Japanese Militaria at Castle-Thunder.com

[Mike Rockhill]

Was going through the pics on my computer and since this variation is seldom seen or discussed, I thought I'd share this pics of a rifle in my collection. This is a Toyo Kogyo 34th series serial #93229. As far as I know there are a several known in the 34th and one about 26k in the 35th series. The unique buttplate is the result of the arsenal using rejected early stocks. Note that the 2 screw sling swivel slot holds a single screw swivel and a single piece fitted to fill the empty spaces. The slot on top of the buttstock for the buttplate tang has been filled in a similar fashion. The side drain hole is neatly filled and the bottom is still open. This rifle has the normal separate fore end, and is fitted with the large recoil lug. The stock has the 2 early "hiro" proofs with a small 3mm or so circle (2nd class or reject) mark below the lower mark. Late 34ths and all 35ths should have 1 "hiro" mark and 1 toyo kogyo mark (the circle with 2 partial lines). The Cupped buttplate on early rifles covers a raised section of wood. In order to fit a wooden buttplate this raised surface is removed and the buttplate of roughly double the normal thickness is fitted to bring the stock to normal length. The first pic is of the area of interest on the rifle. The second shows the rifle below a rifle with the standard wooden buttplate for comparison



_________________
Fat, Drunk,and Stupid is no way to go through life son.

[seinen]

I have a 34th Series like yours in the 88K range. These are interesting variants.

C/

[arisakadogs]

Very nice! I'd like to find one of these sometime. McCollum's book shows this but it's hard to see the piece of wood that fills the old swivel cutout.
_________________
"A woman, a dog & and a walnut tree. The more ya beat em, the better they be" (From "The Red Bagde of Courage")

[Mike Rockhill]

Sadly I must report that this rifle has a mismatched safety, but I had to pick one up or I may not see another available again for a long time. I really like the last ditch rifles and have been wanting to do a display at a local show, but cant bring myself to do it till I get the few last major variants. I want to be able to look at it and say "wow he isn't really missing anything" I will be ready to rock once I get an early 27th series. I also need a late 7th, and JSLD and a "kogyo" but it won't kill me not to have them at this point. I'm young yet, I'll get them eventually.
_________________
Fat, Drunk,and Stupid is no way to go through life son.