Type 99 Arisaka questions

but from what i've read online this does not sound like a last ditch based on the bipod and bolt nob.

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There are a number of things that identify the late war, or "last ditch" rifles. Simply put, they are rough, and not difficult to spot. The rear of the bolt, the bolt handle, the rear sight, the overall fit & finish-all more crude on the late rifle.

They were asking $520. Should I head back and grab it? I might have to sell off a couple other old relics to make up for it.

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I haven't been in the market for an Arisaka for a little while, but unless the mum is in-tact, five bills seems pretty steep. I paid that for a type 38 with mum, bayonet and sling.

Even with an intact mum that's significantly overpriced for a run-of-the-mill Type 99.

As much as i'd like to add an Arisaka to the old milsurp collection I doubt the salesman at Cabela's would let it go for around $250, maybe $300

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If you don't ask, the answer's always no

The prices they bring today boggles my mind!

Back in the day, very nice vet bring-backs with capture papers sold for $10 - $15 bucks.
And you couldn't hardly give them away.

The only ones that brought any decent money then was the take-down paratrooper model.
And they still do!

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Arisaka-Model-Type-Paratrooper-Take-Down/1787004.uts

rc

If it had the aircraft sights and the monopod it is NOT a last ditch gun. Did it have a chrome lined bore? Last ditch guns didn't have that either. A dead givaway is the upper tang at the rear of the receiver. Late guns had that piece cast with the receiver and it was non-detachable. If the tang on the gun is a separate part, the gun should be good to go.

Remember, most all of the 7.7mm Arisakas were pretty rough looking, with machining that was not up to Western standards. That does not detract from the fact that they were well designed and manufactured, of the best materials.

I would grab it. 7.7 ammo is nonexistant on the surplus market, but who cares. The round is easily made from 30-06 brass and .311 bullets are easy to find.

When I was looking for an Arisaka myself about a year ago, $400 would get you a very nice specimen. I wouldn't got for $500+ unless it was in really good shape, and had specific collectors value.

-Jenrick

We have a Cabela's about 6 miles away. There's always some interesting used guns, but ohmygod are their prices high! Just ridiculous. If I had the money and desire for a new old gun, they'd have to do some serious discounting. I'd make 'em work for it.

Over priced.

If you want an Arisaka keep your eyes out and look for them. There are still some WW2 vets around, but they are going quick. You might be able to pick one up for less at an estate sale or a pawn shop.

But it probably won't have the bipod feet nor the anti-aircraft sights, both of which are useless in practical use but do make a better collector. I have 6 Arisaka's now, 3 Type 38's and 3 Type 99's, two have the mum intact. I did not set out to collect them but it happened anyway. I do have two with the complete AA sights but I do not have any with the bipod legs. If you want it go back and negotiate, if you are not concerned about the trinkets then pass on it. They are all good shooters, surprisingly I believe my Type 38 carbine is the most accurate of them all, and I bought it from a member of this board.

$520 is pretty darned steep. unless it had mum intact, matching dust cover and all the afforementioned parts and perfect or 90% bluing, I would say no. that gun is $400 tops. that said, I love arisakas, great guns, fun to shoot, accurate. I killed my first black bear with a type 44 carbine.

My experience with Cabelas is they won't negotiate until it goes unsold for a month and then they don't bend much on the price. I've bought three guns from them. Two were good deals IMO and one was okay. By and large nearly all their used guns are overpriced IMO.

I just bought a decent, but not perfect, Type 99 with bayonet and Mum for $225. That may be a bit under market, but not terribly so. I would think that a nice one should sell in the $3-400 range.

I have one that a previous owner put in a sporter stock (Remington BDL I think), mum is gone but the metal work is otherwise intact. I paid $125 for it and it's a great shooter. You could buy something like that and put it back in an IJA stock and so on for a proper rifle. But the real fun is shooting them - they're really very good Mauser variants - and I personally like having one that is not a collectors item

"And you couldn't hardly give them away."

The problem was limited supplies of 7.7 ammo in the 1950s and 1960s. More recently, "exotic" calibers like 7.7 Ariska can be found new manufacture.