Price check on an Arisaka

I've seen them for sale in local gun shops for as little as $50. They're not a very desirable rifle and ammunition, while available, is relatively expensive.

My Type 38 was built in the late 20's early 30's based on the SN, the mum is not intact, worth maybe $300 tops. Fires 6.5x50 Arisaka ammo, and the type 99 fires 7.7x58.

When I see them being sold, which isn't often, but often enough, retail price tag is usually between $150 (only seen it this low once) up to $500 for a pristine condition rifle with intact mum.

ETA: I've seen a few rebored to a more common ammo. If you can find one of those, shooting it isn't as expensive.

I've never shot mine. But it was handed down from my step dad, who got it from his dad, who got it from the Pacific Theater. Sentimental value is worth more than it's dollar value.

depends where you live, here in Washington state i can get one a nice non sporter for around 150$ and one with the mum intact for 250$ the price for a 38 and 99 are the same here.

I have three, one with airplane sights, mum, bipod and bayonet...and 2 with no mum and no bayos. They are a great add to the collection, but I haven't shot any of them.

You should be able to find an acceptable shooter of either flavor for $175-200.

Shooters abound in the $150-200 range. Everyone gets all stupid about mums and boobytrapped rifles and countless other superstitions and perceptions, when the practical fact is that an Arisaka is pretty much no different than any other midrange genuine Mauser rifle in terms of mechanics, safety, durability, provenance, age, or operation. Figure low of a hundred, high of five, same as an Argentine or a Chilean or Vz-98 or whatever, condition and matching depending.

However, that buck-or-more-a-shot commercial ammo price versus thirty-cent Romanian 8mm surplus surely knocks the demand down. As does the "if it's got no mum it's garbage" or "it might be boobytrapped" or "late war guns are pot-metal and dangerous" mythos surrounding them by peripherally aware/ fudd type shooters.

USAF Vet has it right. You should wait and try to get the best condition rifle you can find. If you want one just to shoot get a 6.5; they are easier to reload if you can find someone and look cooler. More accurate. Very expensive ammo. Put a bayo on and they are some of the neatest looking rifles ever made.

I have one, rescued her from a drowning gun shop ( price was free). No sights, looks like someone was sporting it and stopped. Other than that I like it. It's worth about a hundred if I am lucky. Problem is ammo if youdontreload. I have seen it and can find it but options are slim. Great shooter even with no sights i find paper at 50+

I have seen quite a few ranging from 50 to 300 and I would have shot them all. As long as there are no obvious malfunctions they are pretty rugged. Happy hunting

I've seen Arisakas at local gun shows for around $100-$300 depending upon condition. There have been times I've seen the asking price higher for bayonets than rifles.

Ive sold a handful in my shop two or three sporterized for about 100 bucks had two originals that brought about double that...one i think was a little more that was all matching. Nice pieces of history one of the guys that bought one of mine said it shoots great though i do believe he said ammo was a little hard to come by.

And yes the bayonets are pretty sought after i sold the one bayonet that ive ever had separate and got over 100.00 for the bayonet

I think Norma is the only manufacturer I know of for Arisaka ammo. I remember 20 years ago it ran over $1/round for my friend's 7.7mm.

The one thing you have to look out for are training rifles. They often are much cheaper and they are not safe to shoot.

Hornady(SP?) makes the .jap rounds too for less than norma.

You should be able to find a good specimen for 150 bucks. Easy. Definately make sure that it hasn't been re bored. Alot of them were because over here the 7.7 wasn't as popular. But since you are ruling out sporterized models you probably won't run into that. Gun shows are your best bet, I'd look for the 99, bayonet will dramatically increase the price (stupid). I lIke the action alot. Very very simple. Do all your normal inspections, some of the later models were "rushed" through assembly in an effort to get them to the field thus poor QC. But in my experience most of the ones that have made it this far are safe. In fact the only unsafe one I saw was very obvious and not for sale

All he Arisaka's I've played with (and I own 4) are a bit different. The "Last Ditch" rifles will be the cheapest as they have fixed sights and little fine finishing. That is not to say they are bad, they were just made quickly - but the metallurgy is good, the machining is good where it counts and they are reasonably accurate. They are sighted for 300 yds, so you will be around 8" high or so at a 100. A solid last ditch is now fetching $200 in most places I know?

The type 38's are usually Long as in almost 5ft. Paratrooper take-downs will fetch the most money (serious cash). Early war Type 99's will be the sweet spot for price in the $250~$400 range. Mum would be nice as that would usually be WW-II Vet bring back (war trophy).

I've seen them with a Star cartouche meaning they were re-issued in Red China or made at the arsenal there and issued after WW-II. Any of the ressues may have been chambered for other rounds. The ones that went to Korea for South Korean troops were re-chambered to 30-06.

Intact sights and all wood would be the most important exterior bits. Minor metal can be had off the 'Bay. Watch out for the firing pin. They can break and are getting real rare (original) - the aftermarket ones leave something to be desired. Bolt body and safety should match. I've tried swapping a bunch of parts around and it does not work well. They weren't custom fitted, but they were tooled in lots, so wildly different years or arsenals will not mate up well.

Ammo is easy. Basic Lee Reloader will do fine. Any bullet good for a .303 British will work just fine. MrNambu has ammo on the net for $20'ish a box based on Prvi-Partizan brass and it works fine - http://www.mrnambu.com/Brass.htm

Enjoy - fun guns. Light and very easy to field strip. Don't turn down a good sporter if it's there with original sights if it's cheap enough. Wood can be had now and then.

it's a 99 and in 7.7 the seller is wrong...

Looks like one for the collection

OBTW - you notice the length of the bullet in that pic? The Arisaka folks like long bullets in either 6.5 or 7.7. Now days, commercial ammo is using modern profiles that have a bit more "jump" to engage the rifling. Loading long may help with accuracy in all Arisaka's?

Looks o.k. What is the seller asking? Is the barrel chrome-lined? A type 38 is still more desireable. Ground mum?

Yes. That's alot. Maybe you should do two things. Get your C+R license and shop around a little. I have the 99 like your description with an intact mum but the type 38 rifles are more fun to shoot, more accurate(longer barrels) and cheaper to reload for 'cause the 6.5 slug is used in alot of other rifles. The 38's are more attractive than the others and usually better crafted. Sarco sells aftermarket bolt-slides, bayos and slings for not much. Just wait a while; people are running out of money and second hand firearms will only lower in price. Good luck.

Get your C+R license and shop around a little.
I agree.