My 92 yr old Dad has passed on his collection to me. I have identified two of the rifles as Model 99. One is a long rifle that is complete with the breech shield and the Chrysanthemum was not ground off. It does have a ring of circles stamped around it which I was told meant it had been given to a school and was no longer the property of the Emperor.
The other 99 is a Last Ditch model that was never issued. When my Dad acquired it, it still had grease packed in the barrel. This one has never been fired. The Chrysanthemum has been ground off.
The third one is the one that has me at a loss. It is also a long rifle with an intact Chrysanthemum, but rather than have the 99's big round knob at the end of the bolt, there is a hook to one side that allows the pin to be retracted when the bolt is closed. This one also has the number "37" painted on the side of the stock.
None of these guns have been restored or fired that I know of since my Dad got them as a teen.
Any feedback as to what the third one is? I have been told that long rifles were rare as the shorter versions worked better in battle
The other 99 is a Last Ditch model that was never issued. When my Dad acquired it, it still had grease packed in the barrel. This one has never been fired. The Chrysanthemum has been ground off.
The third one is the one that has me at a loss. It is also a long rifle with an intact Chrysanthemum, but rather than have the 99's big round knob at the end of the bolt, there is a hook to one side that allows the pin to be retracted when the bolt is closed. This one also has the number "37" painted on the side of the stock.
None of these guns have been restored or fired that I know of since my Dad got them as a teen.
Any feedback as to what the third one is? I have been told that long rifles were rare as the shorter versions worked better in battle