Chrysanthemum (MUM) either ground, scrubbed or somehow defaced at the time of the Japanese surrender.

We as collectors are told to buy the gun & not the story but this is worth taking notice of as the only way it got to Australia was to be bought back from wherever it came.

This rifle is marked as being a Series 28 made by the Izawa Jyuko arsenal & as can be seen in the photos, it has definitely seen service but presents in pretty good overall condition as can be seen in the photos, plus the bore is excellent & shiny with clear visible rifling & no nastiness, so definitely a shooter.

This is priced to sell & one for the serious collector who knows what they want, so make your decision based on what you see & no, the flag does not come with the rifle.

Please view the photos carefully as they form the main description & override all written information so ask for more if desired.

Whilst we check these out for serviceability, the warranty has expired & these are sold on an as is basis.

As with all used guns, we recommend you have this checked by a suitably qualified person prior to shooting.

Call for shipping cost to your dealer.