Quick question about the Japanese Arisaka

[Snowdog]

How much should I expect to pay for an Arisaka (M38) with unground Mum over one that's been ground or stamped?

I've been doing some pricing on Auction Arms and would like to know what's fair and what ridiculous.


I've been eyeing this beauty, but the mum has been ground (there's a reserved cubical in hell for those responsible, I'm sure).

Besides the mum, the entire rifle is in excellent shape, going price is $345.
Thanks in advance

 

[Cortland]

Blue Book lists a Model 38 at $625 for 100% (525-98, 400-95, 300-90, 225-80, 125-70, etc.). Their information claims a 20% deduction in value for a defaced mum, but I think in practice it's a bit more. If you buy into this blue book stuff I'd say you're looking at a fair price.

I've never had much occasion to price an Arisaka, myself. My grandfather managed to pick one up for free (with mum!) on Okinawa

 

[Mike Irwin]

Blue Book has insane stupid prices on Arisakas, if you ask me.

 

[Beetle Bailey]

Just as a heads up for any Arisaka collectors who aren't aware, here's a little story: I was at my local gunsmith's to discuss some work he was doing on my Yugo SKS and we got to talking about various rifles (imagine that ). Anyways, he showed me some of his handiwork: an Arisaka that had a grounded-out mum he had re-etched. I'm not an expert on mums, but it looked pretty good to me, except it was obviously newly cut on an old barrel action. Not to worry, he said, because his next step will be to use some kinda acid to make the mum dirty and weathered looking to match the rest of the rifle . Now, he's doing this per a customer request, and I'm not one to tell people what's what very often, but it seems to me that if the customer wanted to later sell the rifle as complete with mum intact, an unsuspecting buyer might bite. Now, I don't know anything about prices for Arisakas or about the cost-effectiveness of this kinda thing, but I thought I'd put it out there as a possibility.

 

[Cortland]

Blue Book has insane stupid prices on Arisakas, if you ask me.

I tend to agree. Hence the "if you buy into this blue book stuff" . Although they're probably not so bad if you're willing to give your rifle a realistic appraisal. I'm just a casual admirer of Arisakas, but I can honestly say I've never seen one anywhere near 100%.

Anyways, he showed me some of his handiwork: an Arisaka that had a grounded-out mum he had re-etched.

That's interesting, but most of the mumless rifles I've seen have had a fair amount of metal removed to get rid of the mum (it is "carved" relatively deeply). So long as your were able to examine the mum with a critical eye I can't imagine it would be difficult to spot if you knew what the proper shape/contour should be. I'm not sure if such a move would be cost effective on a run-of-the-mill Type 99, but perhaps on some of the rarer models it woud be. Either way it's pretty sleazy.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

Seems rather high to me.

I have bought several with and without mums and didn't pay anywhere near that.

However, I'm not an expert by any means.

Maybe if it had the dust cover, intact aircraft sights, and a cherry bore then I would consider it.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Sleuth]

The price sounds high for a common Jap. rifle.

BTW, at the end of the war, story goes that in the arsenals they literally ran through the racks, defacing the Mum's. They did not want the sacred symbol of the Emporer to fall into heathen hands. Thus, "generally", intact guns were captured in the field, defaced guns were in the armory.