It's an Arisaka. I'd rather hunt with a rock than use an Arisaka.
Well, I think I would go with the Arisaka over a rock, but I get what you mean!
The only one of those I ever owned was a mint pre-war Type 38 Carbine, with folding bayonet, intact mum. It was a long time ago, and I got $600 for it 25 years ago. I shudder to think what it would fetch today. Never even fired it.
A little buddy of mine in elementary school brought in a small wooden box of his Marine father's souvenirs from Guadalcanal, for show and tell. Inside were wondrous artifacts that stirred the imaginations of our 9 year old minds: 6.5 Jap cartridges, Japanese coins, rifle parts, fuses from Japanese mortar rounds(!), a (supposedly) inert grenade(!!!), and a couple dessicated ears...
Can you imagine a kid showing up in school with that stuff today?!
Slightly off topic, but several years ago I responded to a newspaper add for an FN Mauser in 300 Savage. I agreed to meet the seller at a half way point and when he arrived and pulled the rifle out of its case it turned out to be the nicest custom Arisaka I have ever seen rechambered to 300 Savage. The seller wasnt gun saavy and if I remember correctly he called a gunshop and described the gun to them over the phone and they told him it was an FN Mauser.
I actually ended up with one of these rechambered to 300 Savage. A ophthalmic tech I worked with gave it to me. It was nicely done in a Fajen stock. 'Never fired it-sold it a week later.
I wonder why .300 Savage was a popular rechambering in these guns?
And while the Arisaka was more deadly than a rock, I'd still take the rock over the 'Saki boom-boom.
I wonder why .300 Savage was a popular rechambering in these guns?
Right after the war every Tom, Dick, and Harry who came home from the Pacific brought along a trophy Arisaka. Those guys found out pretty quickly that there was no ammo to be found. Zero, zip, nada. The 6.5mm Jap owners were really screwed, but the guys with the 7.7mm rifles discovered that their bore diameters were close enough to .30 caliber so as not to matter much. What to re-chamber them for? The .30-06 was too long for the action, and remember the .308 hadn't come out yet. That pretty much only left the good old .300 Savage. A lot of neighborhood gunsmiths paid the electric bill with money from setting Jap barrels back a couple threads and re-chambering to .300 Savage. Cut the stock back, slap a coat of varnish on it (or not), and Presto! A cheap way to arm yourself for a weekend deer hunt while living/studying under the GI Bill.
now up to $270 with 25 minutes to go
Hurry up, gophergunner! Time's getting away!
I just ordered up some Barnes TTSX ballistic tip rocks.........